Getting great grades and a high MCAT score are important when applying to medical school. However, they are not the only winning contributing factors. What you do in your spare time counts too.

Probably more than you think.

Read this story to find out what these successful medical school applicants did, as they prepared for application to medical school.

Wondering about how you can obtain that valuable volunteering and/or work experience, that will help you prepare for medical school? Look here for some ideas and links to get you started.

Ever wonder how the University of Minnesota impacts local communities?

Read this story to learn about how the U of M's Academic Health Center schools and colleges reach out and provide crucial healthcare delivery to local communities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and around the State of Minnesota.

Read: Caring for Underserved Communities

The U of M has been awarded a $51 million Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Read the news release and look here for additional information, including videos about this award.

Want to learn more about the Clinical and Translational Science Institute? Follow this link to their website.