Pre-Med Advice for High School Students

Pre-Med Advice That Every High School Student NEEDS To Know

A comprehensive guide to succeeding in pre-med

By the HSAFP College Advising Team | May 15, 2025, 10:30am PST • 6 min read

Get a Head Start by Starting Early

Starting early on your path to medicine can set you apart. Choose challenging STEM courses and maintain a strong GPA from the start. High school is the time to build a solid academic foundation – take honors or AP classes in biology, chemistry, physics, and math whenever possible. An early introduction to anatomy or physiology (through class or online courses) can be helpful. In addition to science, practice writing and communication skills in English and social studies, since clear communication is vital in healthcare. Form a consistent study routine and balance your workload.

Remember that grades are important, but so is learning to manage stress and collaborate with peers.

Build a Strong Academic Foundation

A strong transcript shows colleges and medical schools your commitment. Focus on core science and math classes:

Biology (AP Biology): Learn cell biology, genetics and ecology to prepare for advanced biology.
Chemistry (AP Chemistry): Develop lab skills and understanding of chemical reactions, key for biochemistry.
Physics (AP Physics or Honors): Build problem-solving skills and understand forces, often useful for medical technology.
Mathematics (Algebra through Calculus or Statistics): Sharpen analytical thinking. Calculus and statistics are especially useful in science fields.
English/Communication: Practice writing essays and speaking clearly. Doctors must explain complex ideas in simple terms.
Electives (Psychology, Computer Science, Anatomy): Courses like psychology or programming can also be valuable.

Maintain high grades, because college admissions look at your GPA and course rigor. If available, dual-enrollment college courses or science academies can give you a preview of university-level work. No matter what you study, staying curious and disciplined will help you master the material and earn letters of recommendation from teachers.

Engage in Health-Related Extracurriculars

Getting involved in clubs and organizations shows you’re serious about health care. Joining a pre-health student group or science club can teach leadership and teamwork. For example, HOSA–Future Health Professionals is a national, student-led organization that promotes leadership in health careers. HOSA offers competitions and skill events in topics like anatomy and medical terminology, and even partners with professional groups (like the American Academy of Family Physicians) to create specialty career tests. Other ideas:

Science Olympiad or Biology Club: Compete or prepare experiments with classmates.
National Honor Society (NHS): Participate in community service projects; many NHS chapters support health causes.
Student Government/Leadership: Any leadership role (class officer, yearbook editor, debate team) builds skills doctors need.
Peer Tutoring: Tutoring younger students in science or math is great experience and helps reinforce your own knowledge.
Medical Career Camps or Programs: Look for summer “Doctors Academy” or “Future Medics” camps at local colleges or hospitals.

These activities not only look great on college applications, they also help you make friends with similar interests and develop teamwork and public speaking skills – all important for future doctors.

Gain Clinical and Volunteer Experience

Hands-on exposure to healthcare settings will deepen your understanding of medicine and confirm your passion. Many hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and public health clinics have volunteer programs for high school students. For example:

Hospital/Nursing Home Volunteering: Visit or assist patients, serve meals, run supplies, or help with administrative tasks. This shows commitment and gives you empathy for patient care.
Shadowing a Physician or Nurse: Ask family doctors or local clinics if you can observe a routine day. Watching rounds and patient visits will teach you about the doctor-patient relationship.
Health Fairs and Free Clinics: Volunteer at community health screenings or blood drives. You’ll meet people in healthcare careers and help those in need.
Community Service: Even non-medical volunteering (like food banks or youth sports) builds compassion and teamwork.

If you want direct patient-care skills, consider school or community programs that train you as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). To become a CNA, you must complete a state-approved training program and pass a certification exam. Many high schools or local community colleges partner with hospitals to offer CNA classes. EMT courses (often through technical schools or Red Cross affiliates) will prepare you to assist in ambulances and emergency departments.

Finally, learn life-saving first aid: get CPR/AED certified through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. These short courses (often just a few hours) teach you how to respond in emergencies. Being CPR certified shows initiative and is useful any time – you’ll literally learn to save lives.

Earn Medical Certifications

Earning certifications related to healthcare demonstrates real-world skills and maturity. Some key certifications for high school students include:

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): After training and exam, you can work under a nurse helping patients with daily care. This experience is invaluable for understanding patient needs.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): EMT courses train you in first responder care. Passing the National Registry exam makes you an EMT; many fire departments and colleges offer teen programs.
CPR/AED Certification: You can earn this through the Red Cross or other agencies. It teaches CPR, use of an AED, and basic first aidredcross.org.

Each certification requires work: CNA programs can take a few months, EMT courses several weeks, and CPR just a few hours. Still, they pay off in practical skills and great resume boosts. Having a certification on your transcript or resume shows college admissions and future employers you’re dedicated to healthcare.

Explore Research and Academic Competitions

Participating in science research and competitions highlights your initiative and critical thinking. You can dive into experiments through school or independently:

Science Fairs: Work on a project with a local or regional fair, or aim for national contests like the Regeneron Science Talent Search or Intel ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair).
Research Internships: Look for summer lab internships or programs. For example, the NIH High School Summer Internship lets students (age 16+) spend a summer doing real biomedical research. A local university lab or summer research program can also be great.
Academic Competitions: Join team contests like Biology Olympiad, Math Olympiad or Quiz Bowl. Competitions teach problem-solving under pressure.
Special STEM Programs: Apply to programs like Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS) or math science academies. Winning awards or presenting at conferences can really strengthen your application.

Beyond competitions, try to assist in a college or university lab if possible, or mentor under a research scientist. Even volunteer to help your science teacher with class experiments. These experiences teach you the scientific method and give stories to share in college essays or interviews.

Attend Summer Programs and Academies

Summer is a great time to experience college-style learning and meet motivated peers. Many universities and organizations offer medical or science programs:

Medical Immersion and Camps: The Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA) is a 5-day program in Oakland, CA with clinical workshops and hospital shadowing. Similarly, the National Student Leadership Conference on Medicine & Health Care offers a 9-day residential summer experience in Washington, DC or Atlanta.
University Prep Programs: Programs like MITES (MIT), SSI (Stanford Pre-Collegiate), or Johns Hopkins CTY offer courses in biology, chemistry, and medicine. Even a one-week pre-med course can give insight.
Specialty Summer Academies: For instance, Howard University’s High School Summer Science Academy (HSSESA) is a six-week residential program for rising juniors and seniors interested in pharmacy and health. Many states have similar health career academies.
Coding and Data Programs: Since modern medicine uses data, consider coding bootcamps or AI workshops (like NIH’s machine learning camps) to gain technical skills.
Leadership Conferences: The HOSA Washington Leadership Academy and DECA or Model UN conferences (even if not purely medical) can build public speaking and leadership abilities.

These programs are competitive, so apply early. Even local community college courses in anatomy or health careers over the summer can be valuable. The goal is to immerse yourself in science/medicine environments – these experiences often solidify your decision to pursue medicine and connect you with mentors.

Quick Start Resource List

Explore these resources to dive deeper into medicine. Each link above leads to official programs or organizations that can guide and support your early medical career journey.

High School Alliance of Future Physicians (HSAFP): A nationwide program that provides aspiring doctors with a four-year curriculum of virtual workshops, leadership opportunities, and hands-on experiences in medicine. Learn more at hsafp.org.
AAMC ExploreHealthCareers: An American Medical Association (AMA)/AAMC site (explorehealthcareers.org) with information on health careers, college planning, and financial aid for pre-health students.
NIH High School Summer Internship: The National Institutes of Health office (training.nih.gov) offers a High School Scientific Training & Enrichment Program (STEP) for students 16+, providing paid biomedical research internships.
NSLC on Medicine & Health Care: The National Student Leadership Conference’s summer program (nslcleaders.org/medicine-health-care) offers a 9-day residential experience with medical workshops, simulations, and shadowing for ages 14–18.
Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA): A 5-day academy in Oakland, CA (misahealth.com) where high schoolers learn clinical skills and shadow physicians in a hands-on medical environment.
NSHSS Scholarships: The National Society of High School Scholars (nshss.org) offers scholarships and resources for high-achieving students interested in health careers. Membership can open doors to college funding.
CNA and EMT Certification Programs: Many high schools or community colleges partner with hospitals or technical schools to offer CNA and EMT training (e.g., Red Cross first aid/CPR courses, and state EMT training programs). These credentials provide early clinical experience.
American Red Cross CPR/AED Training: Short courses to become CPR/AED certified (redcross.org/take-a-class) teach life-saving skills that every aspiring healthcare professional should have.
AAFP Student Academy of Family Physicians (SAFP): While for medical students, the American Academy of Family Physicians (familydoctor.org or aafp.org) often has outreach for pre-med and partners with HOSA on programs, so watch for high school events.
State and Local Health Career Academies: Check for “Health Career Academy” programs in your state or city (often linked through high schools or health departments) for summer workshops or mentorships in medicine. Each offers hands-on exposure and college credit.

Your Head Start Begins Now

You don’t need to do everything at once, but each step you take now will guide your future. Keep learning and stay curious. Seek mentors – talk to school counselors, doctors you know, or college advisors – and ask for guidance or letters of recommendation when the time comes.

Balancing academics with volunteer work and extracurriculars shows colleges that you’re well-rounded and dedicated. Remember to take care of yourself too: get sleep, exercise, and make time for friends and hobbies.

The journey to becoming a doctor is long, but by starting early and building a diverse resume of experiences, you’ll be well on your way. Your passion for medicine and hard work in high school will give you the head start you need in college and beyond.