Graduating college early?

WayOutWestMom
Wed, 20 Mar 2024 20:28:54 +0000

Here’s are some pages that will help a student determine if they have met all the expected pre-med competencies for entering med students

A pre-med checklist
https://advising.utah.edu/preprofessional/premed/general-preparation.php#extracurricular

Community Service

Because you are preparing for a humanitarian profession, you need to have volunteer experiences that demonstrate a commitment to serving others. This should be ongoing throughout your college years prior to application for admission.

Competitive applicants complete 3 different experiences each lasting 6 months to a year in the 4 years before they matriculate.

Patient Exposure

Interacting well with patients is one of the key indicators of a successful future provider. Your experience can be either paid or unpaid. It may or may not require certification.

Examples include ER volunteer, nursing home, hospice and more.

Competitive applicants complete 1-2 different experiences each lasting at least 6 months to a year, total of 100+ hrs.

Research Experience

Physicians depend on medical literature to remain current in their field throughout their careers. Most medical schools highly recommend participation in research.

The UUSOM requires a research experience that tests a hypothesis. Your research experience can be from many different areas. It does not have to be medically related or in a lab.

Competitive applicants complete at least 1 experience under a supervision of a faculty lasting 6 months to a year.

Leadership Experience

As a physician, you will be a leader and team member in many ways – with your patients, your staff, your colleagues, and in your community.

Examples include offices held in organizations, committee work; leadership in church activities; coordinating a project; managing, training, supervising at work or in other activities; teaching experience of any kind; coaching; peer counseling or mentoring, etc.

Competitive applicants complete 3 different experiences each lasting 3 months or longer in the 4 years before they matriculate.

Physician Shadowing

This should be one of your first experiences as a premedical student. Observing a physician in action will help you gather the information you need to fully commit to the profession and to learn about a variety of medical specialties.

Many students find physicians to shadow through volunteer experiences at medical facilities. You should shadow both M.D and D.O. doctors.

Competitive applicants shadow 3-5 different physicians, spending at least 8-10 hours with each, and have a good balance between primary care and non-primary care physicians.

Student Doctor Network – 15 Mar 24

How to Assess Your Pre-Professional Competencies - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

Est. reading time: 10 minutes

From the University of Utah SOM’ s admission page:

Activity Recommendations

Applicants are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities that are of interest to them and support their goals toward becoming a physician.

All activities must have occurred since high school graduation and are encouraged to align with the AAMC Premed Competencies for Entering Medical Students.

Please note that examples listed below are not comprehensive and are provided as application guidance. Each applicant is encouraged to list their own unique experiences to present their strongest application.

Clinical Experience

Experiences in a clinical setting demonstrating a commitment to medicine and providing patient care, understanding of the typical day of a physician, and/or interaction with different specialties, medical environments, and patient populations.

Examples of clinical experiences may include:

Shadowing or working with physicians (MD or DO).

Employment as a medical scribe and/or within clinical research.

Patient care roles that interface with physicians or other healthcare professionals (including but not limited to CNA, dialysis tech, EKG tech, EMT, medical assistant, patient advocate, phlebotomist, psych tech, RN, LPN, midwife, military medic, medical interpretation, etc.)

Volunteering in health care roles that allow a person to observe or participate in one or more aspect(s) of the clinical care experience.

Any other clinical experiences that may not directly interface with physicians but have been valuable as part of your overall exploration of medicine.

Community Engagement

Experiences demonstrating a commitment to service and community involvement.

Examples of community engagement activities may include:

Unpaid volunteer experiences (clinical and non-clinical)

Paid community engagement activities (e.g., employment with a non-profit organization)

Community outreach through campus clubs or local organizations

Service activities resulting in positive impact on the communities served and a willingness to contribute to the welfare of others.

Leadership

Demonstrated experiences showcasing one’s abilities to lead, make decisions, and/or hold positions of responsibility.

Examples of leadership activities may include:

Positions of responsibility of others through employment, school, religious groups, clubs, or community service.

Positions of responsibility related to managing projects or outcomes.

Intellectual Curiosity

Involvement in activities that demonstrate initiative, achievements, and evidence of continued learning and growth as it relates to research, academia, or professional endeavors.

Examples of intellectual curiosity activities may include:

Research – Including, but not limited to: Research completed as part of a class or project, demonstrated understanding of the research process, experiences and the functions of working in a lab environment. Research may be completed across a variety of subjects and specialties.

Academic Projects and Achievements – Including, but not limited to: Thesis, capstone projects, poster presentations, awards or recognitions, academic endeavors or achievements that further one’s education or skills.

Professional Growth and Career Endeavors – Including, but not limited to: Career Certifications (EMT, CPR, CNA, etc.), business involvement or entrepreneurship, professional development courses or certificates, organizational memberships/participation (national groups/organizations), conference attendance, leadership forums, etc.), other impactful projects or achievements related to one’s employment or career goals.

Additional Activities

Applicants may have activities that may not fit into one designated category but may be valuable to their application.

Examples of additional activities may include:

Creative endeavors or extracurricular activities

Military service

Caring for or being the primary caretaker of an ill family member

Full time employment or other activities that may have impacted their application to medical school Activity Recommendations

Applicants are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities that are of interest to them and support their goals toward becoming a physician.

All activities must have occurred since high school graduation and are encouraged to align with the AAMC Premed Competencies for Entering Medical Students.

Please note that examples listed below are not comprehensive and are provided as application guidance. Each applicant is encouraged to list their own unique experiences to present their strongest application.

Clinical Experience

Experiences in a clinical setting demonstrating a commitment to medicine and providing patient care, understanding of the typical day of a physician, and/or interaction with different specialties, medical environments, and patient populations.

Examples of clinical experiences may include:

Shadowing or working with physicians (MD or DO).

Employment as a medical scribe and/or within clinical research.

Patient care roles that interface with physicians or other healthcare professionals (including but not limited to CNA, dialysis tech, EKG tech, EMT, medical assistant, patient advocate, phlebotomist, psych tech, RN, LPN, midwife, military medic, medical interpretation, etc.)

Volunteering in health care roles that allow a person to observe or participate in one or more aspect(s) of the clinical care experience.

Any other clinical experiences that may not directly interface with physicians but have been valuable as part of your overall exploration of medicine.

Community Engagement

Experiences demonstrating a commitment to service and community involvement.

Examples of community engagement activities may include:

Unpaid volunteer experiences (clinical and non-clinical)

Paid community engagement activities (e.g., employment with a non-profit organization)

Community outreach through campus clubs or local organizations

Service activities resulting in positive impact on the communities served and a willingness to contribute to the welfare of others.

Leadership

Demonstrated experiences showcasing one’s abilities to lead, make decisions, and/or hold positions of responsibility.

Examples of leadership activities may include:

Positions of responsibility of others through employment, school, religious groups, clubs, or community service.

Positions of responsibility related to managing projects or outcomes.

Intellectual Curiosity

Involvement in activities that demonstrate initiative, achievements, and evidence of continued learning and growth as it relates to research, academia, or professional endeavors.

Examples of intellectual curiosity activities may include:

Research – Including, but not limited to: Research completed as part of a class or project, demonstrated understanding of the research process, experiences and the functions of working in a lab environment. Research may be completed across a variety of subjects and specialties.

Academic Projects and Achievements – Including, but not limited to: Thesis, capstone projects, poster presentations, awards or recognitions, academic endeavors or achievements that further one’s education or skills.

Professional Growth and Career Endeavors – Including, but not limited to: Career Certifications (EMT, CPR, CNA, etc.), business involvement or entrepreneurship, professional development courses or certificates, organizational memberships/participation (national groups/organizations), conference attendance, leadership forums, etc.), other impactful projects or achievements related to one’s employment or career goals.

Additional Activities

Applicants may have activities that may not fit into one designated category but may be valuable to their application.

Examples of additional activities may include:

Creative endeavors or extracurricular activities

Military service

Caring for or being the primary caretaker of an ill family member

Full time employment or other activities that may have impacted their application to medical school