Which activities and goals will you target as a pre-med in college?
By: Ryan Kelly
If you’re like me, you’ve been making a list of things to do once the COVID-19 quarantine is over--dining in at your favorite restaurant, attending belated birthday parties, traveling to see family across the country, etc.
Indeed, our coronavirus lockdown is an ideal time to formulate long-term plans. You’re definitely encouraged to find ways to get involved during the pandemic, but certain things just won’t be possible until stay-at-home measures are lifted.
So, you have plenty of time to chart out your future plans, particularly when it comes to the remainder of your college career.
For the record, you don’t need to come up with 50!
Something like 10-15 would be enough.
Our list is meant to serve as inspiring examples. Obviously, some of these will be more attractive or feasible depending on your personality, location, and goals. But feel free to steal any of them that you like.
1. Study abroad, even for a week
2. Learn a new language
3. Get published in the sciences or humanities, or both
4. Complete a minor in a non-medical subject you’re passionate about, like philosophy, ethics, religious studies, art, or music
5. Learn how to surf, ski, skateboard, ice skate, or rollerblade
6. Take a road trip to somewhere you’ve never been
7. Invite a professor to co-host an on-campus lecture with you
8. Shadow a Physician’s Assistant or Nurse Practitioner
9. Create a radio show or podcast
10. Run a marathon or Tough Mudder race
11. Do a work exchange in a foreign country
12. Start a blog about a topic you're passionate about and post once per month
13. Write a short story or collection of poems and publish it somewhere
14. Go to a farmer’s market and cook what you buy
15. Attend a political debate
16. Perform at an open mic
17. Start a business (for example, a tutoring business)
18. Become a wilderness survival coach or adventure tour guide
19. Treat a homeless person to lunch
20. Work on a farm for a day
21. Volunteer at an animal sanctuary
22. Become a pen-pal with a prisoner or shut-in
23. Coach a youth sports team
24. Become a resident assistant or crisis counselor
25. Give a conference presentation
26. Complete a comfort zone challenge
27. Perform as a DJ at campus events
28. Start a new club or organization on campus or in your community
29. Learn how to play a musical instrument
30. Become a TA for one of your favorite classes
31. Volunteer at the student wellness center
32. Create a Relay for Life team
33. Become a campus EMT
34. Learn how to perform magic tricks
35. Design and create a phone app
36. Take hip-hop dance classes
37. Canvass for a political campaign
38. Become a Big Brother / Big Sister
39. Backpack the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail
40. Become a certified nutrition coach
41. Take a bike trip across multiple state lines
42. Paint a public mural on campus
43. Provide disaster relief for hurricanes, earthquakes, or wildfires
44. Create unique food recipes and share them online
45. Start your own YouTube channel
46. Run for a student government position on campus
47. Try a new sport like rowing, badminton, or powerlifting
48. Develop a habit or meditation, mindfulness, or yoga
49. Study different religions and attend services at churches, temples, mosques, etc.
50. Teach CPR classes to students and faculty
We hope that our examples help you construct a pre-med bucket list that you can be proud of.
Don’t forget to download the worksheet so that you can keep track of your list and check things off as you complete your goals.
If you think we left anything fun, interesting, or important off our list, let us know in the comments below!