What Premed Extracurriculars Do Medical Schools Look For?

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Your premed extracurriculars, along with your personal statement, are the first thing an admissions committee looks at to get a sense of your motivations and interests, and whether those line up with what they’re looking for in a future physician. Ideally, they should include a few core activities: clinical exposure, research experience, and community involvement.

Don’t worry about spending equal time in all of these—focus on what you’re most passionate about! As we mention in our Premed 101 Guide, it’s more important that you get involved in things you’re interested in. This way, you’re more likely to take on leadership roles (leadership is an important quality med schools look for in future physicians), and when it comes time for your interview, you’ll be able to talk about the activities more passionately and genuinely.

No matter your interests, some experience in clinical, research, and community involvement is an asset, as it demonstrates that you have the relevant passion and experience to know that you want to pursue a career in medicine.

For more information about this section of the medical school application, read our AMCAS Work and Activities Section Guide, which includes mistakes to avoid and FAQs.

 

3 Types of Premed Activities Med Schools Look for

1 | Clinical Exposure

Clinical exposure shows that you’ve been immersed in a medical environment and know what it means to be a physician in a real, practical sense. There are two main ways to gain clinical experience: volunteering and shadowing.

Volunteering in a clinical setting gives you exposure to the inner workings of healthcare while allowing you to actively be a part of and contribute to that environment. While volunteer jobs like restocking supplies are important and helpful, they don’t provide patient contact, which is something medical schools look for in your application (some secondary questions will specifically ask about a patient experience.) Aim to volunteer in a position in which you’re regularly interfacing with patients or their families.

For example, some of my most meaningful clinical experiences occurred while I was volunteering as a surgical liaison in a hospital, in which I kept the families and friends of patients updated on their loved one’s status in or post-surgery. This often meant learning how to deliver difficult news about surgical complications and showing compassion for anxious and upset family members. It not only gave me a valuable glimpse into the core humanistic component of medicine, but it also helped me to refine and grow my own interpersonal skills specifically in a healthcare role.

Shadowing physicians is also a great way to gain a better understanding of what it’s like to be a physician. You get to observe doctor-patient interactions from a third-party perspective, which can provide great inspiration for the kind of physician you want to be.

Most medical schools don’t require shadowing, but it is generally recommended. If you’re having trouble connecting with physicians or don’t know where to start, check with your school’s pre-health office to see if they have any recommendations. Often they have shadowing programs or relationships with nearby hospitals that you can take advantage of.

2 | Research Experience

Research is a critical field in medicine; it’s the foundation of advances in therapies and healthcare. Getting involved in research also shows that you’re interested in learning—an important part of being a physician. (You’ll note a lot of medical school websites emphasize cultivating a community of “lifelong learners.”)

Many colleges conduct research and have opportunities for undergraduate students to get involved. Usually, research can be done for pay or credit, so you can kill two birds with one stone!

It doesn’t have to be basic science research that you get involved in. It can be clinical, or even in a non-hard-science field. If you love anthropology, great! Find a way to get involved with research being done in your anthropology department. The important thing is that you’ve shown you know how to examine and analyze data, ask relevant questions, and draw logical conclusions.

3 | Community Involvement

Saying you want to be a doctor because you want to help people is great and all, but you need to show it. You need to back up your claim with relevant experiences that demonstrate your commitment to improving the lives of others. Volunteering, in a medical setting or otherwise, can count as community involvement, as well as certain groups in college.

For example, Camp Kesem is a popular student group in college that provides a summer camp for kids whose caregivers have cancer. You can also check out your school’s version of a public service center. They’ll sometimes have opportunities for alternative spring breaks, volunteering days, or even fellowships.

Don’t rush at the first opportunity for community involvement just because it’s something you feel you should “check off of your list.” There are plenty of ways to get involved, so find something you really enjoy doing. You’ll have a great experience and liven up your application if you feel passionate about the opportunity.

Medicine is gravitating more and more toward a holistic approach that incorporates a patient’s background and community into their care, and medical schools want to know that you recognize the importance of this as a future physician.

Bonus points if you get involved with an organization that serves traditionally underserved populations! Some medical schools will specifically ask how you plan to help underserved populations in your career.

 

Preparing Premed Extracurriculars for the Work and Activities Section

Keep a Record of Your Extracurriculars

The best way to keep track of your extracurriculars is by writing down all of the notable experiences you encounter during your activities in a journal. It’ll be useful as a memory jog (especially if you’re like me and end up taking a few years off between college and med school), and it will provide good material to write about in your application.

A journal is especially helpful for crafting your three Most Meaningful” Experiences. Plus, it’s always good to have a few impactful anecdotes in your back pocket for responding to interview questions.

When it came time for medical school applications and interviews, I was grateful for the times I remembered to write about a significant experience right after it happened and before I forgot the details.

Emphasize the Significance of the Experience

Emphasize the significance of the experiences you choose and explain what you learned from them. Did the experience inform your desire to become a physician or give you a clearer vision of the kind of physician you want to be?

How did that experience change your perspective on healthcare, diversity, other cultures, etc.? What skills did you gain, and how might they be applicable to being a physician? Specific examples of meaningful interpersonal interactions are a great way to illustrate the significance of that experience.

The bottom line? If you pursue your passions and actively engage with them, you’ll already have the foundation of a strong Work and Activities section!

 

Help Where You Need it Most

Med School Insiders will help you create a stand out medical school application. Our Comprehensive Medical School Admissions Packages are designed to maximize your potential.

We offer one-on-one advising, essay editing, application editing, mock interviews, and more based on key tactics only the top-performing physicians know about—such as how to make your extracurriculars look as impressive as possible.

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This Post Has One Comment

  1. HK

    Don’t forget that clinical experiences also encompasses part time or full time paid work with patient interaction.

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