Applying to medical school can be a daunting task. Luckily for you, we’ve complied Dr. John Hansen’s top tips for navigating the process. Dr. Hansen is the Consulting Editor of Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy and the former Associate Dean for Admissions at the University of Rochester Medical Center School of Medicine and Dentistry. He has over 20 years of experience in medical education, so we trust he knows what he is talking about. Read on so you can master the application process and apply with confidence!

1. Always meet with your school’s pre-health advisor for information regarding the application process, and visit the AAMC Admissions site online.

2. Use the AAMC’s online Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) site to select the schools where you might be interested in filing an application.

3. Spread your science coursework out over several semesters so you don’t overload on laboratory courses in a single semester. Doing your very best is more important than getting all your requirements done in the first two years of college.

4. Get medical experience by shadowing physicians, and volunteering in clinics and hospitals. You need to see “first-hand” what a career in medicine is like before making the important decision to pursue medial training.

5. Also reach out in your local community off campus by volunteering in homeless shelters, food pantries, and other service organizations that serve those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Medicine is a “service profession,” and the practice of medicine is not about you, but is all about your patients.

6. Develop your curiosity by participating in research or helping a faculty member with his or her scholarship. Be willing to take your education “above and beyond” the classroom, perhaps by doing an Honors Thesis, Capstone Project, or some other activity that enriches your educational experience.

7. Get outside your “comfort zone.” Expand your horizons and develop your ability to meet people of all faiths, cultures, and nationalities. Most of your patients will be very different than you, yet connecting with them as a healthcare provider will be an essential part of the doctor­patient relationship.

8. Should you receive an invitation to interview at a medical school, be sure to hone your interview skills by having several persons put you through a “mock” interview. Focus on your body language and posture, eye contact, demeanor, and thoughtful responses to questions. Some schools have group interviews, some individual interviews, and others multiple mini-interviews (MMIs), or a combination of these approaches.

These simple tips will hopefully help make the application process run smoothly. Already accepted into medical school? Comment below which tips you would say are the most important. What were some important things you learned in the application process? What additional tips would you add?

Dr. John Hansen is the lead Consulting Editor of Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy; author of Netter’s Clinical Anatomy, Netter’s Anatomy Flash Cards, and Netter’s Anatomy Coloring Book.