Becoming a doctor is a lofty ambition. One that requires dedication, an impressive GPA, extracurricular activities, volunteer hours, and a clear passion for medicine. These days, you don’t necessarily need to major in biology to be on track for pre-med, but you do need to carefully plan for your long-term goals. The earlier you can define these goals and work towards them, the better.
In this comprehensive pre-med guide, we will offer valuable advice for incoming medical students, as well as review key tips for succeeding during your undergraduate studies. So if you’re looking for pre-med advice, read on for helpful tips and other valuable resources.
If you are wondering where to go for pre-med or are reflecting on the question “is pre-med worth it?”, it’s important to understand that “pre-med” is not a major or an academic program. Rather, “pre-med” is a professional trajectory — albeit one that requires a lot of planning during your undergraduate degree, but still, not a major.
So what should you major in for pre-med? Technically, you can major in anything, as long as you fulfill all of your pre-med prerequisites. That said, medical school prerequisites often overlap with various requirements for science majors, such as biology and chemistry.
Discuss your academic plans and goals with your advisor (many schools offer pre-med advisors as well, so be on the lookout for the best pre-med advising programs). Depending on your specific academic and extracurricular goals, you may find it easier to simultaneously fulfill your medical school and major prerequisites by choosing to major in a science.
That said, medical schools value diversity, so feel free to consider some of the most popular college majors and programs in 2022 as well.
The most important factor to consider when determining how to prepare for pre-med is to figure out your medical school prerequisites and prioritize taking them during your freshman and sophomore years of college. This will help you stay on track. It may even help to add some more flexibility to your schedule so that you can take more electives or major in something other than a science.
Here are some of the most common medical school prerequisites:
You might also want to consider taking some of the following courses:
One way to confirm your pre-med prerequisites is to visit the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) database. This online database helps prospective medical students compare and contrast various medical school requirements. There are also helpful worksheets and checklists to help you stay organized during your undergraduate studies.
Start researching prospective medical schools early. That way you can email their admissions office directly, to gain further insight on their medical school requirements, as well as other valuable advice or insights they may have to offer.
Make sure that you know how to write an email to a college admissions office before reaching out. You want to do your best to be professional, ask compelling questions, and be respectful of the email recipient’s time.
It’s important to form good study habits during your freshman year and to follow any pre-med study tips you’ve received from your advisors or members of a pre-med club or society. You need a competitive GPA to gain admission to medical school, so academics need to be a priority.
Admissions committees will look at both your science GPA as well as your overall GPA. While it’s important to do well in all of your courses, if you are struggling with any of your science or math courses, it’s important to receive extra help right away.
Visit your professor’s office hours in addition to your school’s tutoring center. That said, make sure to seek out extra help if you are struggling with any of your courses. Medical schools are highly competitive and both your science GPA and your overall GPA will be huge admissions factors.
One of the best tips for pre-med students is to engage in meaningful extracurricular activities. Medical schools want to admit students who demonstrate passion, commitment, and leadership abilities. Yes, it might be easier to simply focus on your classes and relax during your free time, but if you have medical school aspirations, you will need to take every opportunity you can to distinguish yourself from your peers. Demonstrate commitment by engaging in an extracurricular activity all four years.
Ideally, you also want to try to find extracurricular activities that are related to your larger career goals in some way. For example, if you are interested in working in pediatrics, you may want to consider volunteering for “Big Brothers Big Sisters” or working at the local Boys and Girls Club in order to gain valuable experience working with children. Alternatively, if you are interested in practicing sports medicine, you may want to play an intramural sport.
One of the best ways to figure out how to know if pre-med is right for you is to engage in job shadowing opportunities. Reach out to your family’s doctor to see if they are open to having you shadow them for a shift or two. If you are part of a college pre-med society, the organization may offer shadow matching programs that can help you get started. Alternatively, you can email hospital departments or individual doctors directly to see what their job shadowing policies are.
Overall, job shadowing is a great way to start thinking about potential specializations. After all, the medical field is incredibly varied so it’s important to start reflecting on your interests early.
Another important piece of freshman pre-med advice: don’t underestimate the importance of volunteer hours. Gain medical-related experience by volunteering at some of the following locations:
You may also choose to pursue alternative volunteer opportunities. Choose something you are passionate about and do your best to engage meaningfully and explore leadership opportunities.
While volunteering and job shadowing will help you get a better idea of whether or not you want to be a doctor, gaining actual medical work experience will give you a very clear idea of whether or not you really want to devote your life to practicing medicine.
Thankfully, there are some great and accessible medical jobs available to you as an undergraduate student.
A Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA), also known as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), is a medical professional who works under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). Their duties often include feeding and bathing patients, sterilizing equipment, stocking supplies, and changing linens.
To become an LNA or CNA, you will need to complete your high school diploma or GED, take an LNA training course, and pass your exam (state specific). LNA courses typically take between 6 to 18 months, depending on the program. There are also lots of online, self-paced LNA training courses.
An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is a medical professional who works alongside paramedics, firefighters, and police officers. EMTs are first responders who respond to 911 calls, transport patients to hospitals and perform basic medical tasks. Many EMTs work for hospitals, fire departments, police departments, and ambulance services.
To become an EMT, you will have to join an EMT training program, complete 120 to 150 training hours, and pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam.
Other valuable advice for pre-med students includes engaging in undergraduate research opportunities. Not only will this look great on your resume and medical school application, but it will also help you better decide if you are truly interested in practicing medicine, as opposed to conducting medical research.
Public universities, such as the top public universities in the West, are known for their research programs and often offer undergraduate students opportunities to work with graduate students in the labs. Reach out to your professors to see if they need an assistant or if there are any research opportunities available to you. Some colleges even have a website where they post campus jobs available to undergraduate students.
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The MCAT covers topics related to medical school prerequisites, such as biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, and statistics. So while it’s important to create a study schedule for the MCAT and use various MCAT study resources, it is equally important to do well in these courses, take advantage of your professors’ office hours, and ensure that you understand all of the concepts covered in these courses.
Again, it’s important to study for exams, but studying for the MCAT will feel impossible if you didn’t prioritize learning the subject matter when you were enrolled in these courses.
You will likely have to complete an interview during your medical school applications. This is why it is important to practice your interview skills. As a starting point, review some of the most popular college interview questions and how to answer them.
You will also want to reflect thoughtfully on why you want to be a doctor. Prepare a clear, compelling response. You should be able to answer the question “why pre-med?” thoughtfully and thoroughly. Pre-med is a difficult track to pursue, so why did you do it?
Finally, you will want to review key tips and strategies for how to answer the “tell me about yourself” interview question.
There are lots of pre-med tips available to you. If you feel overwhelmed or feel like you could benefit from professional guidance, reach out to learn more about our services.
Pre-med is a career path, not a major. So, what should a doctor focus on in college? Start by choosing the major you do want, as long as it helps you meet the requirements for medical school. Follow that by keeping excellent science and overall GPAs, as well as engaging in relevant extracurricular activity all four years.
An SAT study plan and schedule will help you reach your goals! Consider hiring an ACT or SAT tutor who can teach you test-taking skills and strategies and update you on 2022 college admissions trends. As your test date approaches, it's important to eat and sleep well the night before, have reliable transportation, and know what's expected of you.
At some point in your career, you'll need to resign and get good references. Maybe you've outgrown your job and want new challenges, or perhaps you're unhappy in your current job and want a change. Whatever your reasons for resigning, the process may seem overwhelming. We'll cover how to resign without burning bridges and how to get great reference letters.
At some point during your career, you will likely have to learn how to resign from your job and how to get good references during the process. Maybe you’ve outgrown your current position and are eager to take on new challenges. Or maybe you don’t feel fulfilled in your current position and are intent on finding a new career.
Regardless of your specific reasons for wanting to resign, the process may seem overwhelming at first. In this article, we will review key tips and strategies for resigning from your current position and transitioning into your new job — including how to resign without burning bridges and how to make a professional reference list.
The key to knowing how to resign from a job professionally and respectfully mostly comes down to remaining positive, expressing gratitude, and showing consideration for your employer as you pursue an alternative professional trajectory. Do your best to be kind, considerate, and follow good communication practices throughout the process.
Before you worry too much about how to resign from a job you just started or how to resign professionally, reflect carefully on your reasons for wanting to resign. There are lots of reasons why people can find it difficult to know how to stay motivated at work.
Some of these reasons can be addressed without having to leave your job. If this is the case, it is important to identify this early and address the real underlying issues. If, however, you are experiencing signs of a toxic work environment or have realized that you want to transition careers, offering your official resignation is often the first step in pursuing your professional goals.
In most cases, if you leave your job voluntarily, you will not be eligible to collect unemployment. If, however, you had a compelling reason for leaving — such as harassment — you may be able to collect unemployment.
How many weeks’ notice to resign? Typically, if you want to know how to resign gracefully, it’s important to give at least two weeks’ notice. That said, in some industries your employer may require more time to find a suitable replacement. This is often the case if you have a specialized position.
Sometimes staying at your job a few extra weeks to smooth the transition is advisable, especially if you want to know how to resign on good terms and how to get good references in the process. If you have another job lined up, check in to see if your start date is flexible. You want to leave your current position as smoothly as possible, but not at the expense of inconveniencing your new employer. Review your company’s official resignation policies to help you best plan this transition.
Also, it’s important to keep in mind that sometimes you will need to know how to resign from a job immediately — whether due to a family emergency, a toxic work environment, an illness, etc. If this is the case, there are still ways to leave your job on a positive note and ensure that you will receive a positive work reference in the future.
It’s important to follow the appropriate steps when resigning from your job. This will help ensure that you leave your company on good terms with management and your coworkers. You never know when you might encounter your coworkers again in a future employment opportunity. This is why it’s important to remain positive and professional when you resign from your position.
If you are planning to resign from your current position, follow these 5 steps to help smooth the transition and foster goodwill.
Conduct necessary research before you talk to anyone at your company about leaving your job. Offering two weeks’ notice is a common courtesy for most jobs, but, depending on your industry and specific position, you may need to offer more notice.
Alternatively, some jobs may require you to leave immediately upon offering your resignation. If this is the case, it’s important to plan ahead by saving any necessary computer files and giving yourself time to pack up your office.
It’s also important to know that companies are not required to schedule you for your last two weeks once you offer your resignation. This can be an important financial consideration as you move forward.
You will also want to find out other official policies related to resigning, such as whether by leaving you will forfeit any of the following: upcoming bonuses, severance pay, holiday entitlements, insurance benefits, retirement accounts, and company stock contributions.
It’s always best to resign in person. Schedule a meeting with your manager. Keep your request to meet general. (There’s no need to tell them you are resigning before the meeting). Just make sure they put you on their schedule.
Plan out what you are going to say beforehand. Do your best to stay positive while briefly stating your reasons for resigning. This is not a time to air grievances. If you would like to offer constructive feedback, however, do your best to remain positive (or at least neutral).
During your meeting, it’s important to thank your manager for their time and for the opportunity to work with them. Briefly discuss some positive experiences you had while at the company. Then clearly state when your last day will be.
Are resignation letters necessary? In short, yes. Write a brief, professional letter stating your resignation. Sign and date this letter and clearly state your last day. Send a copy to your manager, HR, and keep a copy for yourself.
Depending on your company, you may be asked to complete an exit interview. It’s important to note that what you say during this meeting will be recorded and kept on file. That said, do your best to remain diplomatic. If you had a negative experience at this company, don’t feel like you have to lie. You do, however, always want to remain professional. Your exit interview and your letter of resignation will often be the first documents that your new employer will access.
Now that you know the proper steps for offering your resignation, let’s look at some tips to help you best navigate this process.
If you want to secure a good work reference after leaving, it’s important not to slack off during your last few weeks. Maintain your work ethic and continue to meet deadlines. You want your boss to remember you as an efficient and competent worker.
Leave on a high note by working hard to wrap up any loose ends. You may even choose to leave a personal email where you can be reached with any questions — although this certainly is not necessary.
If possible, always resign in person. Knowing how to resign verbally is fairly straightforward. Be brief, clear, and kind. Then follow up with an email or a printed-out version of your letter of resignation. If you need to know how to resign in person, these are the best steps to take.
That said, remote workers will need to know how to resign when working from home, i.e. how to resign over the phone or how to resign over email. The same concepts apply. Be brief and kind. Specify your last day clearly.
Do your best to always remain positive and professional. If you don’t have positive things to say about your company, keep your comments brief and general. Again, this is not the time to rant or air grievances.
Sending thank you notes to your manager and team members can be a nice touch. It will also help ensure that you leave on a positive note and that people remember you well.
Don’t gossip with your coworkers. Keep your reasons for leaving consistent. Tell your coworkers what you told management. This will help keep your reputation intact.
Depending on your professional goals, you may decide to work for a competitor. If this is the case, you may receive a counteroffer from your current employer, especially if you are a competent worker. Keep this in mind as you bring up the topic of your resignation.
If you are intent on leaving your current position, tell your manager that you have accepted another job offer and tell them when your last day will be. If, however, there is a possibility that you may want to stay with your current company, tell your manager that you received (not accepted) another job offer, then gauge their reaction. They may discuss the possibility of a counteroffer or they may wish you luck at your next job. Be prepared for either.
Receiving a new job offer can be exciting. Especially if it comes with a higher salary and more benefits. If you receive a counteroffer, however, staying may be worth considering. Reflect on your options carefully before moving forward. Depending on your situation, you may even consider consulting a career counselor.
As you continue your career, you may find yourself wondering who makes a good reference for a job or how to ask for a work reference. Generally, former managers make the best work references. This is why it is important to do your best to leave on good terms by being kind and considerate.
If you leave your current position with a new job offer, congratulations! If not, your next steps will include preparing a cover letter and practicing your interview skills. Regardless of where you are in your career, if you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance, reach out to learn more about our services.
