You have probably already been under pressure to spend time working in a research lab or volunteering in a hospital or clinical setting. While both of these are excellent additions to a competitive student’s application it is important to at least explore both options. It is absolutely necessary that you have adequate exposure to the healthcare field you want to be a part of.
For example, if you say you want to be a Physician Assistant but haven’t spent time around a P.A., it will be very difficult to convince an admissions committee of your true passion and understanding of the profession. While many applicants have research experience it certainly isn’t a required part of an application. Many students participate in research and find that they don’t have a sustained interest, while many continue to do research while in professional school. There is also value in discovering that you aren’t as passionate about research or healthcare as you thought you might be. Many students spend time in a Family Practice Clinic or Laboratory and soon realize that things aren’t quite what they thought they would be. These experiences are all part of the career exploration process and sometimes finding out that you don’t like something is just as important as finding out that you do.