Whether you’re thinking of becoming a doctor, veterinarian, or dentist, healthcare is an in-demand field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 1.9 million jobs are projected to open each year through 2034, on average, a much higher-than-average growth rate.
Besides stellar MCAT test scores and grades, school admissions committees look at other factors to determine whether you’re a good fit for their programs. Whether you’re in high school or working toward your bachelor’s degree, there are some things you can do now to build critical skills and experiences that will help you during the medical school application process.
Foundational Experiences That Strengthen Your Medical School Application
No matter what your plan is for your career, these experiences are invaluable for all health profession programs:
- Volunteering: Volunteering allows you to gain valuable experience about what your future career may look like and learn basic skills. Hospitals, clinics, and community health programs can all be excellent resources.
- Client Exposure and Shadowing: Shadowing medical or health professionals allows you to learn firsthand what a typical day in their field is like, and you can experience both the challenges and rewards of the job. You can ask your own doctor if they would allow you to shadow them. Or, if you’re in college, ask your academic advisor or department head for recommendations.
- Research Experience: Laboratory or research work can be especially helpful in certain fields, but it’s useful for anyone in healthcare. Research work teaches you how to analyze data and work as part of a scientific team. If you’re a pre-med student, you can ask faculty members or academic advisors for advice on potential research opportunities.
- Leadership: Leadership roles demonstrate initiative and discipline. Participating in extracurricular activities, leading student clubs or organizations, mentoring or tutoring can show you have the ability to take responsibility and lead.
[Tip: Volunteering can also help you make connections in the healthcare field, and those connections can be incredibly helpful when you need letters of recommendation for medical school.]
Program-Specific Skills to Focus On
While many healthcare career paths share core responsibilities, these are some program-specific skills to focus on:
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
MD programs focus heavily on clinical medicine. Medical school candidates often have experience volunteering in hospitals or clinics, physician shadowing, and strong background in science, including top grades in coursework like biology and general chemistry. Research experience is also encouraged.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
DO programs are similar to MD programs, but they also emphasize holistic, patient-centered care. Besides clinical experience, community-based volunteering and interest in complementary care can be helpful.
Doctor of Physical Therapy (PT)
Physical therapy programs prioritize hands-on experience, so shadowing physical therapists in a clinic, hospital, or sports setting is key. Volunteering at a rehabilitation center or athletic program can also provide key experience.
Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Dental school programs look for attention to detail and strong interpersonal skills. Shadowing dentists in general practices or specialists can help you learn their daily responsibilities, and volunteering in popup dental clinics or oral health outreach programs shows commitment to patient care and dentistry.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Veterinary programs require significant, hands-on experience with a variety of animals. If you’re on a pre-veterinary school path, working or volunteering with farms, animal shelters, zoos, or veterinary clinics can teach you essential animal-handling skills.
Helpful Certifications and Work Experience
Besides volunteering, shadowing, and research positions, there are certifications and work experiences you can complete to enhance your skills and boost your chances of entering medical school:
- CPR and first-aid: If you haven’t already, take a first-aid and CPR course and earn your certification with the American Red Cross.
- Emergency medical technician (EMT): An EMT provides basic care for people experiencing a medical crisis, and transport patients to hospitals for care.
- Medical scribe: Medical scribes document patient medical histories, enter doctor’s notes after a visit, and handle data entry.
Planning for Medical School
Preparing for medical school or another career in healthcare is a challenging path. You can expect to spend a decade (or more!) in school, plus time in residency, so it’s not a commitment to take lightly. Volunteering, completing community service, and shadowing a healthcare professional helps you learn whether this career is really the right fit for you. If you find that it is your passion, focus on taking science courses and building foundational skills in patient care.
Regardless of which path you choose, start thinking now about your education goals and financing options. Besides federal grants, medical students may also qualify for other financial aid, such as federal student loans or private scholarships. If you need additional funding, private loans can come in handy, too. ELFI allows you to borrow up to the total cost of attendance, and you can have up to 15 years to repay your loan. Request a rate quote and complete your loan application online.
FAQs
When should I start getting experience for medical school?
While volunteering and shadowing is particularly important while you’re in college, you can start gaining experience while you’re in high school by volunteering at animal shelters, participating in clubs, or helping teachers or faculty members with their research.
How many volunteer hours do I need to be competitive?
There is no set number of hours; admissions committees look for consistency, so long-term meaningful experiences are more important than reaching a specific number of hours.
Do I need clinical experience if I’m not entering a MD program?
Yes, regardless of what program you choose, most healthcare programs want to see some involvement with patient or client care.
