Going beyond the expected premedical curriculum shows schools that broader learning is important to you. And, perhaps counterintuitively, that you are serious about medicine. We’ve compiled a number of courses below that will enhance your medical school application.
Calculus: Most schools want you to take a college-level math course—and this is a strong one to choose. (If you took a calculus course in high school, go for Calculus II in undergrad.) Calculus improves your comprehension of physics and chemistry. "Given that these subjects constitute a significant portion of the MCAT, it would benefit any pre-med student to learn calculus," according to an article published in Inquiro, The University of Alabama's Undergraduate Research Journal.
Statistics: If you strengthen your understanding of data, clinical studies will make much more sense. All prospective medical students would benefit from this course. If you hope to do research in medical school and beyond, definitely sign up for stats.
Behavioral Sciences: Anthropology, psychology, and sociology teach you about human beings. You'll learn to observe behaviors and extrapolate potential influences on them. That will help any student or physician in clinical work.
Languages: The number of languages spoken in a free clinic each day is mind-blowing. Having a second language on the tip of your tongue or your fingers—American Sign Language is great to know—will make you a more appealing med school candidate.
Creative writing or other non-required English courses: Powerful writing will aid you during the application process. Becoming a better reader and writer improves your communication skills overall, as does giving feedback to, and receiving it from, classmates.
Other Liberal Arts courses: Whether you take art history, philosophy, or civics, it'll teach you to apply critical thinking to everything you do. And not for nothing, these courses are interesting.
Related:
Narrative Medicine Helps Physicians Gain Empathy, Make Connections, and Accept Difficult Experiences
Covid Crisis Brings Attention to the Need for Humanities in Medical School Curriculum