Pre Clerkship Advising

As you embark on your medical education, it is important to keep in mind why you chose medicine and what you are working toward. The first two years of medical school will lay the foundation upon on which you will build your career.

In addition to learning basic sciences and pathophysiology, use your first year to investigate yourself:

• What are your strengths, weaknesses, interests, and values?
  • The more you understand about yourself, the easier it will be to narrow down your specialty choices
• Begin exploring specialties by joining Student Interest Groups (SIGS) and introducing yourself to the Career Advising faculty and staff.
  • SIGS are a helpful tool for research and clinical shadowing and connecting with healthcare professionals
  • As of March 2025, here are the Specialty SIGS that offer shadowing opportunities:

The Office of Career Advising offers a variety of resources and is here to help you maximize your growth.

Continue to update your CV as you build on your experiences and commitments in medical school. Stay active in seeking out opportunities for service and leadership, and investigate research topics that you would like to explore further.

If you do not have a CV, that is OK! We have created a CV template for Keck students that is preformatted and includes color coded examples showcasing how to draft impactful bullet points. This template is available for download, and designed for students to simply add their details into the document.

• Curriculum Vitae Resources
• Keck CV Template (@usc.edu email address required)

Careers in Medicine Resources
Interest & Values Assessment
Alternative Paths
CiM Clinical and Research Opportunities Database