Understanding qualifications

• A clear understanding of the profession you hope to enter

• Experience with the patients with whom you hope to work (human or animal)

• The desire, motivation, and ability to serve others with empathy and compassion

• Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds

• Your story: evidence of who you are and what drives you

• Ethical behavior and decision-making

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Resilience & maturity

• Academic readiness 

• Stay informed. Sign up for the pre-health mailing list and attend workshops and events.

• Connect. Ask for help from many sources, and meet with a pre-health advisor early and regularly, even if you are not sure about your career path.

• Plan. Understand the timetable for preparation; plan for fitting that timetable with your goals while remaining flexible and open to change. 

• Fulfill prerequisites. Understand what prerequisite courses are required, and have a plan for completing them successfully, and in a timely manner.

• Explore academics. Pick a major you love. Select courses from a range of academic disciplines. A liberal arts background will serve you well.

• Write a lot. Read a lot. Speak a lot. Skills in these areas are critical and will, among other things, improve your performance on entrance exams, written applications, and interviews. Take relevant courses. Give presentations. Keep a journal.

• Get experience in the field you hope to enter. Connect with patients and practitioners.

• Do a research project. It doesn’t have to be in the medical field, or even science. Independent research demonstrates your problem-solving and analysis skills.

• Become a leader on campus. Be open to things you have not previously considered.

• Find your passion. Professional schools want to get to know you, so let them. You might pursue a passion through honors work, study abroad, summer study, internships, community service, leadership, athletics, or campus involvement – wherever your strengths and interests lie.

• Study. Take your entrance exam seriously, allow for ample study time, and only take the exam when you are fully prepared to do well.

• Reflect. Reflection and self assessment are critical elements of preparing for professional school, and during the application process itself it will be important to reflect on past experiences.

• Take your time. Preparing for professional school is a marathon, not a sprint.

Ongoing self assessment is an important element of your preparations. Try these tools and tips:

• Read about the Core Competencies for entering medical students. Although designed by MD-granting schools, this list is applicable to any health profession.

• Listen to the All Access: Med School Admissions podcast. 

• Pre-health office initial self assessment: Best for students or graduates who are new to pre-health and just beginning their preparations.

• Anatomy of an Applicant tool: A self-assessment guide from the AAMC. Good for pre-medical students who are at least one year into their preparations.

• Self-assessment and action plan: A detailed self-assessment tool for MHC students and graduates. Good for anyone with any health profession interest, at least one year into preparations. MHC pre-health office staff have access to self-assessments completed with this tool, but we do not review them unless requested.

• Start journaling: A great way to keep track of your experiences is to write about them. Include your questions and your reflections. Over time, you will see how your skills and perspectives are growing and changing. Here are some tips on journaling from the pre-health offices at Princeton University and Missouri State University.

• Meet regularly with a pre-health advisor.