Are you currently a freshman in college who aspires to attend medical school in the future? Are you unsure of how to get there? Or do you think it’s too early to start thinking about the future? Well, it’s never too early to get started on the right track. Today I will provide you with some valuable tips and suggestions to help prepare you for medical school, even if you are just a freshman.
Getting into medical school can be really challenging, so it’s important to start your preparations for medical school as early as possible to ensure a smooth journey leading up to applying so that you can have the strongest application possible.
As a freshman, you should begin by researching majors to see which best suits you. Although you can major in anything you’d like and medical schools appreciate well-rounded students, some popular pre-med majors are biology, chemistry, psychology, physics, or a related science. Some of these majors are helpful as they can overlap with and help you fulfill prerequisite courses for medical school. However, it is important to choose a major that you enjoy and are confident that you can receive good grades in. You can (and should) choose any major that you want!
You should also work on developing healthy study habits so that you can succeed in your classes all throughout college. As a freshman it may take some time to get used to your classes and to discover studying methods that work for you.
The next thing you can do is start researching different medical schools and get an idea of which you’d like to apply for and ideally attend. This is useful because it can help you map out your courses and see which courses you need to take each year to be on track with your prerequisites for those schools. However, prerequisites vary only slightly from school to school. You can also note their GPA minimums and MCAT scores. This can help give you an idea of your chances of getting in and what grades you should aim to receive.
You can also start to get involved on campus, one way of which by joining the Binghamton Pre-Med Association (PMA). By doing so, you can build connections with other pre-med students and gain valuable information regarding medical education and the application process. This can help support you through your journey of becoming a physician.
You might also be interested in looking for local volunteer opportunities in order to start gaining clinical experience. If you are interested in learning more about local volunteer opportunities in Binghamton, then you should check out my previous blog: Three local Binghamton volunteering opportunities related to healthcare.
Aside from these, you should also explore other extracurricular activities and interests that you may have. Extracurricular activities generally can make you more well-rounded and can strengthen your application. Seeking out leadership positions within these can also be beneficial when building your resume.
Overall, as a freshman, you shouldn’t stress too much about medical school, and you don’t need to have everything perfectly mapped out. But, if you are really set on becoming a physician, it is helpful to give it some thought and planning early on.
I wish you luck on your journey of becoming a physician’s assistant!
If you need any more assistance with career exploration or any other career related services, you can always feel free to visit the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development for more support.
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