2 answers
Edward
Student
Goldsboro, North Carolina
1
Question
Updated
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What's the best way to get clinical experiences and patient interactions as a pre-med student?
I am going to UNC on the pre-med track, and want to start building up a strong resume for Med-Schools right away.
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2 answers
Elyse Crotty
Certified Surgical Technologist
80
Answers
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Elyse’s Answer
Start by protecting your GPA. Your science GPA and overall GPA are the foundation of your med school application, so avoid overloading your first semester.
Meet with UNC Health Professions Advising early.
Start tracking all volunteer, clinical, research, and leadership hours.
Get involved in one meaningful service activity.
Look for clinical exposure through hospital volunteering, free clinics, hospice, EMT, CNA, or medical assistant work.
Begin exploring research opportunities by spring or sophomore year.
Shadow physicians during school breaks.
Build relationships with professors for future recommendation letters.
Clinical volunteering or patient care experience
Physician shadowing
Community service
Research
Leadership in a club or organization
Tutoring or mentoring
Public health or underserved community work
Do fewer activities, but stay consistent. Medical schools prefer long-term commitment and meaningful impact over a long list of shallow experiences. Focus on strong grades, steady clinical exposure, service, research, and leadership.
Meet with UNC Health Professions Advising early.
Start tracking all volunteer, clinical, research, and leadership hours.
Get involved in one meaningful service activity.
Look for clinical exposure through hospital volunteering, free clinics, hospice, EMT, CNA, or medical assistant work.
Begin exploring research opportunities by spring or sophomore year.
Shadow physicians during school breaks.
Build relationships with professors for future recommendation letters.
Clinical volunteering or patient care experience
Physician shadowing
Community service
Research
Leadership in a club or organization
Tutoring or mentoring
Public health or underserved community work
Do fewer activities, but stay consistent. Medical schools prefer long-term commitment and meaningful impact over a long list of shallow experiences. Focus on strong grades, steady clinical exposure, service, research, and leadership.
Rita Chuang
Physician
305
Answers
Henderson, Nevada
Updated
Rita’s Answer
Looking back, what would I have done differently?
There were no medical scribes when I was in school but I feel that would have helped me. It's hard. I was a Molecular Biology major, did research, volunteered, and had a few extracurricular activities. This did not prepare me for medical school. I felt it was very difficult because I'm a slower learner. Had I worked as a scribe, I would have been introduced to medicine earlier which would have made medical school easier. Unfortunately, I don't know if that would have helped me get into medical school. If you can volunteer as a scribe, I would do it.
Unfortunately, I think you need to play the game: excellent grades, excellent MCAT scores, research, volunteer, extracurricular activities.
There were no medical scribes when I was in school but I feel that would have helped me. It's hard. I was a Molecular Biology major, did research, volunteered, and had a few extracurricular activities. This did not prepare me for medical school. I felt it was very difficult because I'm a slower learner. Had I worked as a scribe, I would have been introduced to medicine earlier which would have made medical school easier. Unfortunately, I don't know if that would have helped me get into medical school. If you can volunteer as a scribe, I would do it.
Unfortunately, I think you need to play the game: excellent grades, excellent MCAT scores, research, volunteer, extracurricular activities.