Characteristics of a Successful
Pre-Medical Student

It’s Not All About Grades

While medical schools do look at GPA and MCAT scores, there are a host of other factors that medical schools use to determine who will be a successful medical student. To develop those skills, pre-med students should:

• Volunteer and job shadow in a variety of medical settings and specialties throughout the college career (i.e. primary care physicians, specialties of interest, rural and urban settings, community clinics, medical centers, mission trips in U. S. and abroad, etc.)

• Be actively involved with activities demonstrating social conscience, compassion, and personal character

• Show leadership ability through collegiate or community activities

• Be active members of UMKC’s Pre-Medical Society

• Develop an ability to communicate with a variety of people in a variety of ways (i.e. written, verbal, non-verbal, technological, etc.)

• Demonstrate the ability to effectively manage time

Pre-Health Advising

Maintaining contact with your pre-health advisor throughout your college career is critical to being a successful pre-medical student.  Advisors not only help you with scheduling your pre-medical courses and general education requirements, they also are invaluable during the medical school application process.  Most medical schools will want a letter of recommendation from your pre-health advisor so developing a close relationship with them is vital.  Advisors will also help you with your personal statement for medical schools and preparing for medical school interviews.

Academic Resources

UMKC provides a number of free resources to students in order to help them with their academic achievement.  Not only are these services helpful to pre-medical students in their own course achievement, but these are great places to work and help your peers.  These include:

• Math Resource Center
  Free assistance with college algebra, calculus, and statistics.
  816-235-1108
  205 SASS Building

• Supplemental Instruction
  Free peer-facilitated support for difficult courses such as biology and chemistry. 
  Hours and locations change each semester—see SI website for updated schedule.

• Writing Center
  Free peer review for class papers and personal statements
  816-235-1146
  5201 Rockhill Road