Admissions committees expect applicants to have a realistic understanding of the profession that they seek to enter. Gaining this exposure can take many forms and should start early in your undergraduate career, with your time-commitment and responsibilities evolving as you get closer to application. Some health professional schools require hands-on experience as part of your application portfolio and all programs strongly recommend it.
We encourage you to reflect on the following as you assess your involvement in clinical arenas:
- Have you had more than one sustained experience volunteering in hospitals, clinics, or private offices?
- Did you interact with patients?
- Have you shadowed, or observed, healthcare professionals?
- What did you learn about health care and the profession through this experience?
As you embark on new clinical activities and deepen your existing ones, don't forget to reflect on what you're observing and learning.
Not sure how or where to gain experience?
- View our list of Manhattan hospitals and their volunteer departments
- Investigate the AAMC's directory of pipeline and outreach programs
- Explore the AAMC's database of summer enrichment programs for undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in medicine and dentistry.
- Browse a curated listed of summer clinical and research opportunities for prehealth students on the NAAHP website
- Review the "Get Experience" section of the AAMC's website for helpful suggestions and resources
Get the most out of your clinical experiences by reading the Guidelines for Clinical Shadowing Experiences for Pre-Medical Students authored by the Association of American Medical College’s (AAMC) Group on Student Affair’s (GSA), Committee on Admissions (COA) in consultation with National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP), the American Medical Association (AMA), and Dr. Elizabeth Kitsis (Albert Einstein COM)
Thinking about gaining clinical experience abroad? Review these important resources before buying your ticket:
- Read the AAMC's Guidelines for Premedical and Medical Students Providing Patient Care During Clinical Experiences Abroad
- Read the ADEA's Guidelines for Predental Students Providing Patient Care During Clinical Experiences Abroad
- Check out the University of Minnesota's Global Ambassadors for Patient Safety (GAPS) workshop