Exemplary Qualities and Achievements

A doctor is a healer and, as discussed above, a large part of that healing is done through the scientific practice of medicine. Beyond compassion and kindness you must demonstrate scholarliness, intellectualism, and creativity. A chief way to do this was outline above through research. But research is not the only method to demonstrate intelligence, as you will learn through your studies of the ever benevolent MCAT. While the above section focused on change, failure, and adaptation, this section focuses on your highlights. What are you most proud of achieving? (This is a question you may very well find in your supplemental/secondary applications!)

A quick glance at Bloom's Taxonomy

In class you likely have only been tested on the first two and possibly third level of the pyramid. In English writing classes you were likely asked to use skills higher up on the pyramid, such as writing an essay or making presentations. In order to do something exemplary, you are going to have to use skills at the very top of this pyramid for an extensive project. This is most streamline in research when tasked with a research project. A publication is a creation that requires mastery over a subject.

Here are a few avenues that you can pursue excellence:

• Academic Research
• Creative or Analytical Writing
• Service Projects
• Educational Projects

Academic Research

So, in order to pursue quality academic research we are likely going to need a few items to line up for us:

1. We need the college or university we are at to allow students to participate in research
2. We need to develop actual interest in what we are doing
3. We need to be persistent and take the initiative

Well, that doesn't sound like too much right? You would be surprised! It depends on your lab, but most research is broken into wet lab and clinical lab. If you want an easier time publishing, do not go into a wet lab. Wet lab is more laborious (pun fully intended) and will be ultimately more time consuming. Start early. See what programs your school has to offer and be persistent. Unlike other qualities of your application, this becomes much harder to guide you from this website because each research lab is very unique with unique mentor styles and expectations. Find a mentor in the lab to help you with this!

Creative or Analytical Writing

So another aspect of intelligence is in the linguistic dimension; just because you are a scientist does not mean you are also great at analyzing, evaluating, and creating verbal arguments. A doctor is both a healer and an educator! If you can't communicate you will make for a poor physician. Linguistic intelligence demonstrates your ability to understand and convey information in the ultra rapid paced world of medical science, as well as on the clinic floor where quick and precise communication is vital. In order to demonstrate this in an activity or quality, here are a few suggestions:

1. Writing your own book. Any subject. Does not matter. If you can write a book you have demonstrated mastery of the English language in at least some dimension. For works that are shorter, such as children's books, abundance might make more of an optical impact. Ultimately the true test of depth in your writing will be someone reading it. Publishing a book takes time, planning, organization skills, and initiative. Larger projects like these show to people that you have multiple admirable qualities and determination to bring success to your ideas
2. Write for a news column. If you participate in a school news column you will have exposure to writing likely for a variety of different subjects. Accumulating articles and publications will develop your skill as a communicator and develop your verbal reasoning skills through repetitive analysis and integration of novel information.
3. Make videos. Videos usually require scripts, and thus extensive writing. Videos require editing, planning, and extensive work usually. Maybe a movie critique channel or a food review channel.

MEGA BONUS TIP: See if you can make these medical related! Creative projects not only show valuable qualities in you, but also flesh you out as a person. They will challenge you, and as a result likely improve your character. They will also show people who you are, they will make your individuality highlight compared to other applications.

Service Projects

So, perhaps less scholarly or artistic, but most definitely the way to make an immediate and positive impact. Like the other categories of excellence, this will likely be much easier if you are already in a position of leadership. To begin, reflect on your autobiography and who you are. You want to help people, but is there a group of people you share a specific connection with? If not, I think you are missing out on an important facet of life, and that you do some exploring.

If so, we can take the next step. Analyze that group: what deficits exist that are negatively impacting your community? If not your community specifically, how can you mobilize resources to cause a positive change in perhaps someone else's community. Here is a checklist on things you should ask yourself:

• What idea do I have?
• How am I going to execute that idea?
  • What resources do I need?
  • Who do I think would help me out with this?
  • How can I motivate people to join my efforts?
  • What roadblocks to I anticipate to find? How do I prepare to get around these and what are my contingencies if I cannot move past them in a reasonable time?
  • What is my timeline?
  • How will I know if my project is a success?
• What should I do after my project?

Once you make a map to answer the above questions, GO!!!!!!! There is no need to wait to do a good deed

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Help is an expression of humility, and with humility, we allow the good to enter our world rather than letting our ego take up all the space in our heart.

Final Notes

Thank you very much for staying with me up to this point! It has been a pleasure writing this, and I hope you find it helpful. If you have any questions please email me at meowcatstefan@gmail.com