Having a college checklist is important for pre-meds. Getting all the pre-med college essentials to start off the pre-med track right can make all the difference. So here’s a list of some of the most important things you’ll definitely need:
10 Things Every Pre-Med Needs for College
1. Backpack (and separate lab tote)
Every college pre-med needs a backpack. But now that most textbooks are available digitally, you really only need something that can fit your laptop and other small daily necessities. In addition to a backpack, pre-meds should definitely consider a separate tote bag for biology and chemistry labs.
Pre-med college students may have 1 or 2 labs each semester and these labs usually require their own separate lab notebooks and manuals, so it’s nice to have a separate bag for each on your checklist. They can also get kind of messy (anatomy labs, for example, often require small animal dissections), so you may not want your daily backpack in there.
2. Grid Paper Notebook
For students who swear by handwritten paper notes, grid paper is a must. General and organic chemistry in particular will require a lot of diagram drawing, and grid paper will keep your notes neat and tidy.
Once you start using grid lined paper, you’ll probably find it useful for other courses as well. But it will definitely be a life-saver for organic chemistry.
3. Scrubs
Clinical experience is vital for medical school applications (read more here). Many students start working on clinical hours their second or third year of college, once they’ve adjusted to college life. But it is possible to start working on those clinical experiences even as a freshman.
Once you find the right clinical opportunity for you, you’ll more than likely be needing scrubs. Some hospitals require specific colors, so make sure you check before you buy.
4. Comfy Shoes
Speaking of clinical hours, comfortable walking shoes will also be a must. Depending on your clinical role, you can easily get 10,000- 20,000 steps in one shift. Learn more about clinical opportunities for pre-meds here.
Find whatever shoe is best for you, but it’s definitely worth investing in. Between walking around campus and walking around clinic, comfortable shoes are a necessity.
5. Travel Coffee Mug
If you don’t have a caffeine addiction yet, you will have one soon. Travel coffee mugs are definitely worth it and often get you a little discount at your favorite coffee shop too.
But you’ll save a lot of money brewing coffee at home, and those savings add up. So it’s good to have a few reusable travel mugs around when you’re on the go.
6. Bento Box
A bento box is basically a small metal lunchbox with dividers. They are incredibly simple and incredibly handy. Do a little meal prep a couple times a week and throw one in your backpack before you leave for class.
They’re perfect for library snacks or full lunches, for campus or clinic. Hospital cafeterias are usually nothing great, so packing food from home is usually your best (and cheapest) option.
7. Anki
Anki is a free flashcard software used by med students everywhere. Many had not even heard of Anki until starting med school, and there are a lot of features to learn. So getting started with Anki in undergrad is great. Anki uses spaced repetition to make memorization as efficient as possible.
It’s particularly useful for pre-med courses that require significant rote memorization, like general chemistry. But Anki can really be used for almost any pre-med class.
8. Retractible ID Holder
Retractible ID holders are useful for both campus ID and clinic ID. Most college students use a lanyard, but even those can require a bit of fumbling to open doors, etc. Retractable ID holders are the most efficient option.
They’re used by almost everyone that works in a hospital or clinic and for good reason. They’re a simple thing that makes a huge difference.
9. Day Planner
In addition to a traditional wall calendar at home, a daily or weekly planner is a must for any college student (but especially pre-meds). Once you get all your syllabi for all your classes, spend an afternoon making note of each and every exam date, review date, and assignment due date for the semester.
Papier has some of the best daily and weekly planers for both aesthetics and functionality. But Target usually has a lot of great options too if you’re on a budget.
10. Travel Hand Sanitizer
One thing that every college student should know is that college campuses are a petri-dish of pathogens. And if you’re also working in clinic or hospital, you’ll be exposed to just about every microorganism you can imagine. You will get sick.
But keeping sanitizer handy can help. Definitely keep surfaces at home clean, keep your vitamin C stocked, and wash your hands as much as possible.
Final Thoughts
This post was all about your college pre-med essentials. Learn about pre-med dorm essentials here, or read more about the pre-med path here.
