Whether you volunteer at your local soup kitchen, tutor underserved school children in math, or educate people about climate change, dedication to serving your community is an important quality of any physician. Using your skills outside of the clinical setting can demonstrate that you are a well-rounded candidate with a genuine interest in helping others! Many medical schools also have a large focus on serving the community in ways outside of clinical care, so if you really enjoyed your non-clinical volunteering experiences, we recommend applying to some of these schools!
If you find a club or organization whose mission you believe in, see if you can join the club and, eventually, the leadership team! Leadership is not only a great way to show commitment to a cause, but also to demonstrate proactivity. Holding a leadership role can show that you not only care about making a difference in the community, but are dedicated, disciplined, and confident enough to take on more responsibility.
Don't worry about rushing into something your freshman year. If you take time to learn about the different opportunities available on your campus through school websites and club fairs, you'll have a higher chance of finding something you genuinely enjoy. Leadership roles also help you develop skills and practices physicians embody in their work: strong communication skills, the ability to work in a team, and experience with conflict resolution. But remember, it's not about finding what "looks best," it's about finding what fits right with who you are!
Access to health care does not look the same for everybody. From language differences, to socioeconomic barriers, to contending perspectives on Western medicine, where people come from plays a large part in dictating how and whether their health care needs are met. Given the diverse population many of you will go on to serve, it is important that you take time to learn from the communities around you. Whether you join a cultural organization you identify with, volunteer in a community setting you are unfamiliar with, or take a class about perspectives you know little about, there is a lot you can do to broaden your horizons and understand the efforts being made towards creating health equity.
If you have a passion for the arts, don't let that go! Whether you are part of an improv group, a competitive dance team, or are a freelance graphic designer, write about it! Considering medicine is an art as much as it is a science, it is easy to see why this can make you a stronger candidate for medical school. Creative outlets are not only a great way to stand out as an applicant, but a terrific way to maintain a balanced schedule throughout this hectic process. Of course, artistic experiences are by no means a necessary component of your application!