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 they have something to write about you as a person rather than just something generic like “good student” or “this person had an ‘A’ in my class”.
Tip #2: Get involved. Just because you have to study hard for this career does not mean you are not entitled to a life. Enjoy your time in college like other students because you cannot get that time back again. If you mess up on a test, relax and do better the next time. You are allowed to mess up and improve the next time.
Tip #3: Shadowing. Shadowing is a great way to find out if you even like the medical field. It gives you the opportunity to find out if you even like the lifestyle. You also get a first-hand perspective on how a doctor works on a day-to-day basis. Shadow multiple specialties because they are not all the same!
Tip #4: Volunteering. Spend some time volunteering. You will be surprised how satisfying it can feel to spend time with and help other people.
Tip #5: Take your classes seriously and worry about truly “learning and retaining” the material. Classes that you take in undergrad will definitely come in handy when studying for the MCAT. Just getting the grade will be a disservice if you do not actually learn the material—you will see it again while you are studying for the MCAT. On the flip side, you will probably find it easier when you are MCAT studying since you are just “revisiting” the information that you already took the time to learn.
These are just some summary tips that I thought of when I took a few moments to think about my time in college. One more thing to add: professors want you to succeed. They may not come off as having your best interests at heart, but they are trying to push you to give 110% since medical school will demand the same of you. I hope these quick tips help y’all out!
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