ER Scribe: Being an ER scribe is a great way to spend the year between completing an under graduate degree and beginning your medical school studies. It involves shadowing an ER doctor and taking notes as he or she interacts with patients. It allows the doctor to more fully focus on the patient and it gives you exposure to real-life medical situations.

Being an ER scribe also offers a real-world understanding of anatomy and physiology as well as giving you experience in medical note taking – an important skill for medical school and your future career in medicine. The pay and benefits vary from state to state, but some offer full-time, one year paid positions with benefits.

Research: Unless you’re already involved in a research project of your own, a year isn’t really sufficient time to complete a project that will wow the admissions committee; however it is enough time to be a contributing member of someone else’s research project. If you decide to spend a year in research, choose a topic which interests you. Remember, you’re going to have to talk about why you took a year off in both your applications and your interviews.

Some students find the EuroScholars research and study abroad program satisfies both their desire to travel and their desire to do research. In addition, it gives you more real world experience by expanding your exposure to various countries and cultures.

Study for MCAT: Some students feel they need more than a summer to sufficiently prepare for the MCAT. If that’s the case with you, you might consider spending a year preparing for this crucial exam. Consider making the most of your studies by volunteering in a medically related setting where you might be able to apply some of what you’re learning.

Volunteer: If you’re short of volunteer hours taking a year off to recover from the intensity of your premed studies can provide you with an opportunity to beef up those hours. Look for volunteer opportunities which you’re passionate about or which are in a medical setting – or both.

Work: Some students find that the prospect of heading straight to medical school with its steep tuition is a bit daunting. For this reason, some choose to spend a year working, living frugally, and saving up before heading to medical school.

Taking a year off before heading to medical school is a great way to get some real life experience, test your commitment to pursuing a degree in medicine, and to catch your breath. You might choose to do research, study for the MCAT, beef up your volunteer hours, or simply work. Of course, you could choose some combination of these, but be sure you’re ready to answer the question of why you chose to take year off on your application and during the interview process.

Keep Up:  Successful test-taking means not staying up the night before a test to cram several chapters of information into your head. You may get through one test that way; however, it is unlikely that you can master all of the massive amounts of information in any class – college or med school – in this fashion. Since many courses build upon what you learned in a previous class, you will find yourself not understanding the topic, and getting further and further behind. This policy does not lend itself to good grades.

Organize: Because there is so much information to absorb in medical school, you must be organized.  Organization is imperative in medical school because of the complexity and amount of data you will encounter. To thrive in medical school, you need to prepare your management skills while you are in college.

Understand How You Learn: You need to determine your learning style. Do you like to listen to lectures? Do notes to help you learn? Do you need to see images of the  material you are covering? Different ways of studying are all legitimate, but you should try to use the one that works best for you as often as you can.

You have to ace your tests if you want to make it through medical school; making good grades on your college exams will improve your chances of getting into the graduate program you desire. Using these three strategies can help you do that. For more information, visit National Premed Consulting.

McKinney, TX – December 10, 2012 – Dr. Paul Toote, CEO of National Premed Consulting, a premed consulting company, recently published a blog on his website (www.nationalpremedconsulting.com) discussing how to earn leadership roles as a premed student. The blog, titled “Premed Students: Earning a Leadership Role,” shares key tips to help students improve their odds of becoming a leader during their premed years.

Dr. Paul Toote writes, “After you have demonstrated interest, enthusiasm, and a will to work, you are in a great position to begin moving into leadership roles.”

National Premed Consulting specializes in premed consulting. They help clients with medical school admissions.

The entire blog can be found at http://www.nationalpremedconsulting.com/blog/premed-students-earning-a-leadership-role.php

To learn more about National Premed Consulting, please visit http://www.nationalpremedconsulting.com

About Dr. Paul Toote:

Dr. Paul Toote became a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2001, after graduating from Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, where he was both a class president as well as Graduation Class Dinner Speaker.  He was certified as an Emergency Medicine Physician by the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine in 2009 and was also the recipient of the Highest Achievement Award from the Dale Carnegie Effective Communications and Human Relations Course.

While serving as an Emergency Medicine Physician at leading hospitals and medical centers in communities all across Texas, including Corpus Christi, Amarillo, San Antonio, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and Paris, Dr. Toote found he was energized by coaching trained residents and medical school students and helping them reach their professional goals.

Wishing to do more to help those with medical ambitions, he began National Premed Consulting to share his expertise and insider knowledge with those who have the necessary qualifications, capabilities and desire to successfully navigate the difficult demands of medical school.

Dr. Toote resides in McKinney, Texas and is married with two children.

First, decide which leadership position you would like to have. If you want to be a resident advisor, you should investigate what steps you need to take in order to achieve that goal. You don’t necessarily want to hold management roles in every group or organization, so determine which group you might be most effective in.  This gives you the best opportunity to shine.

You also have to show an interest in the organization and participate in activities. Being an absentee member and then deciding to run for president of a group will not win you any fans. If you are working in a clinic, you have to be attentive and willing to learn.

Work your way up the ladder. Be willing to help out in less prominent roles within the organization and show your skills. Even though your schedule may be packed, you should set aside some time to assist in different projects. Your fellow members will appreciate that effort.

After you have demonstrated interest, enthusiasm, and a will to work, you are in a great position to begin moving into leadership roles. You can ask your mentor physician to give you more responsibility or ask your fellow volunteers to support your interest in more demanding positions. You have laid the foundation for leadership – take advantage of it.

For more information about leadership and the premed student, visit National Premed Consulting.

College First

The first step is to develop the study habits necessary to achieve top marks in your coursework. Those who earn a competitive GPA and solid SAT/ACT scores are more likely to be accepted to the college of their choice. If you’re preparing for a career in medicine, getting into college should be your first goal.

Focus on the Sciences

While in high school you might consider science-based coursework whenever possible. Classes like honors level biology and chemistry will give you a better understanding of the human body and how it functions. These classes lay the foundation for your premed studies. In addition, they help you to further confirm or possibly rule out a future career in medicine.

Volunteer

You might also consider volunteering in a medical setting, but only if you’re able to simultaneously maintain a strong GPA. This early firsthand experience within a medical environment gives you an advantage over many other medical school applicants. It helps you identify which area of medicine you’d most like to pursue and it fulfills some of the volunteer requirements many medical schools expect from competitive applicants.

Leadership

Medical professionals are leaders within their community. For this reason, medical schools like applicants who have some leadership experience. If you like chess and have joined your high school chess club, consider taking on the position of club president. Alternatively, you might consider running for a position in student government. Remember though, you have plenty of time to gain experience as a leader. If you’re unable to maintain solid grades while serving in a leadership position, then it’s best to wait on developing your leadership skills.

Prioritize

The ability to prioritize involves knowing which things are important and doing those first. It also involves the ability to say no to those things you know you are unable to take on, either because time won’t allow, or you simply don’t yet possess the skills to do them. This ability to prioritize is an important skill, one that is necessary if you are to complete the many long and often challenging years as a medical school student.

Focus on getting into college by developing strong study skills, obtaining a solid GPA, and achieving excellent SAT/ACT scores. Other tips to follow for high school students who want to become physicians include targeting the sciences, volunteering in the medical field, developing leadership skills, and learning to prioritize. These will all help with medical school admissions.

McKinney, TX – October 5, 2012 – Dr. Paul Toote, CEO of National Premed Consulting, a premed consulting company, recently published a blog on his website (www.nationalpremedconsulting.com) discussing how to get the best use of your time as a premed student. The blog, titled “Time Management and the Premed Student: A Blueprint for Success,” shares key tips to help students improve their time management skills.

Dr. Paul Toote writes, “Learning to prioritize your tasks may be the most significant part of time management. You have to decide which items are most important…”

National Premed Consulting specializes in premed consulting. They help clients with medical school admissions.

The entire blog can be found at http://www.nationalpremedconsulting.com/blog/time-management-and-the-premed-student-a-blueprint-for-success.php

To learn more about National Premed Consulting, please visit http://www.nationalpremedconsulting.com

About Dr. Paul Toote:

Dr. Paul Toote became a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2001, after graduating from Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, where he was both a class president as well as Graduation Class Dinner Speaker.  He was certified as an Emergency Medicine Physician by the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine in 2009 and was also the recipient of the Highest Achievement Award from the Dale Carnegie Effective Communications and Human Relations Course.

While serving as an Emergency Medicine Physician at leading hospitals and medical centers in communities all across Texas, including Corpus Christi, Amarillo, San Antonio, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and Paris, Dr. Toote found he was energized by coaching trained residents and medical school students and helping them reach their professional goals.

Wishing to do more to help those with medical ambitions, he began National Premed Consulting to share his expertise and insider knowledge with those who have the necessary qualifications, capabilities and desire to successfully navigate the difficult demands of medical school.

Dr. Toote resides in McKinney, Texas and is married with two children.

Learning to prioritize your tasks may be the most significant part of time management. You have to decide which items are most important – it may help to make a list. Classes and extracurricular activities should be high priorities for a premed student.

Once you have determined your priorities, you can create a schedule to budget your time. You may not be able to finish your priority list each week but you can make major dents in it. It is also important to follow the schedule. If you become sloppy and allow yourself to get sidetracked, you may find that time has flown by and you still have things left to do.

Efficiency is another part of time management. Because you do have so many things to complete, you need to learn how to complete tasks without wasting time. Your friends may hang out on the lawn for hours after meal time each afternoon; however, you should be able to use that time to complete some homework or fulfill other responsibilities.

Properly managing you time requires discipline, which will be useful for your medical school career too. For more tips on time management and being a premed student, visit National Premed Consulting.

McKinney, TX – May 14, 2012 – Dr. Paul Toote, CEO of National Premed Consulting, a premed consulting company, recently published a blog on his website (www.nationalpremedconsulting.com) discussing how to obtain stella letters of recommendation. The blog, titled “Premed Students: Effective Strategies for Getting a Stellar Letter of Recommendation ,” shares three tips to help students get great letters of recommendation.

Dr. Paul Toote writes, “Your letter writers need to have had some personal experience with you to accurately and passionately write about those qualities.”

National Premed Consulting specializes in premed consulting. They help clients with medical school admissions.

The entire blog can be found at http://www.nationalpremedconsulting.com/blog/premed-students-effective-strategies-for-getting-a-stellar-letter-of-recommendation.php

To learn more about National Premed Consulting, please visit http://www.nationalpremedconsulting.com

About Dr. Paul Toote:

Dr. Paul Toote became a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2001, after graduating from Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, where he was both a class president as well as Graduation Class Dinner Speaker.  He was certified as an Emergency Medicine Physician by the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine in 2009 and was also the recipient of the Highest Achievement Award from the Dale Carnegie Effective Communications and Human Relations Course.

While serving as an Emergency Medicine Physician at leading hospitals and medical centers in communities all across Texas, including Corpus Christi, Amarillo, San Antonio, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and Paris, Dr. Toote found he was energized by coaching trained residents and medical school students and helping them reach their professional goals.

Wishing to do more to help those with medical ambitions, he began National Premed Consulting to share his expertise and insider knowledge with those who have the necessary qualifications, capabilities and desire to successfully navigate the difficult demands of medical school.

Dr. Toote resides in McKinney, Texas and is married with two children.

Once you decide who you want to write your letter, you still need to ask early enough in the year to make sure that the writer has time to craft a great letter and has the time to get the information to the admissions board before the deadline. You should always ask in person or by phone and make sure that the letter will be a supportive one.

Once your mentor agrees to write a letter, you should give him all the necessary information to complete your recommendation. This includes all addresses, deadlines, and names, a copy of your resume and personal statement, a summary of your professional experience, and stamped pre-addressed envelopes. Follow up in two weeks to make sure the letter arrived at the medical school of your choice; if not, request that a second letter be sent. Remember to send a thank-you note to each letter writer as well.

Recommendation letters require careful planning and consideration since they could impact your future as a medical student. For more information about obtaining recommendation letters, visit National Premed Consulting.

Dr. Paul Toote, CEO of National Premed Consulting, a premed consulting company, notes that you should be looking for opportunities to volunteer as soon as you decide on a career in medicine

McKinney, TX – April 23rd, 2012 – Dr. Paul Toote, CEO of National Premed Consulting, a premed consulting company, recently published an article on his website (http://www.nationalpremedconsulting.com/) with advice to help students balance studies and volunteering. The article, title “Balancing Premed Studies and Volunteering for Medical School” encourages students to not wait to volunteer; start now.

Dr. Paul Toote writes, “Don’t be like some premed students who choose to volunteer for whatever is available, this is a careless approach which isn’t likely to yield the results you are looking for. Instead, consider areas of interest and look for volunteer opportunities in related fields”

National Premed Consulting specializes in premed consulting. They help clients with medical school admissions.

The entire article can be found at http://www.nationalpremedconsulting.com/articles/balancing-premed-studies-and-volunteering-for-medical-school.php

To learn more about National Premed Consulting, please visit http://www.nationalpremedconsulting.com

About Dr. Paul Toote:

Dr. Paul Toote became a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2001, after graduating from Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, where he was both a class president as well as Graduation Class Dinner Speaker.  He was certified as an Emergency Medicine Physician by the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine in 2009 and was also the recipient of the Highest Achievement Award from the Dale Carnegie Effective Communications and Human Relations Course.

While serving as an Emergency Medicine Physician at leading hospitals and medical centers in communities all across Texas, including Corpus Christi, Amarillo, San Antonio, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and Paris, Dr. Toote found he was energized by coaching trained residents and medical school students and helping them reach their professional goals.

Wishing to do more to help those with medical ambitions, he began National Premed Consulting to share his expertise and insider knowledge with those who have the necessary qualifications, capabilities and desire to successfully navigate the difficult demands of medical school.

Dr. Toote resides in McKinney, Texas and is married with two children.