10 Pre-Med Tips to Create a Flawless Medical School Admissions Resume
Do you plan on applying to med school someday? Then, you need a medical school admissions resume that’s absolutely flawless. It needs to dazzle administrators responsible for reading countless applications from aspiring doctors.
An Association of American Colleges report shows that the number of people who applied to medical schools increased at a record pace in 2014. And the numbers have continued to rise over the last five years.
That means you’ll facing steep competition if you want to get into a good med school. You must impress your resume readers if you want to get accepted into the medical program of your choice.
We have tips for you. These aren’t just tips to help you format your med school resume. Use these pre-med tips to help you start making moves now, so you have what you need to put on your resume.
That way, it’s flawless when the time comes.
It’s important that you find a creative way to showcase your medical-related skills and talents to each med school to which you apply. Most require a current resume to be submitted with your application.
Here are 10 pre-med tips to help you prep your medical school admissions resume properly. You should also use these pre-med tips to help you start looking for people, places, and things to put on your medical school resume.
1. Name & Contact Info
Start your med school resume with your name in the bold, strong font. Your contact information should also be a bit bold, so it stands out.
2. Academic Achievements
Keep in mind this is not a job resume. You are applying to get into medical school. So, your academic achievements are very important. Include information related to excellent grades and high school in classes related to the medical industry.
Mention your overall GPA and any academic awards you’ve received related to the medical field. Tutoring sessions you’ve performed that focused on medicine are also relevant.
3. Extracurricular Activities
Admission departments of medical schools look for leadership and balance on applicant resumes. So, be sure to mention any and all extracurricular activities that show these qualities, even if they’re not related to medicine.
Did you run an informal or formal study group? Were you a teacher’s aide in your high school or college biology course? List any activities you participated in that exhibit your leadership and supervision skills. If it makes you look awesome, put it in your med school resume.
4. Medical Research Programs
After you’re accepted to med school, you’ll spend a lot of time doing research. Show you’ve gone above and beyond by participating in research programs before submitting your application.
Find some summer medical research groups to participate in when school is out. This gives you an advantage over the numerous competitors trying to get accepted into your favorite med school. Admissions departments like to see research on resumes, especially if the results are detailed.
Be sure to include the following:
- Name of the lab
- The instructor you studied under
- Research scope summary
- Key results of the study
5. Volunteer Work
Any volunteer work you’ve done looks very impressive on medical school resumes. This shows that you’re willing to use your free time to help others, the core of the medical industry. If you’ve volunteered abroad, this is even more captivating.
Try to provide actual results related to your volunteer work. For example, if you participated in a feminine hygiene campaign that helped improve pap smear results by 15%, be sure to mention that. Quantifiable results help make your medical school admissions resume flawless.
6. Skills That Are Transferable
Some skills are not necessarily medical-related. However, they are transferable, meaning they are relevant to your future career as a doctor.
For example, foreign language skills help you communicate with a diverse group of patients. You may even be lucky enough to land a job as a physician overseas after graduation. Child development skills may make you a prime candidate for a pediatric internship or residency later.
7. Scholarships & Grants
Any grant or scholarship you’ve been awarded based on your educational or medical abilities is extremely important. They show administrators that you know how to excel in education, even if it’s not related to pre-med.
8. Work History
Do not leave gaps in your work history. Start closing up gaps now by volunteering, taking courses or taking part in research related to medicine when you’re not working. This way, you can explain any work history gaps with extra-curricular activities related to the medical industry.
Be sure to mention:
- Your title
- Organization Name
- Work location
- Dates Worked
- Type of experience
- Any special projects
9. Red Flags
You may have to answer for anything that looks fishy on your medical school admissions resume. Administrators want to know why it took you six years to obtain your BS. They’ll also want to know about any gaps on your resume in relation to your work history.
Don’t let these red flag questions make you nervous. The way you answer them is key to getting accepted into medical school. Identify your red flags as you create your med school resume. And be prepared to answer questions about them.
10. MCAT Preparedness
Passing the MCAT is a requirement for US medical schools. The Medical College Admission Test accesses your skills in the following areas:
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Analysis writing
- Scientific concepts and principles knowledge
It’s important that you score high on the MCAT if you want to get into a good medical school in the US. The higher you score, the better your chances of getting accepted by the med school of your choice.
List all extra-curricular activities and courses you’ve taken to help you pass the MCAT on your medical school resume. This shows the people in admissions that you’re proactive about doing what it takes to launch your medical career.
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