It's the beginning of the year and, therefore, a great time for pre-meds to redouble their efforts toward their medical school goals. This year applications to medical school increased 18%, so the process has gotten even more competitive.
As always, I recommend a very focused approach that allows you to do more of what you want and less of what you don't. Think research will help your candidacy but don't like being in the lab? Consider public health or clinical investigations. Think volunteerism will bolster your application but don't like being one of a crowd in a group project? Start your own social justice initiative.
There are definitely necessary elements to any robust medical school candidacy (clinical experience, strong grades), but being a pre-med can also be fun, mind-broadening, and career-affirming.
Here are ten ways to improve your medical school application that will give you direction but also leeway to be a happy applicant - not just a strong one.
