Hey, I’m a Year 11 GCSE student in Dubai who really wants to go to Stanford for med school. Could you suggest me extra-curriculars I could do that would really help my app like competitions and such? I’m pretty much open to anything.
You’d need to do an undergraduate degree somewhere before medical school in the US system.
Yes, pre-med is not a major in the US. You need to think about an undergraduate degree first.
You should do at least one EC related to your undergraduate major. This doesn’t have to be competitive. You can volunteer at a hospital, for example. You can participate in science fairs, challenges, or help with research. Our high school has a club that tours hospitals and brings in speakers from the medical community to give students an idea of what working in that sector is like, and to help students plan a path to get there. Some high school students in the US study to be EMTs, and actually work in ambulances responding to emergency calls.
Just as important, you should do an activity or two NOT related to your major. This can be for fun, to show roundedness, to develop different skills or talents, and/or to challenge yourself.
Personally I think if you do a fairly solitary EC, it is good to balance that with another activity that requires group communication and interaction. Not just to get into a particular college, but because ultimately, no one wants a doctor who lacks a bedside manner.
If you are in 11 th grade, it is really too late to start a new extracurricular activity to help you get into a very selective US college like Stanford. It is extremely difficult for internationals to get accepted. They must be the best of the best. For undergrad, your extracurriculars don’t have to be medical focused but they do have to be something exceptional. The kind of activity that you just start in 11 th grade won’t be enough for selective schools.
As others have said, medical school in the US is a graduate school. You must go to undergrad for 4 years first, excel there and have medical related extracurriculars, and then apply to medical school.
Sorry to burst your or anyone’s bubble… Your not going to Stanford. Pick schools that you can get into. Think Stanford rejects like 95% of their applicants. I would say this to anyone. Do activities that you enjoy. Having 2-4 years doing the same thing.