Summer break hits differently when you’re premed. The internal battle between relaxing and enjoying the time off school versus using every spare moment to build your application can lead to a lot of pressure and indecision. Trust me, I have been there! The most important thing is to think ahead as much as possible so you can set yourself up for a summer that balances fun with productivity. If you are an incoming freshman or a seasoned upperclassman, here are some ideas for how to spend your summer as a premed student.
Premed Summer Activities
1. Shadowing
While this might seem obvious, shadowing can be highly underrated and underplanned. It doesn’t have to be every day of the week, and you do not need to rack up hundreds of hours. Even shadowing a few different doctors in different specialties can give you insight into what medicine looks like in real life.
It helped me get an idea of what I liked and definitely did not like, and solidified my desire to go to medical school. If you are early in your premed path, this can help you get your feet wet in the clinical environment. If you’re closer to applying, this can help strengthen your personal statement and prepare for interview stories.
Start by asking your own doctors, family friends, or even cold calling local clinics or hospital departments. Many institutions have programs for students who want to shadow. The key is to start early and get dates on the calendar so you aren’t scrambling to find doctors once summer has begun.
Further Reading
2. Research
If you have access to research opportunities, summer is a great chunk of time to get some meaningful work done. This doesn’t have to be basic science with pipettes and cell cultures. You can also participate in public health, clinical research, or data analysis. This is much less about the type of research you do and much more about what you learn from it along the way, like critical thinking, collaboration, and sometimes getting to present your work.
If you are new to research, start by reaching out to professors or upperclassmen involved in research at your university, or look into formal research programs for premed students. There might even be summer premed student research opportunities. These can provide mentorship and structure, which can be helpful if you are unfamiliar with the world of research.
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3. Volunteering
Medical schools love to see volunteer experience on your application. However, more importantly, you should get involved in programs that you care deeply about and would be involved in even if they didn’t show up on an application. Look for opportunities at hospitals, food pantries, or tutoring programs. Try to pick something you genuinely enjoy and want to stick with over time. These experiences will enrich your premed experience and expose you to fields you might want to be involved with later in your career.
4. Work
Do not underestimate the value of a summer job. For many students, this is a necessity, but it can also be hugely helpful for application building. Working as a scribe, EMT, CNA, camp counselor, or barista teaches time management, communication, and responsibility. You don’t have to be in a clinical setting to learn skills that will be useful to you as a future physician, and medical school admissions committees know this!
5. Take A Class
Some students choose to knock out a prerequisite over the summer, especially if they chose premed later in their college career or have a tight schedule. If that is your situation, go for it! However, do not feel pressured to overload yourself just for the sake of more credit hours. It is key to avoid burnout.
Further Reading
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6. Rest!
Rest is a key part of the premed journey, as counterintuitive as that may sound. You hear so much about the grind of medical education, but people don’t tend to talk about the critical importance of taking time to rest and recharge. The path to medicine is long and difficult, so use these defined breaks to read a book for fun, travel, spend time with friends and family…really whatever you want to do. It can be difficult to avoid the feeling of not doing enough over the summer. Significant personal growth can take place during these periods if you use the time to explore your interests and engage with medicine in a more relaxed way, such as through shadowing or volunteering. Alternatively, you can simply enjoy the experience of being a premed student on summer break!
7. Prep for the MCAT
The summer is a great time to start your MCAT prep! Many students start their MCAT prep journey during the summer because they have more flexibility in their schedules. With fewer class commitments or work obligations, it becomes easier to dedicate several hours each day to studying for the exam. Whether you need the flexibility of a Self-Paced Course, the instruction of a 515+ Course, or the 1:1 attention of a private MCAT tutor, Blueprint MCAT has the MCAT prep option that works for your learning style!
Final Thoughts
There is no single best way to spend a premed summer. What matters is that you are doing something meaningful to you. Your summer does not have to be packed with 10 activities to be worthwhile. Focus on quality over quantity and be intentional with how you spend your time so your summer doesn’t slip away. And don’t forget to relax and enjoy each day – it will fly by!
