Becoming a Successful Applicant

In addition to academic achievement and entrance exam scores, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and health profession programs look for core competencies among applicants.

You must also have a thorough understanding of the health profession to be a successful applicant. Gaining hands-on healthcare experience is crucial to test your assumptions about the medical field.

Working with your Pre-Health advisor, you will plan to participate in clinical, community service, and research while you are an undergraduate student at GW.

Gain the Experience You Need

A group of GW health students and professor in a classroom

Two GW students working with a test tube

Students and a professor in a biostatistics classroom

Boost Your Application

outside the door perspective of a professor working in his office

Core Competencies for Applicants

These core competencies have been endorsed by the AAMC Group on Student Affairs Committee on Admissions to indicate a student's preparedness for medical school. Developing these characteristics takes time and effort. Students should explore campus and community involvement opportunities to gain valuable leadership and interpersonal experiences. Explore your interests — not all of your activities need to be health-related!

Professional Competencies

Commitment to Learning and Growth
Cultural Awareness
Cultural Humility
Empathy and Compassion
Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others
Interpersonal Skills
Oral Communication
Reliability and Dependability
Resilience and Adaptability
Service Orientation
Teamwork and Collaboration

Science Competencies

Human Behavior
Living Systems

Thinking and Reasoning Competencies

Critical Thinking
Quantitative Reasoning
Scientific Inquiry
Written Communication

View AAMC's Anatomy of an Applicant