2 Ways Experience Pays Off On A Med School Application

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Med schools have an average 7% acceptance rate, and some prestigious schools are even lower than that. With more and more students applying, schools are getting more competitive and choosy with who they allow into their programs. High-achieving students who stand out on their applications such as Rachel Tobin Yale earn a spot in that minuscule percentage. By staying active in college, getting involved in extracurriculars such as senior class council and being different, you too can have a better probability of getting accepted. Here are two ways your experience helps you stand out on paper.

1. Cultivate unique experiences that mold you.

During your undergrad education and on summer breaks, find opportunities that really make you different and distinct. Don’t do something just because you want to get into med school. Find an opportunity such as study abroad, Fulbright programs or any other enriching experiences that will give you life skills and character development. While this will complement an application, this experience will also be something you’ll take with you forever. It may lead to a new world view or goal modifications depending on what you do and the impact it has on your life.

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2. Be involved medically before med school.

While you can’t perform surgery or stitch-up patients before you earn a degree, you can be spending time in hospitals and other medical environments. This is vital to college admission teams because they want to make sure you actually like the medical environment and have taken initiative to get involved with doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers. See if there are volunteer opportunities or research work-study positions you could apply for while in school to show a med school you already have some medical experience under your belt.

In a pile of thousands, you can feel like a pebble in the ocean. How can you stand out in such a vast array of med-school applicants? Maintaining strong academic standing is one thing, but being someone full of special opportunities and experiences will transform you from a pebble into a ship at sea, sailing towards med school acceptance.