Thinking about medicine before college even starts
If you’re already thinking seriously about medical school while still in high school, you’re ahead of most people on this path, most don’t start until sophomore year of college. That’s an advantage, but only if you use the time well instead of anxiously trying to build a “resume” before you’ve even figured out if this is right for you.
The real questions at this stage aren’t about activities or GPA optimization yet. They’re bigger: do you actually know what medicine involves day to day? Have you been around it at all? Are you choosing this because it’s genuinely you, or because it sounds impressive? Answering those honestly now saves you years later.
Focus Areas
Get real exposure, not resume exposure
Shadow a physician if you can. Volunteer somewhere in healthcare. The goal isn’t a bullet point, it’s finding out if you actually like being around medicine before you commit years to it.
Take your academics seriously, but don’t panic-optimize
Do well in school. Take challenging classes where it makes sense. You don’t need AP Organic Chemistry as a sophomore. You need a strong, honest academic foundation.
Understand what BS/MD programs actually are, and whether they’re right for you
These accelerated programs sound appealing but come with real tradeoffs. Worth understanding before you build your college list around them.
Start getting curious about the actual process
Run the Med School Chances Calculator → just to see the shape of what’s ahead. You’re not being scored yet, you’re just getting oriented.
Articles
Read these
These articles are curated for High School students interested in becoming pre-meds. Click here to see all of our articles.
Resources
Watch, listen, and download
Videos: More coming soon.
Podcast: Coming soon.
Downloads: The High School Pre-Med Checklist (coming soon)
Go Deeper
This early, the best next step is staying informed, not signing up for anything expensive. When we build resources specifically for high schoolers and their families, you’ll hear about it first. Join our newsletter to stay up to date with pre-med information to stay ahead of the curve.
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Not your stage?
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