Grades are not enough

Competitive applicants should:

• Meet with the Pre-Health Advisor in their field of interest as early as possible, preferably in the first year.
• Make time for volunteer experiences in health care settings for exposure to various aspects of the profession.  Experience with indigent peoples, inner city populations, and people in developing countries is highly recommended.
• Make arrangements to shadow a health care professional for a day or longer in order to experience the field first hand.
• Find opportunities for research experience.
• Stay abreast of health care issues by reading and learning about national and local debates about such issues as HMO’s, universal health care, capital punishment, abortion, childhood obesity, and physician-assisted suicide.  When traveling, make every effort to learn about health care issues facing other countries.
• Develop a long-range plan for preparing for entrance exams (MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE, etc.).
• Have a viable, exciting alternative plan in case acceptance to the medical or professional school of their choice is denied.