Translating Pre-Medical Experiences into Clinical Skills

As a pre-medical student in college, it can be overwhelming deciding how to allocate your time outside of classes. A good first step is to try a variety of activities and to intently pursue those that fulfill you the most. While you should take into account admission requirements and experiences to maximize your competitiveness (i.e. clinical experiences, research, and volunteer service), the driving force for how you spend your free time should be where your passions lie. Ultimately, pursuing your passions will inherently make you a stronger (and more unique) applicant. Now that I have finished my core requirements as a third-year medical student, I have the hindsight to celebrate my pre-medical experiences as not just a bridge to medical school acceptance but also as a contributor to my character’s bedrock. Here are five of my pre-medical experiences and their impact on my ability to serve as a clinician. Camp Counselor I spent three summers in college as a counselor for Camp Kesem, a free summer camp serving children affected by a parent’s cancer. This was my first time being given a great deal of responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of another person, something I now do each day on the wards. I quickly learned the necessity of adjusting my counselor approach for each camper so I could identify and address what they needed each moment, as well as the value of spending extra time with campers who struggled with communication or the adjustment to c...
Source: Academic Medicine Blog - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Source Type: blogs