By the title of this blog, you were probably thinking the answer is “yes, of course.” While colleges may have other required courses for graduation, I want to take a moment to discuss the feeling of guilt when there is free space in your schedule. It is important to take the prerequisite classes necessary for […]
The Portrayal of Medicine on TV: Imperial Coroner
On a recent routine sweep of my film and tv show streaming platforms, I came across the series the Imperial Coroner. With my first rotation of residency being autopsy, I viewed the moment as propitious to watch a fictionalized account of my predecessors. While containing many of the classics of the period romance genre, it […]
How to Study for the MCAT
One common question that many aspiring med students want a definitive answer to is: how long should I study or prepare to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)? The question seems simple enough, but the “right” answer is far from simple. The truth is: there is really no right answer. For me, the right […]
Building Your CV as a Medical Student
Documenting your involvement and accomplishments is very important throughout medical school. And, to do your future-M4-self a favor, it would be in your benefit to start early — even as early as M1! Start getting involved in volunteer activities. See if your program has a free clinic to provide care to the underserved and uninsured. […]
Clinical and Volunteer Ideas for Pre-Med Students
So, you want to go to medical school? In order to truly understand what you’re signing yourself up for, clinical experience is a huge advantage to acquire medical exposure and hands-on knowledge that will benefit your future. Not only is clinical experience important, but so is volunteering in an area that you are passionate about […]
Lost in the Sauce: M1 Study Tips
This post is mainly for my M1s, but it can totally be helpful to any M2-M4s reading! It’s very easy to get ~lost in the sauce~ in medical school, and by that I mean the load of information coming at you each and every day! I get it — it’s a lot! It’s like nothing […]
Tips for Pre-Medical College Students
Since I am fresh out of college, I have some quick tips that I want to share with y’all about getting ready to apply for medical school. Tip #1: Get you know your professors. These are the people who will write you a letter of recommendation. It is good to get to know them so […]
Psychiatry Rotation: Why Mental Health is Important
After I finished the surgery rotation, I began the psychiatry rotation. What a difference! They are literally night and day from each other, or at least in my opinion. Truth be told, I didn’t think I would love my psychiatry rotation as much as I did. Every attending and resident I came across was so […]
Not to be
My medical school tenure was bookended by news of loss. In the early days, when I spent my time in a lecture hall, I listened to somber faculty announce that a resident had died by suicide. I remember sitting near the back of the room because I had come in late, and while the administration’s […]
I’ve Matched – Now What?
Now that us fourth-years are matched and many have completed their medical school rotations, we are entirely free! I finished my last elective last week, and have a mixture of feelings – triumph, joy, pride, excitement, and nervousness. Triumph and joy at completing medical school, pride for matching into my number one choice for residency, […]