Being a pre-med can be very demanding. Pre-meds are bound to experience failures, which are a normal part of life. However, it is important to bounce back from failures and strive to be better moving forward.
Capacity for Improvement is one of the 15 core competencies created by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Students should be able to demonstrate these competencies prior to gaining admission to medical school because medical schools use them to assess applications.
Today, we will talk about Capacity for Improvement and how you can demonstrate this competency on your application.
The AAMC defines Capacity for Improvement as “setting goals for continuous improvement and for learning new concepts and skills; engaging in reflective practice for improvement; soliciting and responding appropriately to feedback.”
This core competency is important because medical schools need to see how you’ve improved and become a better version of yourself today compared to yesterday.
This is especially true in medicine and healthcare because the field is always changing, so students, physicians, and healthcare workers are bound to make some mistakes along the way.
The important thing to focus on is learning from your mistakes and improving for the next time so that they are not repeated. This shows medical schools that you are able to reflect on your mistakes and develop into a better version of yourself.
1. Reflect on areas that you feel are lacking or that you’re weak in and set SMART goals to achieve them in an efficient manner. Self-reflection is key to improving on your mistakes and making changes to be a better doctor in the future. SMART goals will allow you to take specific steps that quantify your progress in reaching your goal.
2. Keep a track of your progress and make sure to evaluate how you are doing in terms of meeting or not meeting your goals.
3. Reassess at regular intervals to change things that didn’t work and/or improve.
4. Commit yourself to being a lifelong learner because medicine is always changing.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/table-of-contents/whats-new (UptoDate)
https://www.who.int/ (World Health Organization)
https://www.cdc.gov/ (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
5. Be open to feedback and work towards incorporating these suggestions into your daily practice. Receiving critical feedback can be challenging, but learning to accept it and working on it will show that you are eager to learn and grow, which can help you find greater success, both academically and personally. Keep in mind that all critical feedback is not equal. You should be able to recognize when criticism is constructive and pay attention to feedback that will help you in the long run.
Research:
Let’s say you failed to find conclusive results in your initial experiment, but you and your PI discovered potential for another related study that would explore something new. Perhaps you could offer to spearhead the new literature review and create the parameters of the new project. That way, when you write about the research experience in your application, you can show yourself as someone who saw an initial failure as an opportunity for future success, while also conveying your ability to take on more responsibility and build more advanced research skills.
Clinical Experience:
Starting a new clinical position can be nerve-racking. Remember to not become stagnant and continue to be willing to learn. Look for opportunities with more responsibilities and try to “move up.”
Ex. Medical scribe, EMT, MA → You will be working in a demanding environment and learning on the job. You are going to make mistakes, but as long as you learn from your mistakes and take the advice/feedback from your trainers, you’re going to succeed. In these positions, you may interact with non-English speakers, so you can use this as an opportunity to learn the basics of a new language and improve access to healthcare for patients.
Employment:
Take opportunities to go from a trainee to becoming a trainer and eventually employee of the month. This shows growth and consistent dedication to improve and take on more responsibilities.
Ex. Server, Retail
Coursework:
Retake courses that you didn’t do as well in the first time around. Show an upward trend throughout your undergraduate years. This shows that you recognize your weaknesses and mistakes and that you can make a plan to improve and reach your goal to get a great final mark in hard classes, such as physics or organic chemistry.
Leadership:
Transition from being a follower to a leader and learn to organize and guide others efficiently. Take a leadership position in one of your school’s clubs/organizations or volunteer programs (remember to join clubs that are of interest to you and that you are passionate about).
Being a leader is not an easy thing by any means. You may run an unsuccessful event with a low turnout rate. Learn from this and transform future events by changing your strategy to improve attendance, fundraising, outreach, collaboration, etc.
Hobbies and Personal Endeavors:
Ex. Physical activity → taking up running as a hobby (making a goal of running a half marathon and transitioning to running a full marathon).
Ex. Public speaking → enrolling in a ToastMasters public speaking course (consider giving presentations to younger students or participating in an open mic night.
You can develop in multiple areas with these activities, including social skills, oral communication, and critical thinking.
It’s important to practice capacity for improvement - not just as a pre-med student, but also as a future physician-to-be, especially for the benefit of your future patients.
You will be put into various situations and will face adversity. It is through self-reflection and goal-setting that you can improve and handle situations better in the future. Be sure to keep a track of your progress and strive to improve consistently.
About the Author:
Jasmine Chopra graduated from the University of Toronto with a HBSc in human biology and nutrition. She aspires to be a physician and has interests in primary care and public health. During her time at university, she was involved in peer mentorship, peer tutoring, and intramural basketball. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, watching Korean dramas, and trying new cuisines with her family and friends.
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