Medical schools are highly competitive. The national acceptance charge per unit is 43 percent, according to data compiled by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Use these top 10 tips from doctors and medical students to help y'all prepare for your pre-health profession.

i. Go Some Medical Experience on Your Résumé

Task shadow with doctors and other medical professionals. Admissions committees don't wait applicants to accept existent feel actually treating patients. After all, you're not a doc yet. But they do desire to know that you've spent time getting to know what your future chore would be like. Job shadowing is a slap-up way to go some medical feel just there are other non-shadowing opportunities that may be available to yous.

"Med school admissions committees want students to take realistic expectations for what a career in medicine volition be like. says Dr. Sarah Carlson, a vascular surgery resident at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, who has also served on a medical school admissions committee. Every bit an undergraduate, she volunteered to file x-rays at the local infirmary, then parlayed that into an opportunity to talk with the radiologist. He explained both how to read x-ray films, and why he chose his profession. "It'south those types of interactions that are important to have under your belt," she says. "Quite bluntly, medicine isn't for everyone, so it's best if yous practice some soul-searching and spend some fourth dimension with the people who accept the chore you desire. Most doctors are happy to sit down with students who are considering a career in medicine."

Other ways to get medical experience include becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT), or as a hospital scribe doing data entry. Some applicants are able to gain clinical feel by helping to care for family members.

2. Exercise Inquiry Projects

Student holding a pippet and looking at a bottle

Demonstrate your hands-on science knowledge. "Undergraduate research experience actually shines through on medical school applications. Almost medical schools desire students who are interested in enquiry, and the all-time style to bear witness that interest is to come in having already gotten your anxiety wet" says Dr. Carlson. She did pipetting and ran assays for Dr. Pushpa Murthy's lab at Michigan Technological University. It was a small part of the research, simply she conveyed the overall bear upon. "I had to explicate at my interviews that the larger scope of the research was about inositol phosphate metabolism."

Medical student Carly Joseph did long-term research in engineered biomaterials. "Sticking with it gave me time to larn how to call up critically and ignited my passion for science," she says. "I started off simply learning about biomaterials from older students in the lab, and then gradually worked upwardly to doing my own experiments and eventually presenting at conferences." Past choosing to brand research a chief priority each semester she was able to form close relationships with faculty mentors and achieve more than during undergrad than she e'er imagined.

In addition to higher-based research programs, you can investigate summer offerings, including those through the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program or check out the AAMC database for summer undergrad research programs

3. Put in Time Serving Others

Dr. Carlson volunteered with the Large Brothers-Large Sisters organization. So did Joseph. Rake leaves, build an accessibility ramp, clean the beach, walk a dog. In that location are lots of non-clinical options for volunteering that demonstrate your willingness to pay information technology forward and give dorsum.

"They accept many unlike programs and services." Joseph, accustomed into Central Michigan Academy'due south College of Medicine, was office of the Forever Friends program, matched with an elderly adult female she visited a few times each month. "I 've formed a great friendship with her, and hopefully, helped alleviate some loneliness. It 'southward a win-win!"

"Doctors are generally pretty altruistic people, and med schools desire to see that you intendance about your community or take some drive to contribute to the greater skilful," says Dr. Carlson. "Community service comes in many forms, and really annihilation qualifies, from trash cleanup and mentorship programs to working the concession stand at a fund-raiser for a charity—annihilation that requires some unpaid time for a good crusade."

Ask your pre-health professions advisor about volunteering opportunities on campus or in your customs, which could include helping at local food banks or blood drives, local shelters for the homeless or those dealing with domestic violence. You lot could tutor, deliver adept companionship and Meals on Wheels, or walk the dogs at a local beast shelter. Accept an alternative spring break and work with Habitat for Humanity or on developing clean h2o sources for Third World countries. Check with your schoolhouse for a list of community and global partners it works with who can utilize your time and talents. The mentors you develop will come in handy when it's time to gather recommendation letters—most schools ask for at least three—and the friendships you develop volition last a lifetime.

4. Choose a Major Y'all Will Excel In

Grades aren't everything, but they're extremely important. Choose a field of study that will yield a competitive GPA (grade bespeak average). The recommended GPA for medical schoolhouse applicants is iii.7 for MDs (medical doctors), three.5 for DOs (doctors of osteopathy), and three.iv for NDs (Dr. of Naturopathic). While many students who are planning careers in medicine make up one's mind to major in biology, Dr. Carlson earned her bachelor's in chemical science. Many of her colleagues majored in even more unexpected fields, including engineering, English, music, and classics.

"It 'due south OK if you 're not on the pre-med rails correct abroad when you start college; pursue experiences that genuinely involvement you and rely on guidance from your faculty mentors to navigate your path"

There is no such thing as a pre-med major, says pre-health professions advisor Nicole Seigneurie, who works with students preparing for medical careers at Michigan Technological University. "At that place are so many dissimilar programs students can use to." Yous will all the same need to exercise well in both your cumulative and your science GPA, classes like biology, physics, chemistry, and math, that are required for medical school admission. If you are struggling in any classes, become help right away.

During her fourth year, Joseph had to take many of the medical school prerequisite classes that were not part of her technology curriculum and build a Medical Higher Admission Test (MCAT) study plan into her schedule.

5. Apply to Multiple Schools

Student sitting at a laptop

Meliorate your odds by non placing all your hopes on one school. Do individual research on each school, says Seigneurie; awarding requirements tin can vary from schoolhouse to school and from year-to-twelvemonth.

She also notes that you lot tin attain out to admission committees with specific questions almost the program and expectations. And, she says, don't be bummed if at first you lot don't succeed. Effort over again. "If you don 't get accepted into the schoolhouse of your dreams, it 's OK! Schools accept many applicants and can 't take everyone," says McKenzie, who was accepted into the Michigan State University Higher of Human being Medicine. "My dad, who has been a family md for 29 years, often tells me, "An Dr. is an Md, information technology doesn't matter where you go to school."

"Don't take it personally when you get some rejections—they happen at every stage of the game. If you cast a broad internet, you lot'll increase your likelihood of getting an acceptance."Dr. Carlson

Other ways to become noticed amidst the hundreds or even thousands of medical schoolhouse applications submitted each yr: send supplemental materials beyond your application. For instance, "if you lot've published a paper, consider sending a copy of the publication with a handwritten note to the managing director of admissions, indicating you really hope to be considered for acceptance," she says.

half-dozen. Report Early and Often for the Medical Higher Admission Test, or MCAT

MCAT scores range from 472-528. Accepted medical students boilerplate around 508. Recommended study time: 300-350 hours.

Accept a course and buy books and study on your own. Detect the method that works for y'all. Take practice tests many times and don't let your practise scores spook you, says McKenzie. "I used the Kaplan book series, and studied by reading, highlighting, and taking notes. The real MCAT was not equally hard every bit the Kaplan test, in my opinion." The pre-health professions counselor tin help you find the resources y'all need.

You can also join a pre-health professions gild or association at your schoolhouse, including Blastoff Epsilon Delta, the national honour society for health pre-professionals. Members assist each other get prepare for tests, along with hosting speakers and events to help proceeds cognition and experience.

7. Larn Another Linguistic communication

"I speak Spanish almost every day at work," says Dr. Carlson. "It 's what I use the nearly from my premed education." Joseph spent a semester in Chile. "Focusing on language, culture, and people challenged me in a me in ways that technical classes couldn't and was critical in my training for medical schoolhouse. If you 're thinking about studying away, do information technology. Communication and understanding different cultures are crucial skills for anyone inbound the medical field, and medical schools look for applicants who brand the endeavour to augment their horizons culturally."

Medical volunteer programs abroad are another option to gain both life and health-care related experiences. Students are placed in hospitals and clinics in both rural and urban settings where staff is inadequate. Work, with professional guidance, tin can include giving vaccinations and other tasks interacting straight with patients, equally well as helping to make facilities cleaner and more than attainable. Programs are normally for people aged 18 and older

8. Don't Skimp on Extracurricular Activities

Students playing trumpets with a choir behind.

Bear witness that yous're interested in other things besides schoolwork. Dr. Carlson says having exterior interests makes you stand out (she plays violin in an orchestra). "It'southward OK to indicate some of these personal interests on your med school applications—they give the interviewers something to relate to you with," she says. "I interviewed one applicant who merely got a C in biochemistry, but he wrote lots of letters to the admissions committee highlighting his other strengths. We accepted him, and he turned out to be a star."

"Medical schools similar to see commitment in their applicants, be it to sports, work, or extracurricular activities," says McKenzie. "Information technology 's easier to not join clubs and just practise homework and relax, but devoting time now to extracurricular commitments is worth it in the long run. These experiences also give y'all adept opportunities to get to know people who tin write the letters of recommendation."

Joseph says to cull activities based on what works all-time for you. Aim for quality rather than quantity.

"There 'due south a lot of pressure to have as many leadership roles as possible and be involved in tons of student organizations. For me though, having a few deep and lasting experiences was the way to go. I chose to invest my time in research, improving my Castilian, and volunteering," she says.

9. Be Polite and Be Yourself at Interviews

Research the schools y'all're interested in and look at mission statements, so you know something about the establishment that y'all can share at the interview. Practice answering interview questions. When you arrive, be courteous to everyone you run across at the interview, including the receptionist.

"Schools are interested in learning what kind of student and person you are," says McKenzie. Schools invest in students and are looking for a proficient fit.

If y'all need assistance with effective body language, knowing how to dress professionally or for other tips, bank check out your school'south Career Services office, which may offering mock interview opportunities and other techniques to help you present your best self.

ten. Be Ready to Explain Why You Want to be a Doctor

Standing student in business attire writing in a notebook

Avoid generic answers like "I desire to aid people." In that location'due south no ane right answer. Be specific. Tell your story.

McKenzie'south dream centers on helping people close to home, in an underserved surface area that suffers from chronic doc shortages. "I accept always wanted to return to the Houghton-Hancock surface area, where I grew up, and to serve my rural community."

For Joseph, the dream centers on combining a passion for science with helping others in a direct way.

Dr. Carlson 'southward dream started when she was v years old and her sister was born with cystic fibrosis. She reminds applicants to become across that initial inspiration during application interviews and explain how you've prepared for a grueling process that is not for everyone. "After medical school comes residency, and and then—for some—fellowship, academic track positions, publications, and navigating an ever-evolving health care system," says Dr. Carlson.

Bonus Tips for Getting into Medical Schoolhouse

Dr. Carlson has two more important suggestions to help you successfully utilize to medical school:

Ask a Mentor or Advisor to Pick Up the Phone and Make a Call for You

"This is an unwritten rule that anybody does and nobody ever told me until I was several years into my preparation," says Dr. Carlson. "If y'all want to go to a particular school, observe a way to have 1 of your mentors or advisors reach out to the admissions committee on your behalf."

For example, if you wanted to go to the University of Michigan ask your counselor or another mentor to call the director of admissions or any other person they know and advocate for you lot. E-mail tin also be effective, she says. "Information technology'due south a bonus if your mentor/counselor actually has a personal contact at the medical schoolhouse you're interested in. "There is a culture of 'I can vouch for this person' that goes very far in the medical world. A telephone phone call won't get you in if your awarding is terrible, only if y'all're on the cusp of acceptance and someone makes a call on your behalf, it can give you the push y'all need to exist accustomed."

Don't Be Agape to Self-Promote (In a Humble Way).

"It's OK to highlight the accomplishments you're proud of; put these in your required personal argument or find a style to work them into conversation during interviews. The key is to practice information technology humbly just confidently: 'I was fortunate enough to win a education award from my time as a chemistry lab TA, and that's something I'one thousand actually proud of.' Information technology'south OK to be proud of your ain achievements! Selectively highlighting a few make your application stand out from the rest."

Do yous have the personal skills it takes for a career in medicine?

Medical students must be dedicated and focused. "A significant corporeality of personal sacrifice comes along with the training, and if you don't have a swell motivation, you lot won't find the sacrifice worth the reward," says Dr. Carlson. If you can reply yes to these questions, or you're willing to find the resource to work to develop any of these vital skills yous could improve, you increment your chances of being able to accomplish what it takes to be accustomed into medical school.

Are you lot compassionate, mature, and emotionally intelligent?

Compassionate people are kind. They are enlightened of suffering in the self and other living things, and they want to aid alleviate suffering. Mature people are able to accept responsibility. They are considerate of others, patient, and supportive of others, among other qualities. Emotionally intelligent people are enlightened of their emotions. They can harness and apply their emotions to problem-solving and other tasks and manage emotions—similar beingness able to cheer up yourself, or other people, or to infuse at-home into a state of affairs.

Are you hard-working?

Hard-working people are conscientious about correctly performing duties and tasks on time. They are willing to put in the hours necessary to accomplish goals.

Are you a loftier achiever?

High-achieving people are motivated to set and complete aggressive goals. They take a passion to excel in the field they choose to work in and are non daunted by obstacles.

Are you lot socially conscious?

Socially witting people strive to stay informed and aware almost the earth around them, including how people interact with the economy, education, and both physical and social environments.

Exercise you have fantabulous quantitative and qualitative skills?

People with quantitative skills tin can perform analyses and other physical and measurable tasks. Two examples of quantitative skills are data interpretation and math. People with qualitative skills are able to perform wide skills. Resilience and creativity are two examples of qualitative skills.

Pre-Wellness Professions at Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech'south placement rate into medical schoolhouse is 60 to seventy percent (well above the national average) and is almost 100 percent for concrete therapy schoolhouse. Choose a pre-wellness profession and prepare for your future today.