Get plugged in!

Plug yourself into the premed world. As a minority student you have a great resource, the medical school office of diversity.

Every medical school has an office of diversity (names vary). One of their missions is to help students of color become physicians.

Search for your medical school's web site of choice and browse their site for their office of diversity. You can start with the one affiliated with your school. If you don't have a medical school affiliated with your school contact those medical schools nearest to you and those in your own state. You don't have to be affiliated with their school for them to help you. You don't even have to be in the same state. You can contact them if you are a high school, community college, junior college, undergraduate, or even graduate student. Check out this medical school admissions office search engine to get you started.

Email or call them. They can help you find the answers you are looking for. They can plug you into the following;

• Premedical pipeline which is what medical schools call all their programs that help premdical students learn about and prepare for a career in medicine.
• Physicians and medical students of color that can answer your questions.
• Premedical advisors – You can learn more about what it’s all about.
• Premedical programs – They can plug you into programs designed for premeds of color that are interested in medicine.
• Premedical listserve.

Must see link!
AAMC – How do I know if a career in medicine is right for me?

Other things you can do to get plugged in.

Sometimes being around the right people or being on the right email list can keep you well informed. Here are some suggestions.

1. Stay in contact with office of diversity that you contacted. They can act as your premed advisor. You can also contact your undergraduate premedical advisor.
2. Join a premed club. They provide support and more information.
3. Go to premedical conferences. The office of diversity and your premedical advisor can plug you into to premed events.
4. Check out the "the 411". There are hundreds of opportunties waiting to be discovered.