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What are the most common mistakes that pre-med students make early in college, and how can I avoid them? #Spring25
I am majoring in exercise science at Pitt
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Madison’s Answer
Spreading yourself thin! Pick a few activities to be involved with leadership roles not a million minor roles. Look into which clubs mean the most to you, which ones offer a variety of time commitments that work with your schedule. See which ones have leadership roles open or possibilities for growth/leadership overtime in their organization. You want to choose things you will actually look forward to in order to really be able to talk about them/be impressive at future interviews and to just simply enjoy your time commitments.
Plan ahead for pre-requesite courses. Work with a mentor in your major/someone who previously got into the grad school you desire or job you desire after school/or even a school specific advisor in your major (most major colleges will either assign you one or offer this readily to students for free). Make sure you know what pre-recs you need for grad school/med school and plan ahead for when you will fullfill them so that they are completed by the time you want to apply. Many students apply to grad/med schools right before/at the start of their last year of college so you may not be able to be doing pre-recs that last year if you want to have a complete application for that timeline. Try and spread out any classes you presume will require more time commitments (ones with labs/more hours/harder ones) so that each semester your course load is manegable! THis will help with both your stress and your grades.
Take time for your own health and well being. Plan out doctors visits, sleep, time with friends/family/loved ones, time for vacation/working out/cooking or eating. Do NOT lack on sleep. Sleep is SO SO important for your health as well as your grades. Can't stress this enough.
Plan ahead with study goals/applications. Find out early on what study methods work best for you. If needed, try a few different ones. Be open to new techniques you haven't tried before. Remember you can only do so much/learn so much each day so don't procrastinate and leave yourself an unreasonable amount of material to learn right before test/exam. If you find a method that works well for you, stick to it! If you need, hire/find a tutor for certain classes. alot of colleges have readily available and maybe free tutoring services/advisors either class or major oriented. TALK TO YOUR PROFESSORS! Remember they do want you to succeed in their class. If you need help ASK FOR IT and ask for it early. You will NEVER regret asking for help and people WANT to see you succeed!
Hope this helps!
Madison
Plan ahead for pre-requesite courses. Work with a mentor in your major/someone who previously got into the grad school you desire or job you desire after school/or even a school specific advisor in your major (most major colleges will either assign you one or offer this readily to students for free). Make sure you know what pre-recs you need for grad school/med school and plan ahead for when you will fullfill them so that they are completed by the time you want to apply. Many students apply to grad/med schools right before/at the start of their last year of college so you may not be able to be doing pre-recs that last year if you want to have a complete application for that timeline. Try and spread out any classes you presume will require more time commitments (ones with labs/more hours/harder ones) so that each semester your course load is manegable! THis will help with both your stress and your grades.
Take time for your own health and well being. Plan out doctors visits, sleep, time with friends/family/loved ones, time for vacation/working out/cooking or eating. Do NOT lack on sleep. Sleep is SO SO important for your health as well as your grades. Can't stress this enough.
Plan ahead with study goals/applications. Find out early on what study methods work best for you. If needed, try a few different ones. Be open to new techniques you haven't tried before. Remember you can only do so much/learn so much each day so don't procrastinate and leave yourself an unreasonable amount of material to learn right before test/exam. If you find a method that works well for you, stick to it! If you need, hire/find a tutor for certain classes. alot of colleges have readily available and maybe free tutoring services/advisors either class or major oriented. TALK TO YOUR PROFESSORS! Remember they do want you to succeed in their class. If you need help ASK FOR IT and ask for it early. You will NEVER regret asking for help and people WANT to see you succeed!
Hope this helps!
Madison
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Kevin,
I don't know about "most common" mistakes, but you definitely want to check the pre-requisite courses for each school that you would consider, and make sure you get those under your belt. What's required can be a bit different for each school and might also change. Talk to admissions offices to make sure you are on track.
You need to earn a bachelors degree before you can apply to med school. Many pre-med students pick biology, chemistry or biochemistry, but it doesn't have to be a science. You can major in something that you enjoy. You still need to do the pre-requisite science courses though.
For whatever it's worth, MCAT scores for students who majored in a science were not higher than those of students who picked a different major. Your narrative about your path to medicine would also be more interesting which might be an advantage.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
I don't know about "most common" mistakes, but you definitely want to check the pre-requisite courses for each school that you would consider, and make sure you get those under your belt. What's required can be a bit different for each school and might also change. Talk to admissions offices to make sure you are on track.
You need to earn a bachelors degree before you can apply to med school. Many pre-med students pick biology, chemistry or biochemistry, but it doesn't have to be a science. You can major in something that you enjoy. You still need to do the pre-requisite science courses though.
For whatever it's worth, MCAT scores for students who majored in a science were not higher than those of students who picked a different major. Your narrative about your path to medicine would also be more interesting which might be an advantage.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Charlotte Geiger
Public Health Science Student at the University of Maryland
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Answers
Updated
Charlotte’s Answer
Hi Kevin,
One of the most common mistakes pre-med students make early in college is not carefully planning their coursework to meet medical school prerequisites. Since you’re majoring in Exercise Science at Pitt, it’s important to remember that not all of your major courses will cover essential pre-med requirements like Organic Chemistry, Physics, or Biochemistry. To avoid this mistake, make it a priority to meet with a pre-med advisor as soon as possible to map out a four-year plan that incorporates both your major requirements and the necessary science courses. Another mistake is prioritizing major-specific classes over core sciences, which can lead to gaps in your medical school application. Balancing your Exercise Science coursework with foundational pre-med subjects is key to staying on track. Additionally, some students underestimate the importance of maintaining a strong GPA from the start, thinking they can make up for it later. Instead, aim to develop consistent study habits early on, focusing on doing well in both major and science courses. Getting involved in healthcare-related activities, like volunteering or shadowing, can also help you gain experience while balancing academics. By being proactive and organized from the beginning, you’ll set yourself up for a smoother and more successful path to medical school.
One of the most common mistakes pre-med students make early in college is not carefully planning their coursework to meet medical school prerequisites. Since you’re majoring in Exercise Science at Pitt, it’s important to remember that not all of your major courses will cover essential pre-med requirements like Organic Chemistry, Physics, or Biochemistry. To avoid this mistake, make it a priority to meet with a pre-med advisor as soon as possible to map out a four-year plan that incorporates both your major requirements and the necessary science courses. Another mistake is prioritizing major-specific classes over core sciences, which can lead to gaps in your medical school application. Balancing your Exercise Science coursework with foundational pre-med subjects is key to staying on track. Additionally, some students underestimate the importance of maintaining a strong GPA from the start, thinking they can make up for it later. Instead, aim to develop consistent study habits early on, focusing on doing well in both major and science courses. Getting involved in healthcare-related activities, like volunteering or shadowing, can also help you gain experience while balancing academics. By being proactive and organized from the beginning, you’ll set yourself up for a smoother and more successful path to medical school.