There are many ways to gain experience and get involved in clinical and community settings. You don’t have to do them all! Give priority to engaging in activities that:
- Demonstrate your interest in healthcare and understanding of what providers do.
- Matter to you! We’re here to help you find the opportunities that resonate with your passions and aspirations.
- Help you grow and develop professional competencies like empathy, collaboration, problem-solving, resilience, flexibility, cultural humility, and communication skills like active listening, clear writing, and speaking.
Experience working with patients is important as you prepare to apply to a health professions program, but gaining experience spans beyond just patient care. Consider working or volunteering both in clinical environments and within your community, and participate in on-campus student organizations.
Campus Involvement
You're just a few clicks away from finding community among campus's nearly 1,000 clubs and organizations! Explore UW-Madison student orgs and learn how you can get involved.
Volunteering
Health professions programs look for applicants who demonstrate a sustained commitment to serving others in healthcare & community settings. Learn more about opportunities to volunteer and work in clinical and non-clinical settings.
Jobs
For health professions program applications, all jobs, including those outside healthcare, demonstrate reliability and teamwork. If you are looking for a job in healthcare, prioritize patient care experiences relevant to your health field and your interests.
Hobbies & Interests
Hobbies, interests, and values are ways to connect with others, try new things, fail, and try again! We develop resilience through our hobbies, learn to solve problems when things don’t work, and learn to work with others who are different than we are.