GPA and MCAT score. These are the two primary things on everyone鈥檚 mind when they start thinking about putting together their .
And why not? After all, one鈥檚 MCAT score and GPA serve as quantifiable metrics that are useful in comparing applicants, and everyone knows that med schools weigh them heavily when ranking pre-med candidates for admission.
Of course, you probably also know that being a physician is not just about having good scores on paper. Doctors are expected to work with patients and members of an entire health care team while contributing to the overall body of medical knowledge.
A big portion of the is dedicated to experiences鈥攕pecifically research and clinical experiences. Whether you鈥檙e a freshman just starting your pre-med track or a senior just starting your application, we鈥檝e got some tips on how to get started finding those clinical and research opportunities.
What are clinical experiences and where can I find them?
Having some sort of on your application is an unwritten rule. The number of experiences, however鈥攏ot to mention hours鈥攊s a more subjective matter. Luckily, the opportunities that generally qualify as 鈥渃linical experiences鈥� are broad and plentiful. As one admissions officer put it, 鈥業f you can smell patients, it鈥檚 a clinical experience.鈥�
Within clinical experience, you can divide them into two main categories: paid and volunteer. Examples of paid positions include emergency room techs, pharmacy techs, phlebotomists, licensed practical nurses, emergency medical technicians, emergency room scribes, and paramedics.
The first four all work inside the hospital itself and require different licenses, but the requirements are generally not time-intensive and are possible to complete while still in school. Many universities also have their own EMT/volunteer ambulance service in which students can participate.
Volunteer clinical positions do not typically involve direct medical care, since volunteers are neither trained nor paid, but they can still interact with patients. Hospital emergency departments, assisted-living centers, hospices, medical centers, or other programs sponsored by your university (internships, externships, medical missions) are great places to look.
Asking to you know personally is also a great way of having a guided patient care experience in a specialty of interest. If this is an opportunity that鈥檚 available to you, by all means, take it!
What should I get out of clinical experiences?
need to know you understand what it鈥檚 like to work in the health care field before you devote yourself to a lifelong career in it.
While it鈥檚 difficult to understand what it鈥檚 like to be a physician from observation, good clinical experiences will teach you the role of the health care professionals in patient care and demonstrate their interactions with each other and the patient.
So when applying to med school, it鈥檚 important to emphasize what you learned about the field in your clinical experience and how it ties in to your desire to become a physician. Anecdotes from your experiences are always great to bring up in your and questions. Overall, you want to communicate to medical schools that you are experienced in the health care field and aware of what you鈥檙e signing on for.
Where should I look for research experiences?
Evidence-based medicine relies heavily on research for new innovations and treatments. While not mandatory, research experience is looked on favorably by admissions committees.
The vast majority of research experiences will be available through your university. Many schools have summer programs that are designed so students can work under a mentor and learn research techniques. These spots are often limited, so a useful strategy is to approach science professors you鈥檝e taken classes with to see if they need assistance in their research. Even if they don鈥檛 have open opportunities, they can often put you in touch with colleagues who do.
Medical centers and independent research facilities (e.g. ) also offer internships for students during the summer and academic year. Check with your college鈥檚 career center for other opportunities or view this list of .
What should I get out of research experiences?
While publishing a paper is an excellent goal to work towards, many research experiences will not end up going that direction. It鈥檚 important to set appropriate expectations with your mentor before starting your work.
Most research you will encounter is 鈥攚orking with tissues, genetic materials, and chemicals in a biochemistry lab. Some opportunities may allow you to do clinical research, which focuses more on testing the effect of different treatments on patients.
Regardless, you will be expected to know background information about what you are researching, your overall research question, and the details of your project. Ideally, you will be able to come to some sort of conclusion and write up a poster or presentation that can be delivered later.
Admissions committees can and will ask questions about your research experiences in your , especially if you are applying to an MD-PhD program or a school where research plays a major role. Being able to tie your research to your application鈥檚 overall theme is crucial in making a good impression.
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