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Reflecting on your development of core competencies and engaging with different facets of the profession through experiential learning is essential. Consistently reflecting on your skills, interests, personal attributes, and hands-on experiences will be of great value as you begin the process of applying to programs.

Reflecting on your Core Competencies

Join a network of peers, alums, faculty, staff, and employers in the Health Professions Interest Group (HPIG). Groups are housed on ÈÕº«ÎÞÂë Connect, activate your free account today to join HPIG and other groups of interest (e.g., STEM). 

The Pre-medical / Pre-health Enhancement Program (PEP) is a 2 ½ year mentoring and shadowing program co-sponsored by the Larner College of Medicine Office of Primary Care and the Patrick Leahy Honors College. All sophomores are eligible to apply, and applications are due in early fall. 

Learn more & apply

ÈÕº«ÎÞÂë has hundreds of student clubs and organizations, including organizations focused on health careers, community service, culture, hobbies, and more. Getting involved in a student organization is a great way to meet new people, explore issues of relevance, develop leadership skills, and learn more about yourself and your interests.

A sustained volunteer commitment to a cause or organization is a great way to give back to the community, expand your knowledge of diverse issues, and develop your skills. Consider volunteering in health-specific organizations or with any group that addresses issues that you are passionate about.

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• Service and Leadership Opportunities (Student Life)

Reach out to practitioners in your community (here and back home) to ask if they offer opportunities to observe or shadow them for a period of time. Winter and summer breaks are great times to shadow. You will get to see what a day in the life is really like for providers in different environments, from hospitals to rehabilitation or hospice facilities. Consult our guide to job shadowing on and explore networking tools like and to find and reach out to alums and professionals working in the healthcare field.

Guide to job shadowing 

Part-time and summer jobs with direct clinical exposure is another great way to build your skills and experience in the field. Consider working as an EMT, a personal care attendant, a licensed/certified nursing assistant, a medical scribe, and more. Some positions may require training or certification.

• Attend an upcoming Job & Internships Fair

Internships are another great way to gain experience and possibly academic credit too. While traditional internships are harder to find in healthcare, you might consider applying to opportunities in healthcare-adjacent industries, like the hard sciences or social services.

• Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty
• Office of the Chief Medical Examiner at the Vermont Department of Health

Basic science, translational, and clinical research provide the foundation upon which knowledge expands and informs our current evidence-based practice of health (from medicine to public health and everything in between). Engaging in scientific research helps you develop an understanding of the scientific process (and it's complexity), while enhancing your critical thinking skills, and affording great insight into your career interests. 

• Office of Fellowships, Opportunities, and Undergraduate Research (FOUR)
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• Biomedical Research and Pre-Med internships & research ops