What Is the Best Premed Job to Get Into Medical School in 2025?

Are you a pre-med student wondering which job will wow medical school admissions committees? Should you spend your weekends volunteering at a hospital, or would a paid clinical job boost your application more? How many hours of experience do you really need, and what do admissions officers expect to see on your resume? 

These are crucial questions every aspiring doctor asks. Medical school admission is fiercely competitive, and the experiences you gain before applying can make all the difference. In fact, nearly 50% of recent U.S. medical school matriculants took at least one gap year after college to work, volunteer, or pursue other experiences. Choosing the right premed job (or jobs) can strengthen your application, help you stand out, and even confirm that medicine is the right path for you.

In this feature-length guide, we'll dive into the latest insights on the strongest jobs and experiences for premeds. We'll ask and answer all the pressing questions: Why does clinical experience matter so much? Which paid jobs offer the best hands-on exposure? How important are volunteer roles? Is it better to work part-time during school or take a full-time gap year? Along the way, we'll share data and quotes from admissions officers and medical schools to back up each point. By the end, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of what premed work experiences will best prepare you for medical school – and how to make the most of them.

It's 2025. Why Do Med Schools Care About Your Premed Job?

Does it really matter what job you have before med school? In a word, yes. Admissions committees want evidence that you understand what a career in medicine entails and have demonstrated commitment to the field. As Princeton University's health advising office explains, “medicine is an evidence-based profession, so it's unsurprising that admissions committees will seek evidence of your motivation that is grounded in experience, not in the abstract.” In practice, this means that strong clinical and service experiences are virtually expected of applicants. According to the latest AAMC survey of entering medical students, a whopping 94% of new med students have shadowed health professionals and 92% have volunteered in healthcare. Clearly, almost everyone applying has some clinical exposure – if you don’t, you’ll be an outlier for the wrong reasons.

But what kind of experience carries the most weight? A national survey of med school admissions officers found they place the highest importance on service in medical settings, service in non-medical settings, physician shadowing, and leadership. In other words, admissions committees prioritize commitment to serving others – whether through clinical work or community volunteering – as well as firsthand exposure to medicine and the ability to take initiative. Good grades and MCAT scores alone aren't enough. In fact, every year some applicants with high stats but weak clinical experience get rejected because they struggle to articulate why they want to be doctors. Schools would rather admit someone with solid experiences and a clear, passion-driven motivation than someone who only has textbook knowledge.

Admissions officers want to see depth and longevity in your experiences, not just a flurry of short activities. Quality matters more than quantity. As the AAMC puts it: “No matter how you choose to gain clinical experience, it's important to remember quality is more important than quantity. Admissions officers want you to not only show depth of experience and a longitudinal commitment to the work you choose, but also to be able to articulate how your medical exposure has informed your motivation for a career in medicine.”

So, what does this mean for you? It means that choosing a substantial premed job (or combination of jobs) is one of the smartest moves you can make. The best premed jobs will put you in direct contact with patients or healthcare settings, allow you to serve and learn, and give you stories and insights to discuss in your applications. They will also often yield strong recommendation letters from supervisors or physicians. On the flip side, lack of such experience can raise red flags. For example, an admissions committee member on one forum noted that if an applicant comes from a privileged background and has no volunteer service, many committee members “will not even look beyond that in [the] application”. Ouch! The message is clear: demonstrate your commitment through action.

Before we dive into specific job ideas, ask yourself: What experience will best help me grow and prove my dedication to medicine? Let’s explore the top options, starting with paid clinical jobs that not only offer a paycheck but also invaluable preparation for medical school.

Which Paid Clinical Jobs Give the Best Experience?

Can you really get paid and boost your med school application at the same time? Absolutely – if you choose the right role. Many premed students take on paid clinical jobs that provide hands-on patient exposure and a front-row seat to healthcare. Admissions officers often love these experiences because they show you’ve been “in the trenches” and have confirmed your passion for patient care. In fact, some advisors call certain roles “must-haves” for premeds. For example, AcceptMed (an admissions consulting firm) notes that medical scribing is a "must-have" experience for many premeds, as it offers direct insight into patient interactions and clinical decision-making.

So, what are the top paid premed jobs to consider in 2025? Here are some of the strongest options (each of these can often be done part-time during school or full-time in a gap year):

• Medical Scribe: Is being a scribe really that useful? Many would say yes. As a medical scribe, you shadow physicians during patient visits and document encounters in real-time. This counts as clinical experience because you’re right there in the exam room witnessing how doctors diagnose and communicate. Scribes learn tons of medical terminology and see the healthcare team in action. Admissions committees also appreciate that scribes develop strong communication and documentation skills. According to the AAMC, working as a scribe shows that “you’re skilled in oral and written communication” and that you can be a “reliable and dependable member of a health care team.” It’s a fantastic way to understand a physician’s workflow up close. Bonus: Many scribe programs are paid, and hours can be flexible (some even offer remote scribing), making it feasible alongside classes.

• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): If you crave excitement and hands-on care, EMT work might be for you. EMTs are first responders who provide emergency care and transport patients to hospitals. It’s hard to top the real-life medical responsibility you get as an EMT – you’ll handle everything from broken bones to critical traumas. This role teaches you to think on your feet, stay calm under pressure, and work on a team in high-stakes situations. The intensity means shifts can be long or unpredictable (imagine getting a 3 A.M. ambulance call), so some students save EMT work for summers or gap years. But even if you do it part-time, you’ll gain incredible stories and a deep understanding of patient care. As one guide put it, EMTs gain valuable teamwork and leadership skills along the way. Certification courses for EMT can often be completed in a few months, and many college campuses even offer EMT training programs.

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) / Patient Care Technician (PCT): Do you want direct patient contact and a chance to develop bedside manner? Working as a CNA or hospital patient care tech is a great choice. CNAs assist nurses in caring for sick or elderly patients with daily activities (bathing, feeding, moving around) and basic medical tasks (taking vital signs, changing dressings). It’s often said that CNA work is one of the most “hands-on, intimate patient care” jobs a premed can do. You’ll literally be at patients’ bedsides, learning compassion, communication, and the less glamorous realities of healthcare (yes, CNAs deal with bedpans – and future doctors should be comfortable with that side of care). Is it valued by med schools? Absolutely. Being a CNA shows you have a service mindset and have developed empathy for patients.

  These roles also teach teamwork in a clinical environment. One admissions resource notes that CNAs develop key skills like compassion and bedside manner while working in nursing homes or hospitals. Training courses for CNA can be as short as 1–3 months, and while entry-level, the experience is priceless. (Patient Care Tech roles are similar but may not require certification; they often exist in hospitals for tasks like phlebotomy and EKGs.)

• Medical Assistant: Medical assistants (MAs) work in doctors’ offices or clinics, performing a mix of clinical and administrative duties. Think of it as a hybrid role: one minute you’re taking a patient’s vitals or drawing blood, the next you’re scheduling appointments or updating records. Why is this great for premeds? It gives you a 360° view of how outpatient medical practices run and lots of patient interaction. You might help prep patients for exams, assist with minor procedures, or handle lab samples. MAs often get exposure to different medical specialties (for example, you could work for a cardiologist or a pediatrician, tailoring the experience to your interests). It requires a short training or certification (some programs as quick as 4–9 months). For a gap year, being an MA is a popular option – you earn a salary while significantly building clinical experience in a consistent setting.

• Phlebotomist: If needles don’t scare you, phlebotomy is another paid skill to consider. Phlebotomists are trained to draw blood from patients for tests, donations, or research. It might sound narrow, but this job can teach you a lot: precision, steadiness under pressure (many people are afraid of needles!), and patient communication (you’ll reassure anxious patients daily). It’s a concrete technical skill that hospitals, labs, and blood donation centers always need. For premeds, it’s a way to get comfortable with clinical procedures and interacting with diverse patients. Another perk: phlebotomy certification courses can be very short (sometimes a few weeks), and there are often part-time gigs available. Having the “phlebotomy” badge on your application shows you sought out clinical responsibility. And you will have stories about the time you finally found that tricky vein or calmed a nervous patient – great fodder for interviews and essays.

• Home Health Aide: Looking for a deeply personal patient care job? Home health aides are paid caregivers who go to patients’ homes (often elderly or disabled individuals) to help with daily living tasks and basic health monitoring. You might help a home-bound patient bathe, get dressed, take medications, or do simple exercises. This role demands a lot of empathy and patience, as you’re working one-on-one with people who may be very vulnerable. The upside for premeds is huge: you’ll build relationships with patients over time, develop communication and caretaking skills, and see the challenges patients face outside of clinical settings. Some home health aide positions require a brief certification or training (75 hours of training is a common standard). While not as high-tech as a hospital job, being a home health aide or personal care aide shows admissions committees that you are committed to caring for patients’ basic needs – not just shadowing doctors from a distance. As one resource pointed out, this job helps cultivate empathy and compassion, qualities that will “help you significantly in the medical field.”

• Clinical Research Coordinator/Assistant: Interested in the science side of medicine? Working as a research assistant (especially in clinical research) can be both paid and very valuable. You might coordinate clinical trials, enroll patients in studies, collect data, or work in a lab. While research roles might not involve direct patient care (unless it’s a clinical study with patient interaction), they demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a commitment to advancing medical knowledge. Admissions committees value research experience because it shows you are curious about the mechanisms of disease and can engage in scientific inquiry. If you contribute to a publication or poster presentation, that’s even better – publications are “highly valued, impressive, and rare” for undergrads. Working in research also helps you connect with faculty mentors (who can write recommendation letters) and sharpen your analytical skills. Keep in mind, research is often a common full-time gap year choice for many applicants who want to strengthen that aspect of their application. (According to one analysis, the average med school matriculant has over a thousand hours of research experience, highlighting how prevalent it is.) If pipetting in a lab isn’t your thing, no worries – research is not technically required – but showing you’ve engaged with scientific discovery can give you a competitive edge.

Those are some of the top paid positions that premeds pursue. Each of these jobs not only helps you earn some money (useful for application fees and saving for med school!) but also checks the box of clinical exposure or skill-building that med schools look for. But what if you don’t have the certifications or time for these jobs? That’s where volunteer experiences come in – and they are just as crucial.

What About Volunteer Roles for Premeds?

Do med schools care if you volunteered instead of worked? Without a doubt. In fact, volunteer work – both in healthcare and in the community – is often considered equally, if not more, important than paid work. Remember that survey of admissions officers? They put service in medical settings and service in non-medical settings at the top of the list of valued experiences. Volunteering shows altruism, dedication, and initiative without the expectation of payment – which can speak volumes about your character and motivations. Admissions committees want to see that you’re the kind of person who is drawn to help others because it's meaningful, not just for a paycheck.

So, what volunteer experiences should a premed have? Ideally, a combination of clinical volunteering and community service. Here are key volunteer roles and why they matter:

• Hospital or Clinic Volunteer: This is a classic premed activity for a reason. Volunteering at a hospital (or clinic, hospice, nursing home, etc.) allows you to be in a healthcare environment regularly, even if your tasks are basic. You might transport patients in wheelchairs, deliver water, stock supplies, or simply greet and comfort patients and families. It may not sound glamorous, but it’s incredibly valuable. You’ll become familiar with how a hospital operates, observe interactions between patients and staff, and get comfortable around sick patients. One hospital volunteer program description sums it up: you gain “great experience working with patients, becoming familiar with hospital systems, and help give back to the community.”. Even without performing medical procedures, you learn a ton about empathy and the patient experience. Med schools absolutely expect to see some hospital volunteering or similar service on your application – in fact, 92% of matriculants have volunteered in healthcare settings. It shows commitment and consistency (e.g. volunteering 3 hours a week for a year demonstrates dedication). And if you’re wondering – yes, you can often start doing this early in college, no certification needed.

• Hospice Volunteer: Want to truly understand the human side of medicine? Consider volunteering at a hospice or palliative care center. Hospice volunteers spend time with patients at the end of life – talking with them, reading to them, giving family members a break, or simply providing comfort by being present. This experience can be emotionally challenging, but it teaches you how to cope with serious illness and death, which is something every physician must face. Admissions officers know that an applicant who has been a hospice volunteer likely has developed emotional resilience and compassion. The AAMC notes that hospice volunteering can help you “better understand the emotional toll of caring for a dying patient” and see how providers interact with patients’ families at difficult times. These are profound lessons that can shape your perspective on patient care. If you can handle hospice work, you show a level of maturity and empathy that will definitely catch an admissions committee’s eye.

• Volunteer EMT or First Responder: If you don’t want to commit to a paid EMT job, volunteer EMT positions exist in many communities (especially smaller towns or campus EMS squads). As a volunteer EMT, you still get the same adrenaline-pumping clinical exposure – responding to 911 calls, providing first aid, assisting in ambulance rides – but you do it as a community service. This can be a great option to gain hours on a more flexible or part-time basis. Plus, it underlines your commitment to service. The AAMC highlights that volunteer EMTs not only gain clinical skills but also “provide a needed service in their communities”, exposing you to a variety of medical conditions and the healthcare needs around you. It’s the best of both worlds: you serve the public and build clinical chops.

• Community Service (Non-Medical Volunteering): Here’s a point some premeds overlook: medicine is ultimately about serving people, so any substantive service work is valuable – even if it’s not in a hospital. In fact, admissions committees love to see well-rounded applicants who have engaged with their communities in diverse ways. This could mean volunteering at a soup kitchen, tutoring underprivileged kids, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, coaching a youth sports team, or working with refugees. Such experiences develop your cultural competence, empathy, and leadership. They also demonstrate that your desire to help others isn’t confined to medicine; it’s part of who you are. One medical school advisor recommends every student have at least one solid non-clinical volunteering experience on their application. Admissions committee members have noted they look for community service especially in applicants who come from privilege – they want to see you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone and given back. As Princeton’s HPA office advises, “tutoring, coaching kids, helping the elderly – are also valued, so don't turn down those opportunities just because you don't think med schools will be interested. It's critical to get outside of the 'bubble' and prepare yourself to care for a diverse patient population.” In short, volunteering in any cause you care about can bolster your profile (and your character). Just aim for depth over breadth: a long-term commitment to one cause can be more impactful than a smattering of one-day events.

• Shadowing (Clinical Observation): Shadowing isn’t exactly a “role” or job – it’s usually an unpaid, informal arrangement to observe a physician at work. But it’s worth mentioning here because it’s a form of volunteering your time to learn. Shadowing lets you see the day-to-day life of doctors and is almost expected by schools (94% of students do it). While shadowing alone isn’t enough (it’s passive; you’re not doing anything), it complements the active roles above. Try to shadow in a variety of specialties or settings if you can. And pro tip: keep a journal of interesting cases or patient interactions you observe – those reflections can fuel application essays or interview answers about what you learned.

So, how to balance these volunteer activities? Aim to have both clinical and non-clinical service by the time you apply. For example, you might volunteer at a hospital during the school year and at a food bank on weekends, or vice versa. The key is demonstrating a genuine commitment to helping others. And don’t worry – admissions committees understand you only have so many hours in a week. They don’t expect you to do everything. They do expect that you will have sought out meaningful experiences to test and prove your interest in caring for people.

One more question you might be asking: Paid job versus volunteering – which looks better? The truth is, both count and each has its own value. Paid clinical jobs often entail more responsibility or training, which can be impressive. But volunteering shows altruism and often provides flexibility to explore different areas. Most successful applicants do some of each. An insightful comment from a med school admissions member noted: “Tell us about your jobs – even the ones you think aren't medically related! ... Those with work experience tend to shine clinically, and we love to see it.”, emphasizing that even non-medical jobs can demonstrate maturity and work ethic. In the end, any experience where you grew, learned, and contributed can strengthen your application, as long as you can reflect on it thoughtfully.

Now that we’ve covered the what in terms of jobs and volunteering, let’s talk about timing. How should you weave these experiences into your journey? Should you try to juggle a job during classes, or focus on school and then take a gap year to work? Let’s tackle those questions next.

Can You Work Part-Time During College (And Should You)?

Is it possible (or advisable) to take on a job while you're a full-time student? Many premeds do, and it can be a great way to build experience early. Part-time roles or internships during the semester or over summers let you accumulate hours and insight without delaying your graduation. But balancing work with a challenging premed course load is not easy – you have to be strategic about how you use your limited time. Here are some tips and considerations for part-time premed work:

• Choose Flexible or Low-Hour Commitments: You likely can’t work 20 hours/week during an intense semester of organic chemistry and biochemistry. But what about 5–10 hours a week of something manageable? Many hospital volunteer programs only require a 3-hour shift per week – very doable. Scribe jobs often have shifts as short as 4–8 hours per week and might allow you to do more over summer and scale back during exams. Research assistant positions with a professor can sometimes be just a few hours arranged around your classes. The key is to not overextend yourself. Academics come first; a stellar job won’t compensate for a failing grade in organic chem. So, realistically assess your schedule and start with a small commitment. You can always add more hours in winter or summer break to compensate.

• Maximize Summers and Breaks: Many students pack in clinical experiences over the summer when they don’t have classes. For instance, you could get EMT certified and work as an EMT over the summer, or do a full-time research internship for 10 weeks, or volunteer daily at a hospital. These intense bursts can accumulate significant hours. One common strategy is layering different experiences: maybe do research one summer, and hospital volunteering the next, so you diversify your exposure. If studying abroad or other plans preclude school-year volunteering, use longer breaks to catch up on hours – even a few days of shadowing here and there add up over time.

• Consider On-Campus or Nearby Opportunities: Convenience matters. If you can find experiences close to campus, you’ll be more likely to stick with them during busy times. For example, maybe your university has a student-run EMT squad, a campus clinic, or partnerships with local shelters or schools that need volunteers. These can reduce commute time and be easier to integrate into your routine. Also, some colleges offer course credit or funded summer fellowships for doing internships at hospitals or nonprofits – a great way to get support for your experiential learning.

• Don’t Neglect Academics or Self-Care: A cautionary note – burnout is real. Premeds are often told to get 150+ hours of this, hundreds of hours of that, etc. It’s true that competitive applicants log many hours in activities (for example, one report noted an average of 406 hours of community service for matriculants). However, that’s typically spread over several years. If you find your grades slipping or your stress skyrocketing because of a job, re-evaluate. It’s okay to slow down on extracurriculars to focus on a tough semester; you can ramp back up later. Remember, quality over quantity – admissions committees would rather see a few sustained, meaningful involvements than a laundry list of short stints that affected your GPA. Time management and knowing your limits are skills you’ll need as a physician, so start practicing now.

• Leverage Part-Time Work for Recommendations and Growth: Even if you can only commit a small amount of time each week, make it count. Build relationships with supervisors and mentors on the job. A professor you did research for or a doctor who oversaw your volunteering can write a strong letter attesting to your dedication. Also, be sure to reflect on your experiences as you go (perhaps in a journal). Ask yourself questions like: What surprised me this week in the clinic? What patient encounter moved me? How is this confirming or reshaping my desire to be a doctor? These reflections will be gold when you write your personal statement or answer interview questions later.

Many premeds successfully juggle part-time work and school. For example, you might know a classmate who works as a scribe two evenings a week, or someone who’s a TA for a biology course (teaching is another great experience!). If they can do it, maybe you can too – just ensure you keep your academics strong. Admissions officers look at your entire college trajectory: they will see if you balanced multiple responsibilities or if you had to take a step back. Either path is okay as long as you end up with both solid grades and some significant experiences by application time.

But what if you reach senior year and realize you still need more experience (or simply want a break before med school)? Enter the increasingly common solution: the gap year.

What Are the Best Gap Year Jobs Before Med School?

Taking one or more gap years (often called “glide years”) between undergrad and med school is now very normal – in fact, the average age of incoming med students is about 24, not 22. This means many students are doing 1–2 years of work, service, or graduate studies before matriculating. Far from being a drawback, a gap year can be a huge advantage if used wisely. As one former admissions committee member notes, “nearly 50% of matriculants” now have a gap year of experience behind them, and schools often appreciate the extra maturity and focus these students bring.

So, what should you do during a gap year to maximize your med school chances? The short answer: work or volunteer in a medically relevant, growth-inducing role (ideally full-time). Essentially, all the jobs we discussed earlier for part-time can be supercharged in a gap year. When you’re not juggling classes, you can devote 30-40 hours a week to an experience and gain much more from it. Here are some top gap year options and tips:

• Full-Time Clinical Employment: Many premed grads take a full-time job in a clinical setting for their gap year. Common choices include working as a medical scribe, medical assistant, EMT, research coordinator, or CNA in a hospital. Doing any of these 40 hours/week for a year will rack up impressive hours and depth. For example, if you become a full-time scribe in an emergency department, you could easily log over 1,500 hours of close-up clinical experience in a year – something that will leap off your application. Full-time work also means closer bonds with your healthcare team and possibly more responsibilities (e.g. a lead scribe position). And of course, you earn money that can help with med school expenses. Admissions committees will see that you dedicated a year solely to medically relevant work – a strong signal that you’re serious about medicine. As Princeton HPA advises seniors with no experience, plan on “at least two glide years: one to accrue experience before applying and the other to keep building it after applying”, because schools value experiences you’ve already completed more than just planned future activities. In essence, if your app is thin on clinical exposure, a full-time gap year job can transform you into a much more competitive candidate.

• Fellowships or Service Programs: Some students join structured gap year programs that combine work with service. For example, programs like AmeriCorps, the National Health Corps, Teach for America, or city-year health initiatives can allow you to work in community health, health education, or patient navigation roles. Princeton highlights opportunities like MedServe or National Health Corps that place fellows in high-need communities for hands-on healthcare experience. These often come with a stipend (so it’s a job, albeit modestly paid) and have a mentorship or training component. The benefit is you’re doing meaningful service and can often talk about working with underserved populations – a big plus if you later say you’re interested in serving the underserved. Similarly, some students find jobs as patient navigators (helping patients coordinate care and appointments, as in certain hospital internships) – a unique role that shows you understand healthcare from the patient perspective. These fellowship-like experiences can be enriching and help your application stand out.

• Research or Academic Pursuits: A gap year is also a prime time to bolster your academic credentials if needed. Many premeds do a year (or two) of research full-time, aiming to get publications or simply more robust research exposure. Others enroll in one-year master’s programs or post-baccalaureate programs if they need to improve their GPA or take more science courses. If research is your plan, treat it like a job – dive in full-time at a lab or clinical research project. As the AMA notes, doing research before med school can “sharpen your critical thinking” and, if you achieve something like a publication, it will strengthen your application and even help you later in residency matching. Just be sure that whatever you do, you can explain how that year made you a stronger candidate. For instance, did your neuroscience research job teach you lab skills and perseverance? Did your public health internship ignite a passion for addressing health disparities?

• International or Humanitarian Work (with Caution): Some premeds consider volunteering or working abroad during a gap year – for example, through global health programs or medical mission trips. This can be eye-opening and demonstrate a commitment to global medicine. However, be careful: medical schools generally prefer domestic clinical experience to ensure you understand the U.S. healthcare system. If you go abroad, it should be a structured, ethical program where you aren’t doing anything beyond your training (no “shadowing” that turns into unsupervised treatment, which can be unethical). Programs focused on public health education or community work are great. Just avoid any overseas experience that might be seen as “voluntourism” or overstepping. If done right, an international stint can also speak to your adaptability and cultural competence.

Now, a gap year isn’t a free ticket – you must use it wisely. An admissions dean quoted by the New York Times (in an article about med school admissions) once said that if you take a gap year, be sure to “do something meaningful with it – we’re interested in what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown during that time.” In other words, don’t just relax for a year or work a random job unrelated to your goals (at least, not without also gaining some relevant experiences on the side). Medical schools want to see momentum. They’ll appreciate that you might also study for the MCAT or save money during a gap year – those are valid reasons – but the real boost comes from impactful experiences you can talk about.

Are there tangible benefits to a gap year beyond beefing up your CV? Definitely. Students often say a gap year helped them mature, prevented burnout, and gave them time to address weak spots (like taking additional coursework or improving their MCAT). One survey found the average matriculant age of 24, suggesting that not going straight through is common. And remember, you’ll have roughly 40+ years of medical career ahead – starting one or two years later is absolutely fine if you spend the time becoming a better applicant and future physician. As one blog noted, taking a gap year is not time off; it’s an opportunity to strengthen your candidacy and differentiate your application.

So, if you’re nearing the end of college and asking, “Should I apply now or wait?”, assess your readiness. Do you have the experiences described in this article solidly under your belt? If not, a gap year job (or combination of jobs/volunteering) can be the best premed job you undertake, because it might be the final push that gets you into med school. As Princeton’s advisors wisely observe, it’s better to take that time than to apply prematurely and risk rejection, only to spend a year gaining experience anyway.

Conclusion: Craft Your Unique Path (and Tell Your Story)

By now, you might be thinking: There are so many “best” premed jobs – which one do I choose? The truth is, there is no single right answer for every student. The best premed job for you will depend on your interests, needs, and the gaps in your application. Are you lacking clinical hours? Then a patient-facing clinical job (scribe, EMT, CNA, etc.) is probably your top choice. Missing volunteer service? Make time to volunteer with an organization you’re passionate about. If you have a solid clinical and service background but no research, maybe take on a research position. Ideally, by application time, you’ll have a well-rounded set of experiences: clinical experience, community service, research or leadership, and perhaps teaching or other unique activities.

Whatever you do, engage deeply. Admissions officers can tell the difference between someone who checked a box and someone who truly made an impact or learned from an experience. They often prefer depth over breadth – it's more impressive to commit to one hospice for two years than to hop around five different volunteer jobs for a few hours each. As one admissions dean famously said, “dump the checklist” mentality – don’t do things just because you think you have to. Instead, follow your genuine interests within the realm of service and healthcare, and then reflect on them to draw out the lessons. When it comes time to write your personal statement or interview, you should be able to articulate why your premed job (or jobs) was meaningful and how it confirmed your desire to become a physician.

Let’s not forget to highlight one more thing: enjoy the journey if you can. Ask yourself questions along the way: What type of patients do I love working with? What aspects of healthcare fascinate me? Did a particular moment with a patient inspire me? These experiences are not just about getting into medical school – they’re also about making sure medicine is the right fit for you. It’s better to discover during a gap year job that you actually hate being in hospitals than after you’ve started medical school! Most often, though, these jobs solidify your passion. You might have a moving conversation with a patient that reaffirms everything, or witness a life-saving intervention that drives you to say, “I want to do that someday.”

In summary, here’s our advice: Prioritize clinical experience – it’s arguably the most important piece of the puzzle. Complement it with meaningful volunteering (both medical and non-medical) to show your well-rounded dedication to service. If possible, add research or other scholarly work especially if you aim for research-intensive schools. Decide whether to gain these experiences gradually during school or intensively in a gap year (or both). And whichever path you choose, commit to it wholeheartedly and gather stories and skills you can carry into medical training.

Your premed job – whether paid or volunteer, part-time or full-time – is more than just a line on your resume. It’s a stepping stone toward the physician you will become. So choose experiences that excite you and challenge you to grow. In doing so, you’ll not only impress those admissions committees; you’ll also prepare yourself to be the compassionate, competent doctor you aspire to be.

Finally, ask yourself: What story will my application tell? If you accumulate rich experiences through the jobs and roles we discussed, you’ll be able to tell a compelling story of a premed who sought out opportunities to learn and serve, who understands the realities of medicine, and who is truly ready to don that white coat. And that is the kind of applicant medical schools can’t wait to admit. Good luck on your journey – now go out there and make the most of it!