Qualifying for the Health Professions

Some marks of a successful pre-health student:

Successful pre-health students are motivated by love - they genuinely care about people, feel they can make a beneficial difference in people's lives, and find satisfaction in doing so.
Successful pre-health students are intelligent - they are knowledgeable, understanding and aware, thoughtful, quick to learn, problem solvers; they respond successfully to new situations.
Successful pre-health students are fascinated by the biological and chemical processes of life - they are attracted to a scientific understanding of the molecular, biochemical, cellular mechanisms and the genetic and developmental processes that produce and maintain the structure and function of the body.
Successful pre-health students are gratified by hard work - they are diligent, resourceful, committed, persistent, and resilient.

Derived from: Preparing for a Career in Medicine by Kent Shih

Earn at least a B or better in all prerequisite courses
Score at least 499 or better on the MCAT, average 18 or better on DAT, 300 or more as the total of the percentile scores on PCAT
Maintain an overall GPA of 3.5 or better
Accumulate a well rounded academic record that includes the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities
Solid evidence of a sustained commitment to a voluntary activity (e.g. humanitarian, social, talent, hobby, interest, etc.) that shows personal initiative, persistence, time management and leadership.
Clear and substantive evidence of a commitment to help others, of empathy, of altruism, of compassion.
Regular interaction/exposure to the health profession that includes an extended, in-depth experience (shadowing, volunteering, internship) associated with a health care professional.
Strong letters of support from high-quality recommenders (from academics - the sciences, health fields, humanitarian, personal interaction).

Complete a successful experimental research project under the supervision of a faculty member or research professional
Complete an honors thesis
Successfully complete lab-based courses in cell biology, human anatomy and physiology, genetics and microbiology.
Complete an MCAT, DAT, PCAT, OAT prep course (i.e. Kaplan, Princeton Review)
Have informed opinions about current issues (social, economic, political) that influence health care in the USA
Successfully complete an academic minor in the humanities (e.g. a foreign language) or social sciences (e.g. psychology)
Complete an academically rigorous program of studies with high GPA

Successfully complete CPR or EMT training
Successfully complete a course or courses in statistics, public speaking, persuasive writing
Successfully complete a course in histology, pharmacology, immunology, bioinformatics, molecular genetics.
Accumulate a substantial record of volunteer tutoring or assisting teaching
Demonstrate a highly unusual experience or notable individual achievement (e.g. missions work, recognition as an expert, travel overseas, championship competition, etc.)

Intelligence - knowledgeable, understanding and aware, thoughtful, quick to learn
Leader - ability to direct, guide, command
Problem Solver
Ability to work collaboratively - act or work together effectively with others
Communicator - interact interpersonally, articulate, effective listener
Common Sense and Judgment - wisdom, practicality
Manages Time Well - set appropriate priorities, efficient

Servant to Others - loving, altruistic
Compassionate - having sorrow for suffering and an urge to help
Empathetic - understanding or can identify with the feelings or ideas of others
Cooperative - team player
Responsible - accountable, trustworthy, dependable, reliable
Motivated - focused, committed, determined, dedicated
Persistent - faithful, persevering, enduring
Overcoming - resilient, recovers from adversity
Self Aware - can recognize strengths, weaknesses and limits of abilities; reflective
Life Long Learner - strives for self improvement, curious

Beneficent - work for the health (or good) of the patient
Non-maleficent - do no harm to patient
Altruistic - commitment to advocate at all times the interests of one's patient over one's own interest
Charitable - commitment to provide care to patients who are unable to pay and to advocate for access to health care for members of traditionally underserved groups.
Just - treat like patients alike
Honest and act with integrity in all interactions with patients' families, colleagues and others with whom health care professional must interact in their lives
Respect for patients' privacy, for dignity of patients as persons
Nonjudgmental of patient's wishes, desires, intentions