Life Experiences

The admissions committee values applicant experiences in the following areas.

Health care exposure

Premedical organizations, health-related courses or clinical training, employment or volunteering at a health care facility, including nursing homes, medical research involving contact with patients or patient records, primary health care provider, work with medically underserved populations or rural medicine programs, participation in health care pipeline programs.

Shadowing

Candidates are expected to have at least 35 hours of U.S.-based shadowing. Shadowing in at least two specialties is expected.

Volunteer/community service

Social and other campus, community and faith-based organizations, campus ambassador/recruiter, disaster relief, mentoring/tutoring/coaching and other

Leadership/responsibility

Elected office, supervisor or other role with responsibility in social or other campus, governmental or military organizations, mentoring/tutoring/coaching

Research

Employment or volunteer work in a basic science or clinical laboratory

Employment

Any part- or full-time employment concurrent with or independent of enrollment in school

Other significant time commitments

Participation in collegiate, semi- or professional level athletics (including cheerleading) or artistic endeavors (theater, band, orchestra) and other major time commitments beyond those already listed

Admissions File Review Committee (AFRC)

Three members of a AFRC, whose access to an American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS®) application is limited to Work/Activities and Essay sections only, read and score activities in each area of interest. Scores are based on the number of activities, the length of time devoted to each activity, the quality, or lack thereof, of the description of the activity.

Experience scores are used to screen applicants for interviews, render admissions committee decisions and post-application counseling for unsuccessful applicants.