Medical School Life

Succeeding in medical school: The ultimate guide

From strengthening your leadership skills to doing cutting-edge research while you prep for residency, the AMA has the resources you need, from M1 to Match

Jun 26, 2024 . 2 MIN READ

Explore the guide

Medical school offers a chance to learn and grow, as a future professional and as a person. You may be wondering how to pursue these opportunities—doing research, giving back, leading—while you look ahead to Match Day and beyond.

Don’t worry. The AMA has helpful programs and resources for medical students looking to develop these skills.

Get started today

Search medical student leadership opportunities
1. Distinguish yourself through more than 1,000 leadership opportunities and build your skills through online training modules, project-based learning and more—the AMA will help you stand out.
How to get started in medical student research
1. Give your CV a boost. Our research resources bring you from the basics all the way to our AMA Research Challenge—a chance to compete for $10,000!
Advocate for change at the state and federal levels
1. Connect with nearly 52,000 AMA student members as you get hands-on experience advocating for change at the state and federal levels through trainings, meetings and events in Washington, D.C.—and online!
How to create your Match game plan
1. We help you master the residency application process so you can make the right decisions about your career, prep for a knockout interview, explore residency opportunities—all so you can successfully match!