You’re putting your medical school application together, going down the list checking off the various items, and you realize you’ve done pretty well:  You’ve maintained a decent GPA and have an MCAT score above average?. You’ve done research and shadowing and  have sent requests for letters of recommendation. There is one more thing, though, that you should add to this checklist to make your application stand out: acknowledgment of your Core Competencies.

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has identified four categories of Core Competencies that aspiring medical students should have. You can read more about these and how to reveal your competencies here, but make note of one of the most difficult areas to show competence: science competencies.

At Exploring Medicine, you can choose from an ever-expanding number of science competencies. Learn the medical model of diagnosis and treatment of disease while you apply your basic science knowledge to clinical medicine. At the completion of each of these modules, you will receive a personalized certificate of completion revealing the foundational concepts addressed through the educational experience you chose. Prepare yourself to think like a doctor as you work through actual patient scenarios. In the end, you will make a better-informed decision about pursuing a career in medicine. For more information about science competencies and about Exploring Medicine, go to exploringmedicine.net.