Pre Md isn’t a major at colleges, and students generally don’t apply specifically to be pre med students. That said, we work with a lot of high school students who are interested in studying medicine, and who want to begin their explorations while still in high school.
We’ve explored the extracurriculars medical schools themselves are looking for before, but the expectations on high school students are different. In this article, we’ll look at the best activities you can participate in, and some organizations that a lot of prospective pre meds find great value in. Let’s get started!
A Note on BS/MD Students
Some students interested in medicine want to pursue BS/MD programs specifically. These have specific requirements for extracurricular activities for high school students; we cover these in our guide to BS/MD programs. While these activities can be both helpful and rewarding for students interested in medicine generally, students interested in pre-med have far more flexibility in what they pursue.
HOSA and Pre Med Students
HOSA is an organization for high school students who are interested in a career in the healthcare field, in whatever specialty or role appeals to them. Thus it is not just for students interested in being doctors, but also those interested in nursing, pharmacology, or dentistry.
Founded in 1976 as the Health Occupation Students of America, they later kept the name but dropped the acronym, and now go by Future Health Professionals. They are organized into state level chartered associations, and also have branches outside of the US. These organizations then partner with schools, most of which have their own HOSA club.
Notable among their offerings are their competitions. These are health and science related academic competitions, which are offered at the regional, state, and international level. Top performers at each level are invited to compete at the next. These competitions are held at their conferences; the dates and time of this change by the year, but it’s generally in June at a major city somewhere in the US.
The main benefit of HOSA is that it lets you connect with other students interested in medicine, and helps connect you with many resources that you will need to pursue the study of medicine in the future. It is a starting point, and allows access to topics and ideas you can then explore in more depth. While HOSA may not be the most impressive activity on your resume, it is greatly helpful to students who want to learn more about careers in medicine.
Healthcare Experience
Medicine is a big commitment, four years of undergrad, followed by medical school, then residency, and then being a doctor. It’s a lot of work, and a lot of stress, and you should have some idea of what you’re signing up for before you do it. For this, amongst other reasons, finding some way to engage with healthcare settings directly is one of the most popular (and best) activities for high school students.
Here are some ways we recommend, and which many of our students find success with.
Hospital Volunteering
Most hospitals have some form of volunteering program for high school students. These usually occur during the summer, though some are offered year round. These generally have age requirements, an application, and require you to sign up for a significant time commitment.
These aren’t glamorous positions, and many will involve you doing clerical work or helping out in other ways behind the scenes. It will give you an inside look into how hospitals function though, and allow you to interact with and learn from healthcare professionals.
Shadowing
Shadowing is generally a short term opportunity where a student or students get to follow around a doctor as they go about their duties. You don’t contribute, simply observe and take notes. Most shadowing opportunities are afforded to college students, but there are often options for high schoolers as well. These are frequently unofficial, so you may need to call doctors directly to ask.
Shadowing is useful because it helps you understand what a doctor actually does all day, and can give you a taste of the differences between different branches of medicine. You won’t learn much actual technique, but it will give you a sense as to whether this is something you would actually enjoy, and be willing to spend your time doing.
Summer Programs
There are a number of dedicated summer programs which give students access to clinical experiences. Many of these are offered through universities, such as the Stanford Anesthesiology Summer Institute. These are somewhere between classes and proper hands-on experience, and will teach you things you generally cannot learn in high school otherwise.
These are a great introduction to different aspects of medicine, and often impress on a resume. This is especially true of the more competitive programs. Make sure you know what you’re paying for however, as not all programs are as elite as they claim to be. Evaluate any summer program carefully before deciding to apply.
Other Healthcare Settings
Nursing homes, local clinics, and other non-hospital healthcare providers also often have a need for volunteers. These vary greatly by location, but allow you to learn valuable skills, and see how healthcare works in practice. These tend to be less exciting than hospital volunteering, and are seen as less glamorous, but they are no less valuable to your development.
Conducting Research
Students interested in BS/MD programs need to conduct research. Other students interested in healthcare can benefit greatly from doing this research, though it is not expected of them. While doctors sometimes conduct research, all medical advancements are made on the basis of scientific research, and having an understanding of the principles of this is quite important for a career in medicine.
In addition, medical schools will expect you to have done research in undergraduate, and having some experience already will give you a leg up when looking for positions in labs on campus. Training new lab assistants is a major time investment, and showing up with experience is exemplary.
The research does not need to be directly related to medicine, though it can be. The scientific method and the logic which underlies it remain consistent across disciplines, even if the equipment and direction of the research differ.
The best way to get involved with laboratory research is through summer programs which offer laboratory internships to high school students. These are very competitive and selective, but offer a truly unique experience. They also look quite good on your resume, precisely because they are so competitive. For more on how these programs work, see our article here.
You can also explore research on your own, as we have discussed before. It is somewhat difficult for high school students to engage in research, but it is by no means impossible. Indeed, the difficulty of performing research on your own is part of what makes it so impressive.
Major Specific Extracurriculars
As a final, but important, note, your choice of major should inform the activities you pursue. While many pre meds major in biology or chemistry, you do not have to, and your medical school acceptance chances will not be harmed by majoring in another field. Your chances of undergraduate admission are greatly impacted by your choice of major, however.
Due to the popularity of pre med as a specialization, biology is often one of the most popular, and therefore most competitive, majors available on college campuses. Some students try to get around this by choosing a different major when applying, but this can backfire. If your extracurricular involvement doesn’t paint a clear picture of why you are interested in a particular major, then admissions officers will question your sincerity.
If you intend on majoring in something other than biology, then you should consider exploring extracurriculars related to that subject. These can be in addition to, or in place of, any of the other extracurriculars and activities we mention in this article. For more advice on choosing a major strategically, and making sure it matches with your profile, see our article here.
Final Thoughts
The path to a medical degree is a long and arduous one, but is well worth it. Many students get their first taste of medicine in high school, and decide there if this is the career they truly wish to pursue. We hope this article has given you insight into how you can get your own taste of medicine, and the best extracurricular options to support your own journey.
Of course, every student is different, with their own interests and quirks. A program that works well for one may be completely unsuitable for another, and it is often hard to tell just by looking at a website what a program can really offer you. Our candidacy building program has given us a broad range of experience with different options for students interested in medicine, and we are adept at finding the right opportunities to help each student excel. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can help you.
