Thinking of a career in medicine or the health professions?
The health professions are rapidly changing. Our mission is to help you understand these different fields, to help you identify the right match to your interests and talents, to help you build coursework and co-curricular experiences that demonstrate your capabilities, and to help you navigate the admission process. We strongly feel that working with us early will help you increase your chances at a favorable decision.
Resources for pre-health professions at Connecticut College:
- Comprehensive Connecticut College Health Professions Handbook. Found in the regularly updated Moodle site for current Connecticut College students.
- Individualized academic and career advising. To prepare academically and professionally, students subscribe to the Pre-Health Advising Moodle site and receive information and updates about on and off campus opportunities and events from the official campus pre-health advisers. Students meet individually with Page Owen and Lori Balantic, both members of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP).
- Campus engagement and leadership opportunities. Including the Pre-Health Club, CCEMS, Paramedic Internship Program, MEDLife, Active Minds and Health Peer Education. Look into EMT classes given on campus each semester by Connecticut College EMS.
- Local / Global community engagement. The Connecticut College Community Partnerships office connects students to partners like Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, New London Community Health Center, Mystic Aquarium and Ledge Light Health District.
- International experience. About 50 percent of our student body studies abroad. The SATA program (Study Away, Teach Away) is one option for students who are adhering to a strict personal timeline for admission to health professions school. Student-led groups run trips: MEDLife traveled to Peru during the 2016 spring break. Additionally, 18 percent of the class of 2016 opted to use their funded internship eligibility for an international internship.
- Check out The Student Doctor Network, a superb resource for those aspiring to a medical profession.
- Find out where applicants with MCATs and grades similar to yours have been accepted and check out the performance of applicants from undergraduate schools you're considering at MDApplicants.com.
What qualities and background do medical schools look for in a candidate?
A science major is not a prerequisite for medical school, and you should not major in science simply because you believe this will increase your chances for acceptance.
Medical schools are most concerned with the overall quality and scope of your undergraduate work. The schools also recognize the desirability of including students in medical school classes who have a broad variety of interests and backgrounds. While there is some variation at the national level in the acceptance rates of applicants from different major fields of study in liberal arts programs, those majoring in certain areas of the humanities fared as well or better than science majors in gaining acceptance.
Medical schools want students with a high level of scholastic achievement and intellectual potential. This is measured by college grades, particularly science grades; recommendations from undergraduate faculty, including pre-medical advisers; MCAT scores; and interview assessments.
It is also important for you to demonstrate an understanding of course content in ways other than by grades achieved. This can be demonstrated by independent research and special projects.
Medical schools look for superior personal attributes: integrity, responsibility, leadership, social maturity, curiosity, common sense, perseverance, breadth of interest and motivation. These can be shown by having an experience in a health care setting (clinical), talking with health professionals, reading literature, performing community service and gaining exposure to research at the undergraduate level.