Gain Experience

Why is experience so critical for pre-health students? There are a number of ways that it can benefit you, including: 

• Confirming career choice: Experience allows pre-med students to gain firsthand exposure to the medical field and healthcare settings. 
• Understanding the healthcare system: Experience provides pre-health students with a deeper understanding of the healthcare system, including its structure, functions, and challenges. Understanding the healthcare system is crucial for aspiring health professionals to navigate their future careers effectively.
• Building a well-rounded application: Health professional schools typically value applicants who have a diverse range of experiences. Participating in healthcare-related activities, such as volunteering at hospitals or clinics, conducting research, or engaging in community health initiatives, demonstrates a commitment to service, compassion, and a genuine interest in healthcare. These experiences can make a pre-health student's application more competitive and compelling.
• Developing essential skills: Experience provides pre-med students with opportunities to develop and hone essential skills required in the health professions. Skills such as communication, teamwork, empathy, problem-solving, and time management are crucial for healthcare professionals. Through experiences like interacting with patients, working in healthcare settings, or conducting research, pre-health students can cultivate and demonstrate these skills.
• Exposure to diverse patient populations: Healthcare experience exposes pre-health students to a diverse range of patient populations, including individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses. This exposure promotes cultural competence and helps students understand the unique healthcare needs and challenges faced by various communities.
• Networking and mentorship opportunities: Engaging in healthcare experiences allows pre-health students to build networks and establish connections with healthcare professionals, researchers, and mentors. 
• Demonstrating commitment and dedication: Experience in healthcare settings shows health professional schools that pre-health students are dedicated to their chosen career path. It indicates a willingness to invest time, effort, and energy in gaining practical experience and understanding the realities of patient care.