More Ways to Prepare
Preparing for a career in the health professions is about more than just checking boxes. There are many ways to gain experience and develop competencies that will help you succeed in the application process and as a future healthcare professional. Below are some examples of ways you can get involved beyond job shadowing, community service, and clinical experience, and resources that can help you get started.
Please note that these are not requirements, and there are many other ways to get involved that are not listed here, such as on or off campus jobs not directly related to your career path, significant hobbies, etc. Choose activities that genuinely interest you, are meaningful to you, and align with your goals. Meaningful involvement in activities you enjoy is more valuable than trying to build an application based on what you think admissions committees want to see!
Getting involved in student organizations is a great way to build leadership, teamwork, communication, and other important skills while connecting with people who share your interests. MSU has over 1,000 student organizations to choose from, including many pre-health organizations. Don't feel like you have to stick to student orgs related to your career goals—student orgs are also a great way to explore other interests, build community, and grow both personally and professionally!
- Involve@State – use this directory to explore the 1,000+ student orgs MSU has to offer. Use the ‘categories’ to filter organizations based on your interests.
Research gives you the chance to explore questions, think critically, and learn what the research process is all about. While research is not required for most health professions programs, it can be a valuable experience if you're interested in scientific discovery and problem-solving. At MSU, you can get involved in research as early as your first semester. You can also do research in just about any department/on any topic, not just in your major or the sciences!
- Undergraduate Research Office – workshops and peer advising appointments are available for students who are interested in learning about undergraduate research and how to get involved. The Pathways to Research Program also provides a more structured opportunity for students who have no research experience and don’t know where to start.
- University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) – attend UURAF, held in Spring of every year, to connect with your peers who are involved in research on campus; learn about their project and how they got involved.
- MSU Scholars – use this database to find MSU faculty who are doing research in areas/on topics you are interested in. You can also search different departmental websites to find faculty who are doing research in areas/on topics you are interested in. Reach out faculty via email to ask about any openings available in their lab.
- Handshake – search for and apply to research positions using Handshake.
Whether you’re taking classes, doing research, interning, or volunteering, engaging in communities abroad can broaden your perspective, strengthen your cultural awareness, and help you develop skills that are valuable in healthcare. You can participate in a short-term program (e.g., winter break, spring break), or spend a semester abroad; either way, living and learning in a different environment can help you become more adaptable and independent while giving you a greater appreciation for different cultures and perspectives.
- Office of Education Abroad – advising appointments are available for students interested in learning about options. You can also use their Program Search to explore options on your own.
- Non-MSU Programs
- Atlantis Project:The Atlantis Project Fellowship immerses pre-med and pre-health undergraduates in small hospitals in Europe. Successful applicants spend a few intense weeks observing the daily life of doctors in various specialties.
- Child Family Health International (CFHI):CFHI provides community-based Global Health Education Programs for health science students and institutions.
- International Service Learning (ISL): ISL enlists medical and educational volunteer teams for the provision of services to under-served populations in Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Africa.
- CEA Study Abroad: CEA brings high-quality international academic programs and services to students. Along the way you'll learn to communicate across cultures, gain independence, become self aware and achieve international understanding.