Life Beyond the Courses
“If in the last few years you haven't discarded a major opinion or acquired a new one, check your pulse. You may be dead.”
– G. Burgess
Medical schools are looking for well-rounded individuals who are interested in a wide variety of areas and have demonstrated their interest in medicine and people. Students should take advantage of the many opportunities to obtain patient contact and observe the practice of medicine. It is relatively easy to assist a student in arranging a job shadow with physicians in their hometown, with alumni, or with physicians in the Twin Cities. Internships, especially in the biosciences, during Interim in the student's sophomore or junior year work well.
Work experiences during the academic year and summer demonstrate to medical schools organization, initiative, motivation, and the ability to accept responsibility. Medical students want students who have direct experience with patients (not just observation), broad cultural sensitivity, and comfort with diversity. Many successful St. Olaf medical students have found off-campus courses or semester abroad programs very helpful and, in some instances, a critical component in their acceptance to medical school. Volunteering or working in a hospital, clinic or nursing home can also be very useful. Some students volunteer at the Northfield Hospital Emergency Room – a special opportunity exists for students fluent in Spanish to translate as well as observe at a local medical clinic (see Ted Johnson for details).
Many summer enrichment programs are available for students from underserved or disadvantaged urban or rural backgrounds. Minnesota Future Doctors is a six-week summer experience at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities campus designed to give undergraduates exposure to medicine (contact Dr. Jo Peterson; application deadline is February 15). Another source of support and information for disadvantaged students is Aspiringdocs.org.
Medical schools are also interested in students who have demonstrated compassion and empathy through volunteer activities. Great opportunities include volunteering one-on-one with a hospice program or as home aide for an AIDS patient or with a local free clinic such as Health Finders in Dundas, crisis-line counseling, working with physically disabled or developmentally delayed individuals, volunteering at Laura Baker School, and working with abuse victims or troubled youth. Institutions like the University of Minnesota value one-on-one volunteering highly, as it enhances the student's goal orientation, cooperation, organization, self-discipline, tolerance, empathy, and confidence. Students should make good use of their summers and spring breaks! Do not leave all your volunteering and service for the year you are applying. Medical schools want a long period of involvement; depth is better than breadth.
Students should maintain a high level of involvement in extra-curricular activities. They should be selective and involve themselves in activities they are genuinely interested in. Extensive involvement in a few activities ranging from music to athletics to Tri-Beta leading to leadership opportunities is most beneficial. "Padding" one's resume is usually quite obvious and can do more harm than good. Balance is important; over-extended students usually suffer academically. Students need to carefully plan and organize their extra-curricular activities to fit their academic load.
Some helpful advice from Madgetta Dungy, former University of Minnesota Director of Admissions:
"The Admission Committee wants to know who an individual is. Academically, they have to be able to complete the rigors of medical education. However, we also want to see a demonstrated background of concern and service to others. What influences them and motivates them to a career in the practice of medicine? We look for people who are academically superior with a broad educational background, who have taken the opportunity to do volunteer services.
“What makes a candidate competitive? Strength in academics and communication skills, strong faculty recommendations, volunteer experiences, participation in student organizations and/or research, intellectual curiosity, and demonstrating many positive personal attributes such as compassion, leadership, sensitivity, motivation for a career in medicine, and the ability to deal with stress."
Research experience, although not required, may be very beneficial to a student. The quality of the personal involvement in the research is more important than the discipline involved. Students may pursue a research project with a St. Olaf professor or with someone off-campus usually after the sophomore of junior year. The experience of conducting a research project will help students clarify their goals and perhaps lead to an interest in clinical research or a combined MD/Ph.D. Some research-oriented medical schools such as University of Chicago , Washington University or Northwestern University , will give additional consideration to a student who has successfully participated in a research project.
The Health Professions Email Alias advertises opportunities for students seeking experience in the health professions. Email Karen Renneke with your class year to sign up for the alias.
Back to Table of Contents
<<Previous: Sample Schedules for Individual Majors
>>Next: Medical College Admission Test