Medical School Prep

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

Hello everyone!
I am currently a student at Golden West Community college and I am looking to transfer to a UC. I was just wondering if anyone could give me some insight on what extracurricular I should be doing now to build my resume for when I apply to medical school. Also, I am kind of concerned about how I’m going to be able to make connections with professors/ get research and internship opportunities at the UC that I end up transferring to. Do opportunities like these come harder for transfer students? Will it be harder to make connections with professors as a transfer? And what extracurricular should I try to do now/ when I transfer?
Thanks so much!

2

ECs expected in medical school applicants–

  1. community service with the disadvantaged (you can start this now)

  2. physicians shadowing (you can do this anytime before you apply)

  3. clinical volunteering or employment (you can start this now)

  4. leadership roles in your activities (you can start this now)

  5. clinical or lab bench research --less important than the other 4 items, unless you plan on applying to research intensive medical school. (Start this after you transfer)

Research opportunities require effort to locate whether you are a transfer student or began as a freshman at the UC. You find them by contacting professors either personally (better) or via email (less effective) and asking about research opportunities. When making contact, explain why that particular lab/why the research interests you, list your relevant skills and explain what you can contribute to the lab. Write up a professional CV that you can attach to an email or hand to professor.

Finding a research lab and internship is very much like finding a job. You have to make an effort.

Making connections is all about putting yourself out there. Go to office hour and ask good questions about topics you know a professor is interested in. Make appointments with professors and lab managers to speak with them about the possibility joining the lab group ( and before you go, do your homework–read about what the lab does so you can ask strong on-topic questions), express a willingness to do whatever is needed (every newbie in the lab starts out at the bottom doing menial tasks).

Finding 1 thru 4 is on you–don’t expect much help from the university–though you can check with health professions advisor to see if they have any leads you can pursue.