Leadership & Multitasking

Leadership

This is an area that includes things like tutoring, student government positions, supervisory positions (can be at work or elsewhere) of any kind, church or other teaching assignments and positions, military service or anything like it. It's beneficial to be able to show these on your application.

For University of Utah School of Medicine, as an example, you have to show a specific number of positions you have held over the years to be considered. However, most medical schools may not be as stringent on this requirement, but rather consider these good experiences that will strengthen your application.

See what successful applicants had in Leadership Experience.

Multitasking

Medical school is tough. You are enrolled in courses totaling about 24 credits per semester of upper division science courses and labs to go with them. If you have only taken 12 credits per semester during undergrad, you need to be able to show that you have kept an otherwise busy schedule, indicating that you could handle 24 credits per semester if you had to. If 12 credits per semester took all of your time and maxed you out, medical school will probably be a bit much (the admissions committee may think so).

Showing that you worked 20-40 hours a week, took 12 credits and did various other activities for some number of hours each week shows that you can handle it and that you can multitask. Balancing family responsibilities (if you have kids) also counts as time spent multitasking and is justification for having taken a less intense class load during undergrad.

So, bottom line, you don't have to take 24 credits during undergrad in any one semester, but be sure to demonstrate that you can handle a busy schedule in your life.