Making the Most of Your Summer

While summer is a great time to relax and recharge, it’s also a great opportunity to think about rounding out your professional school applications. So how do you do that? Here are some ideas to help you make the most of your summer:

Volunteer

Volunteering in a healthcare facility or organization not only demonstrates service-mindedness, but it’s also a chance to see if you enjoy working in that particular setting. It’s also an opportunity to network with peers and possible mentors and take on increased responsibility and leadership roles over time. Learn how to find a volunteer opportunity in healthcare (this link is to the AAMC but these concepts apply to all pre-health professions). If you are interested in volunteering for an organization that is not related to healthcare, we highly encourage you to pursue those opportunities as well!

Shadow Providers

Shadowing will give you a better understanding of what a typical day is like and may give you good experiences to talk about in your applications and interviews for professional school. It’s also a great way to gain familiarity with the vast number of different health environments, as well as specialties. Learn more about how to find shadowing opportunities by reading one of our previous blog posts!

Find a Mentor

When you’re doing any health-related activity, it’s a good idea to build relationships with knowledgeable people who could be a mentor. A good mentor is a role model who can offer expertise and help you develop your skill set. They can help you make connections, meet people, and find opportunities. Learn more about mentoring programs at K-State through the College of Health and Human Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Complete Health-Related Training

The most efficient route is training that ends with licensure. Think about CNA courses, EMT training, or other related opportunities. After training, find employment and work directly with patients.

Read Books

• The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA by Brenda Maddox
• Tuskegee’s Truths: Rethinking the Tuskegee Syphilis Study by Susan Reverby
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
• When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
• The Health Gap by Michael Marmot
• The Hate you Give by Angie Thomas
• America’s Bitter Pill by Steven Brill
• The Mind-Gut Connection by Emeran Mayer
• Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
• Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry
• Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

Please know that we are not asking that you agree with the concepts or notions contained in these books; we only ask that you consider the author’s perspectives. “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain an idea without necessarily accepting it.”