5 Insider Tips for Aspiring Pre-Med Students

I get asked often what advice I have for pre-medical students to successfully matriculate in medical school. To answer this question, I would have to start with my own pre-medical journey. I wanted to become a doctor at a very young age stemming from a combination of being around sick family members and from my own curiosity about the human body. The “life” obstacles I had to overcome to where I am today are numerous. These include family deaths, being new immigrants, poverty, personal illness, etc. This post is however not about those obstacles, I will need a whole book for that (maybe one day). The premedical course work, the lack of mentorship, the lack of access to opportunities, being underrepresented in medicine etc. these are the challenges that most pre-med face and that could be overcome with the right strategy.

When I was in high school, my goal was to attend one of the best undergraduate schools in the country. In college, I entered the pre-medical path and oh boy, was it a hard road. Not just the course work, but existing as a pre-medical student was challenging. You see, I had no physician role model near guiding me through the process, so many of my guidance was from word of mouth or from speakers from the pre-medical organizations I joined on campus. I felt lost many times and looking back there were things I did well and things I wished I did better.  

Here are some tips I am going to share with you in the hope that it helps make your pre-medical journey a little bit easier and less confusing.

1.     Attend a pre-medical prep program. When I was a 2nd year in college, I attend the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program. I spent 8 weeks among other underrepresented pre-medical students immersed in all things pre-med. I was exposed to different medical specialties, research, MCAT prep material etc. When I finished the program, I knew for certain I was going to apply to medical school and was able to have a clearer vision of my future.

2.     Find a physician mentor. An older friend of mine introduced me to her vascular surgeon doctor friend whom I was able to shadow while a first, second and third year college student. He was also the chair of his department. It helped expose me to surgery but also gave me great leverage when it came to obtaining a letter of recommendation for medical school.

3.     Get yourself involved in research or QI project. This is not a requirement for medical school but helps your application stand out from a pile of other similar applicants. I started doing research in high school and built a network of people who could easily get me a lab assistant gig while in undergrad. Build your research network early and grow within that space throughout the years.

4.     Attend medical conference. There is no better place to inspire you like a good medical conference such as the NMA. Seeing others doing it will help you see yourself do it as well. You will also establish connections you might otherwise not be able to.

5.     Give yourself ample time to study for the MCAT. I advise students to take as long as they need to study for the MCAT. It is an exam that can sometimes make or break your application so don’t take it lightly. If it takes you a whole year to prepare for it, so be it.

I hope these tips help you get closer to your dream of attending medical school. Ask any questions on my IG post.