For students dreaming of a future in medicine, the journey begins long before you apply to medical school.
East Tennessee State University’s Dr. Tory Street, associate dean of Admissions and Records with the Quillen College of Medicine, has some advice for students to make their applications stand out – and prepare for medical school.
Explore the medical profession
The first step, Street said, is making sure you know medicine is the right path for you.
“Get involved in some shadowing, interview physicians and other healthcare providers – learn what their day looks like and what type of work life balance they have,” she said. “Making sure this is what you want can save some heartache later if you decide you don’t want to be a physician.”
Street noted that experiences volunteering in hospital or clinical settings, or summer programs such as Quillen’s Rural High School Medical Camp or Doc for a Day programs, are other ways students can explore the profession.
Choose a major you are passionate about
If you are certain that medicine is the career path you want to take, be certain to choose a major that you’re passionate about – and that’s not just limited to science-related fields.
“There is science coursework you have to take to prepare for medical school, but you don’t have to major in a science-related field to be successful,” Street said. “Finding a balance between the science and humanities can give you the best of both worlds – honing in your ability to handle the rigor of medical schools’ courses and cultivating skills in communication, empathy, critical thinking and understanding of the human experience.”
ETSU is home to a variety of programs in both health- and non-health-related fields that can prepare students to be successful in medical school, including majors such as biology, chemistry and biomedical health sciences, and minors such as Culture and Health.
Get involved and prepare early
The Quillen College of Medicine itself also offers a variety of programs designed to identify and mentor students interested in the school, such as EQUIP – short for Expanding Quillen to the Underserved through an Integrated Program. EQUIP prioritizes students from uniquely rural and underserved communities with a desire to become primary care physicians in those same rural and underserved communities.
Quillen Honors Scholars, a unique pathway for high-achieving students to secure guaranteed admission to the Quillen College of Medicine, and ETSU’s Pre-Health Living-Learning Community also do well to prepare students for medical school.
Of course, your major – and grades – are just one factor in your application.
“Admissions committees are looking for the three C’s: competence, commitment and character,” said Street. “Medicine is way more than technical skills; it requires integrity and empathy. At its core, it is a profession of service to others.”
Advisors can also play a critical role in the application process.
ETSU’s Medical Professions Advisement program offers all undergraduate students seeking to apply to a professional school support and guidance as they navigate coursework and prepare to apply to medical (or other professional) schools.
For students who plan to go straight from college to medical school, the yearlong application process will begin in earnest in your junior year. Although that has been the traditional path to medical school, the pandemic has given rise to a growing number of students taking gap years after completing their undergraduate studies before applying.
“Since COVID, we have seen more and more students who apply later – when they graduate or a year or two after that,” said Street. “I think this is a great thing; it gives students a well-deserved break from 16 years of full-time education and provides them with an opportunity to mature and gain experiences that ultimately make them stronger medical students and future physicians.”
Gain experience beforehand
Street’s best advice for those interested in becoming a physician, however, is simple: get experience.
“Shadow physicians, become a CNA, do something that lets you get up close and personal with the career and with people,” Street said. “It will be uncomfortable – but that’s how you grow. If you think you want to be a physician and you care about people – what are you doing now to make an impact? You don’t have to wait until medical school to help people.”
But what makes an applicant truly stand out? According to Street, it’s a sense of service.
“In my opinion applicants who demonstrate a strong sense of care and passion for working with people tend to stand out,” she said. “Particularly applicants who have demonstrated a desire to impact rural and underserved communities.
“Much like in rural communities, there is a sense of community and connectedness. Here at Quillen, we’re a family, and we are looking for students who are excited and willing to contribute to a community that has and continues to work towards putting physicians where they are needed most,” Street added.
The commitment to preparing physicians to serve rural and underserved populations is not just a tagline – it’s at the heart of Quillen’s identity. And for students with the same passion, the journey can begin at ETSU.
Students interested in learning more about Quillen’s admissions process can join Street on a virtual webinar on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 5-6 p.m. on Zoom. For more details, visit http://bit.ly/4qamaQz.
To learn more about the Quillen College of Medicine, or to apply, visit etsu.edu/com/.
