What Makes a Great Pre-Med Mentor and How to Find One

By Elana Goodwin on December 4, 2016

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

Having a mentor as a pre-med student is an important and valuable experience that can help you going forward as a med student. That being said, you may not know how to find yourself a mentor or what you should even look for in a mentor as a pre-med student.

Not to worry — here are some attributes to look for in a mentor to guarantee they’ll be a great pre-med mentor and some tips on how to find one.

Photo Credit: Pexels.com

First things first; here’s what makes a great pre-med mentor.

1. Time. One of the most crucial traits to look for in a pre-med mentor is their schedule. While you obviously want someone who’s successful, you don’t want to choose a pre-med mentor who’s short on time and won’t really be able to dedicate any to you when you need it.

While looking for a pre-med mentor, ask if they’ve mentored any pre-med students before, what their schedule is like, and if they think they’ll have the time to meet with you when you need to. If they’re considering mentoring you, it’s fair to assume they’ll have the time to be able to schedule you into their busy lives, but you want to make sure they understand the commitment you’d like from them and what being your mentor may entail.

2. Connections. Another characteristic that makes a great pre-med mentor is their connections. While researching mentors, you want to look at where they went to school, how many other professionals in medicine went to their alma mater, and other people they may know from their past or current employment.

Your mentor can help grow your own network by introducing you to people who’ll be good to know in the future or who can also help you as you pursue a degree in medicine. When discussing a possible mentorship, ask if they have any friends or contacts that might be beneficial for you to know or could be in touch with as well. The more people in your corner and who you have to turn to as a pre-med student, the better.

3. Experience. To choose a great pre-med mentor, you also have to look at their experiences. Do some research to find out where they completed their schooling and training, how long they’ve been in the field, what positions they’ve had and where, any articles published in scholarly journals, etc.

For your mentor, you want to pick someone who is successful, knowledgeable and experienced. That way, they’ll have the perspective and connections a much younger professional may not. You may also, of course, attain a peer mentor or a mentor who’s just entered the medical workforce to give you support and a glimpse of what your future will be, but that should be in addition to your main mentor.

4. Similarities. A great mentor and the one that’ll be the best for you will share similarities with you. Perhaps you’re from the same state or went to the same college, which is a great start, but you’ll also want to look for a mentor who has a position you could see yourself in or who’s working in the medical field you’re interested in. A mentor with similarities will truly be able to mentor you as they’ll be able to give you an insider’s perspective and opinion on the positions and fields you’re most seriously considering going into.

5. Advice. Another important factor, and one people may overlook, is how equipped your mentor is with advice. Now being able to give good advice to you may come with time as they get to know you better, but you want a mentor who knows what’s valuable for pre-med students and those looking to enter the medical field to know.

If you’re talking to more than one potential mentor, ask if they have any advice for you right now or what’s something they wish they knew as a pre-med student. Not only may it help you decide who’s the right mentor for you, but you’ll also get free (hopefully helpful) advice!

Now that you know what to look for in a mentor, here are a couple methods you can use to find one:

•Attend networking events. Your college undoubtedly hosts networking and other events which will allow you to meet people. Find out if and when there’s going to be a networking event targeting pre-med or medical professionals, and even if it’s for med students, attend it anyway and make connections. Those you speak to and consider for your potential mentor will be impressed you attended and it will show your commitment to the field and to finding a great mentor.

•Reach out to professors and other professionals for help. If you’re still not sure how to find a pre-mentor, ask a professor or email someone in the school of medicine for help. They may be able to put you in contact with some medical professionals who could possibly act as your mentor.

Now that you know what to look for in a great mentor and how to find one, it’s time to go out there and get yourself a mentor!

Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format