pre med program

Aug 07 2017

Something most Pre-Meds don’t do but should be doing!

Almost every university has one and it is there for your benefit. I am talking about your school’s AMSA or pre-med club. Most major universities and colleges have a club for pre-medical students. This club is intended to help keep you on the right track for getting into medical school and can be one of your greatest resources as an undergraduate pre-medical student. This is also an easy piece of advice to implement into your pre-medical strategy. Lets jump right into some of the benefits of joining your school’s pre-med club.

Benefits of joining a pre-med club:

1. Get valuable pre-med advice:
At your pre-med club you will be surrounded by other pre-meds, often ones that are closer to applying than you, who will be able to help answer any pre-med related questions you have. If you want pre-med advice, there is no better place to go than to your university’s pre-med club.

2. Meet like-minded people who will help keep you on track and motivate you to try harder:

This might be one of the most important reasons to join the pre-med club. Meeting like-minded people will greatly improve your own success. Simply by being around other people who share a common goal will motivate you to get more involved in pre-med related endeavors. We are the average of the five people we hang out with the most. So by spending more time with hard-working and high achieving pre-med students, you will in turn become a hard-working and high achieving pre-med over time. Spending time with other driven pre-meds will keep you on track.

3. Discover opportunities you wouldn’t have otherwise:

Your pre-med club will most likely have the connections to be able to get you opportunities that you need for your medical school application. This includes things such as volunteering, shadowing, and research. If you need help finding extracurricular activities, there is a good chance you will find them through your pre-med club.

4. Can lead to leadership roles and letters of recommendation:

Another great opportunity that can be provided by your local pre-med club is that it can lead to leadership roles and letters of recommendation. If you spend enough time with your pre-med club, there is the real possibility of landing yourself a leadership role in the club. This is something that will look nice your medial school application. Also many pre-med clubs have a science faculty member/teacher involved, so this can also lead to getting a nice recommendation letter!

So how do you find your university’s pre-med club? There are a few ways:

– Ask your pre-med advisor

– Do a quick google search

– Browse through the list of clubs and organizations on your university’s website

Once you find your school’s pre-med club, go to it as soon as possible! From the networking to all the opportunities it provides, being a part of your pre-med club can make a huge impact on the success you find as a pre-medical student. I hope this article helped to inspire you to find and join your school’s pre-med club if it has one. Search right now for it and schedule a time you will go there!

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Mar 26 2017

Three unique ways to make your med-school application stand out

As pre-medical students we face tough competition for getting into the medical school we want. We are pitted against many other strong applicants, often ones who will have a better GPA or MCAT score than us. This is why it is so important to find ways that make your medical school application stand out. There are two things to focus on when crafting the perfect application: Activities that are unique, which can grab the attention of those who are reviewing your application. And activities that show your character, which demonstrate your commitment to helping others. Adding these things could make the difference between you or someone else getting accepted into medical school.

Here are the three ways to make your medical school application stand out:

Go on a study abroad
Do tutoring
Lead a club at your university

Go on a study abroad:

Going on a study abroad trip looks great on a medical school application. A study abroad trip shows a lot to those who review your application: It shows that you are open to new experiences, you aren’t afraid to leave your comfort zone, and you are exposed to different lifestyles and cultures. This is something which will not only make your application stand out to those who review it but it will also give you some fun stories to talk about in your interview.

Do Tutoring:

Tutoring is another excellent way to make boost your medical school application. Tutoring is excellent for many reasons, but one of them is that it looks great on a your med-school application. Tutoring demonstrates your willingness to help your fellow students, that you take your studies seriously, and that you are good at interacting one-on-one with another person. These are all essential characteristics a physician must possess, so it makes the admission board happy when they see it.

Lead a club at your university:

A huge thing that medical schools want to see in prospective students is that they are leaders. Being able to create a club or be in a leadership role in a club makes you stand out from other applicants. This shows you are someone who is not only a leader but also responsible, which are crucial for being a physician.

As pre-med students we must find ways to make us stand out from the other applicants. This is especially true when your metrics (GPA and MCAT) are not above average or even below average. However, that does not mean we should slack in that department. What it does mean is that there are many ways to improve your chances of getting into medical school. Many pre-med students only focus on the GPA and MCAT, and that gives an advantage to those who take the time to add more to their application.

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Feb 12 2017

One of the most underrated resources available to a pre-med

blog graphic - pre med community

Hey pre-meds! In this article I got a quick tip or rather a reminder that could help ensure you make better grades. I don’t see many pre-meds taking advantage of one of the best resources available to them. The one right under their nose. Yes, I’m talking about their teachers!

Your teacher’s job is to teach you what you need to know to do well on their tests and learn the material. This is what you are paying for so you should make them work! They can be your number one resource for passing their class. Because not only are they the ones who are making your tests and grading your papers, but they are extremely knowledgeable in whatever they teach. This means that they can probably answer any question you have and make sure you understand it. Not only that but most teachers love the students who are very eager to learn and ask many questions, so it could lead to a potential letter of recommendation too if you are consistent enough! Also seeing that you want to succeed and are so motivated will also help make them more invested in your success too.

Okay so what are the best ways you can start utilizing your teacher more to get better grades?

Visit them during office hours
Asking them questions after class
Sending them emails

Visiting them during office hours: This is a great way to get some one on one time with your teacher. Think of it almost like having a free tutoring session with the person who will be making your tests! Thats pretty awesome! When you come to their office, make sure you have made a list of the questions and problems which are giving you the most trouble. Come with a specific set of questions and or problems to get help with. Your professor wants to help you and it will make it much easier if you come prepared. It can be anything from asking questions about the upcoming test and what will be on it to asking for help on a specific problem you don’t know how to solve.

Asking them questions after class: This is something you should be doing after every lecture if possible. You can’t spend too long asking questions because usually another class is coming in or the professor has some other obligation. But this is a great opportunity to ask one or two simple questions you had from lecture. Use this opportunity to help clarify anything that you found confusing during the class. This is important because it will save you time later from trying to figure it out on your own. Don’t leave lecture without trying to get some clarification on something that confused you. Remember, don’t be afraid to use your teachers to your fullest!

Sending them emails: This method is not as good as seeing them during office hours or asking them a question or two after class but it still can provide you a good opportunity to get some of your questions or problems answered. Obviously talking to your teacher in person will be more productive but it still can be very beneficial to get clarification through email. This can be useful for when you don’t have time to see them during office hours or ask them questions after class or especially if you have some pressing question that must be answered. I have sent my teachers plenty of emails and gotten very helpful responses.

Don’t be afraid to go see your teacher and ask them questions. This is what their job is and what you are paying for. Most teachers will be delighted that you are so interested in what they teach and it will actually help build a relationship with them. Your teachers can be your number one resource. They are the ones making and grading your exams so who better to ask questions to? If you are consistent and motivated to learn they may even be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you. So go see your teacher during their office hours, ask them questions after class, or go send them an email! I hope this helped or was a friendly reminder!

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Jan 17 2017

Here’s the BEST way to take notes from powerpoint classes

Hey there pre-meds! Today I got a quick tip for you that will most likely change the way you take notes from powerpoints for ever! As I mentioned in my article, the proper way to take notes , you shouldn’t ever be copying down whats already written on the powerpoint slides. That would be a waste of your class time as you already will have access to those powerpoints online. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean you should too. You should be using your class time instead to clarify those powerpoint slides and write down things that the instructor is saying about those slides. And thats exactly what this easy technique will help you do! With this you can take notes on the powerpoint slides in a convenient way that allows you to add what your professor says for each slide. (There is also an alternative method too! Check it out here!)

So how do you do it?
Step 1: Open your slides. And go to “Print”.
premed, pre med, pre-med, medical school, med school, science, chemistry, biology, physics, organic chemistry, Biochemistry, MCAT, GPA, tips , advice, tutorial, doctor, physician, surgeon, college, undergrad, university

Step 2: Click on “Layout” and choose “Handouts (3 slides per page)

premed, pre med, pre-med, medical school, med school, science, chemistry, biology, physics, organic chemistry, Biochemistry, MCAT, GPA, tips , advice, tutorial, doctor, physician, surgeon, college, undergrad, university

And now it should look like this. premed, pre med, pre-med, medical school, med school, science, chemistry, biology, physics, organic chemistry, Biochemistry, MCAT, GPA, tips , advice, tutorial, doctor, physician, surgeon, college, undergrad, university

And there you go! Now just print out the slides and you will have a nice notes section to each slide! The way to use this is to just take notes on what the professor is saying about each slide. This will save you alot of trouble in class and make sure you don’t miss anything important your professor is saying! If this tip helped you please make sure to share this page with your pre-med friends!

Check out the alternate version where you use your laptop!

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For more pre-med tips and advice, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, twitter, and pinterest!

Download a comprehensive medical school rankings report and get the free ebook, The Pre-Med’s Beginner Guide, right now! Download here! Don’t miss out!

Get your Free Pre-Med ebook! Download now!

(You definitely want this!)

Sep 10 2016

How to get great recommendation letters for medical school

Pre-Med Guide: How to get great recommendation letters for medical school

One thing which is often underrated when it comes to getting accepted to medical school is the recommendation letter. Many pre-meds are too focused on maintaining that good GPA and getting a high MCAT score that they can sometimes forget the other aspects of application. A good recommendation letter can be the difference between you or someone else getting called up for an interview. Between applicants of similar GPA and MCAT, things like recommendation letters can be what make the difference. Just imagine if you are one of the people on the admission’s board for a medical school. You get two applicants who have almost identical GPA and MCAT, but one of them has a powerful recommendation letter that paints you in a great light. You will probably choose the one who has the powerful recommendation letter! In this article, we are going to go into: Who to get a recommendation letter from, how to ensure you get a good one, and how to ask.

What are the recommendation letter requirements for most medical schools?

Each medical school has its own requirements for letter of recommendation. So make sure you learn the specifics when it comes to who your recommendation letters should be from and how many you will need. Typically most medical schools want around 3-5 recommendation letters. These should normally come from a science professor, non-science professor, pre-med committee, and a physician. Make sure you check the requirements of the school you are applying to ahead of time for its recommendation letter requirements!

Who do you want recommendation letters from?

When it comes to recommendation letters, quality and diversity is everything. You have to check for the specifics for your school, but usually they want something like: two recommendation letters from science teachers, one from a non-science teacher, one from your pre-med advisor, and one from a physician. Each school has their own requirements. But in general these are the people you should be asking for a recommendation letter. Each can add something different they can say about you and help paint a better picture overall for the people reviewing your application. You want to make sure those who are going to ask for a letter of recommendation are knowledgeable about: The demands of medical school and the medical profession, and your unique characteristics and credentials that would make you a good fit for being a physician.

People you want recommendation letters from:

Physician
From a manager in a job or volunteer work related to school or medicine
Teacher(s) (Science teacher ideally)
Research Professor
Pre-med advisor (If your school has it)

How to ensure you get a good recommendation letter:

The most important part to getting a good recommendation letter is having a relationship with the person who is writing it. You want them to get to know you well and be able to have a lot to say about you. Let them know your dreams, aspirations, and how much getting into medical school means to you. You should have spent building a relationship with them for atleast a few months before asking for a recommendation letter. It is important that they have had enough time to get to know you and can say many great things about you. Before asking someone for a recommendation letter, ask yourself this. “If I ask them for a recommendation letter, would they be able to speak well about me personally? Do they have any personal examples that showcase well my characteristics and abilities?”

Specific tips:

Professor/Teacher: Spend extra time going to their office hours. Talk to them after class. Ask more questions in class. And obviously make good grades.

Physician: Get there early. Be prepared before shadowing. Ask many questions. Show your enthusiasm for learning. Try and get to know them more personally.

Job/Volunteer Manager: Make sure you overperform at your job. Others have good things to say about you. Good feedback from co-workers or customers.

The specific characteristics that most medical schools want to see in an applicant:

adaptability
critical thinking
integrity
logical reasoning
oral communication skills
personal maturity
reliability
self-discipline
work habits
compassion
cultural competence
intellectual curiosity
motivation for medicine
persistence
professionalism
resilience
teamwork

Make sure to consider these characteristics when interacting with your potential letter writers!

The key to a great recommendation letter is finding someone who can speak on behalf of you personally and can emphasize your individual characteristics that make you shine. Start building relationships with those you might want a recommendation letter from now!

I hope this helps! Please share this article with a fellow pre-med!

I hope you found this advice helpful! Tell us what you think by leaving a comment down below! For more pre-med tips and advice, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, twitter, and pinterest!

Did you find this article helpful? Let us know!

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