by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

College is the time that most pre-med students have been waiting for: they finally have the time and freedom to dig in and explore the field of medicine. Academically, pre-med coursework is mostly prescribed to meet the prerequisite coursework expected by medical schools. As a result, students look towards their involvement outside of the classroom as a way to confirm their desire to go to medical school. That exposure and reflection is crucial for creating a successful application. Medical schools do expect students to develop core competencies in addition to exploring what it means to become a doctor through experience. Admissions committees look for evidence of: empathy, ethics, compassion, maturity, leadership, and an understanding of a medical career. The experiences a student has in college, and beyond, can show all of these and more.

A College Counselor’s (& Parent’s) Perspective on Exploration vs. Specialization

Back in May, I shared this article with my colleagues, along with my own quick response: “Fun article valuing exploration rather than early specialization. References data that pre-meds and similarly focused students earn more out of the gate, but the explorers outpace them long term.” The author is a new parent, like myself, and his parenting values aligned with my own: nurture your kid’s curiosity, encourage them to explore and play and try new things, and don’t get wrapped up in any particular talent or accomplishment. It’s a good read, a reassuring read, for parents who aren’t raising a Perfect Golden Child. (And for all regular people, really.)

Guest post by Marie Schwartz, CEO and Founder of TeenLife Media.

If you’re a high school student ready to get a part-time job, internship or volunteer position, there’s an important tool you’ll need to describe how awesome you are, convey your individuality, and tell employers how to get in touch with you.

That tool is a job resume. And even if you’re still in high school; even if you’ve never held a paying job; even if you’re convinced you don’t have any relevant experience, you can write a truthful and good-looking resume that will help convince someone that you will make a good employee.

On this week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, Sally Ganga fills in as host and covers all things related to activities: How to describe yours from high school and how to find the ones in college that will pay you.