While medical schools need to see clinical experiences in your W&A section, they’re also looking to see non-clinical experiences that highlight your abilities in critical thinking and innovation, teamwork and collaboration, leadership, and empathy. The roles that we highlight throughout this week will demonstrate the wide-ranging experiences and qualities that you have to offer to your medical school community.
Non-Clinical Volunteering: Service is a huge part of medicine—but not all your service has to be medical. Schools like Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine that emphasize caring for the whole person will especially value roles in which you interacted with your community. Volunteering shows compassion and often builds communication and collaboration skills. Share a story where you connected with another person or collaborated with a team of other volunteers.
Such a position can also prove ingenuity. One of our clients volunteered at a non-profit that helped families register for SNAP benefits. After a couple of weeks on the job, she suggested changes to the organization's method for approaching people at family court hearings. She was able to connect with more caregivers who needed help as a result.