Please advise on what is the best activity for the summer for the the rising junior? Looking to apply to BA/MD program in the future… Any suggestions for college affiliated medical programs for high school students that are competitive and look good on a resume?
We have no idea what you have done. Or how you’ve researched what these programs do look for.
Do not choose an activity because it will ‘look good in a resume’.
You should try to get patient facing experience which can be difficult for a high schooler. Consider volunteering in a hospital, or a physician’s office in an area where you will have patient contact, even if just directing people where they need to go.
In some states those under 18 can also become CNA assistants. Do your research and see what opportunities are available to you.
It is not necessary, and can even be a disadvantage to participating in expensive paid experiences. Focus on your community. Good luck.
There is a separate section in CC and here is the link. You can review and search these threads to get answers for many of your questions related to BS/MD.
Agree with @Mwfan1921 . Don’t do any thing just for resume.
Thanks for the advice. Will definitely look through the older threads.
My daughter is already a volunteer at a local hospital but was looking to supplement with more advanced medical/research/shadowing experience during the summer. As an example, she was looking at this program at Stanford http://med.stanford.edu/medcsi.html
If you “don’t do anything just for the resume,” how do you really expect an admit? These programs have expectations. And that’s not “did only what I wanted.” The point is to show your vision, follow through and some stretch.
Yes to patient-facing experience (healthcare delivery,) but shadowing matters more while in college, than for the UG admit. Pay-to-play summer programs are not a tip into a competitive bsmd program. The bar is a lot more than just being in the environment or observing.
She really needs the hard work, where she can have some impact. How she chooses community service can matter- eg, working with healthcare advocacy, what she does now at the hospital, etc. It’s not just research, either. Before they take admits, they want to see the kid tested the interest in becoming a doctor and can make the commitment.
Thing is, it’s true some opps are tough for hs kids to get. But she will face competition from plenty of others who did pull together the experiences.
There are many programs nationwide where there is no fees. But all the programs have extensive application process (including getting LOR from HS) and time consuming similar to UG application. At the end, you may not get a break also.
Or she can do any volunteer programs who are under-served in a consistent way for a long period of time.
Don’t do anything just to have a check box in application. Personally I am not a fan of any programs which charges so much including the Stanford program link you mentioned. That is not going to give any special treatment in BS/MD admission.