4 answers
Willow
Student
Colonial Beach, Virginia
4
Questions
Asked
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What most prepared you for college and medical school applications? ?
I am getting ready to graduate and I plan on starting off by going to a community college then going off to a 4-year university in order to apply for medical school. How should I prepare for all of these plans that will change my life?
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4 answers
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
160
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
Be sure you enjoy the expedition. Learning is fun. Exploring sidestreets is fun. Ultimately, healthcare professionals are people who, in addition to a great work ethic, are well-rounded. So, do work hard to get good grades. Do take classes that sound interesting even if they don't seem to be related to healthcare. Participate in extra-curricular activities you enjoy. Get enough sleep and eat well and exercise - we don't need more burnout in medicine.
Find out if there are any hospitals or clinics that allow people your age to shadow professionals. Watching physicians, nurses, technologists, therapists... helps you understand the work, and when you write your letters to convince folks to choose you, stating that your interests were magnified through your direct observations (with stories about what you found so motivating), they will be strong.
Find out if there are any hospitals or clinics that allow people your age to shadow professionals. Watching physicians, nurses, technologists, therapists... helps you understand the work, and when you write your letters to convince folks to choose you, stating that your interests were magnified through your direct observations (with stories about what you found so motivating), they will be strong.
Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action!
Willow
I agree with everything Dr. Hanson has said here. I took acting and singing classes in college while earning my degree and they were wonderful experiences that introduced me to new ways of thinking that will serve me well as I pursue my healthcare dreams. I gained valuable insights into real medicine through shadowing ER physicians, pulmonologists and orthopedic surgeons and built relationships that allowed me to gain letters of recommendation from mentors I deeply admire. Working in healthcare is a deeply humbling and enriching experience, but also challenging and stressful so making sure you can take care of yourself will ensure you can take care of your patients. Thank you for your amazing advice, Dr. Hanson.
Caleb Lindsey
Caleb Lindsey
Medical Scribe
20
Answers
Bloomfield, Indiana
Updated
Caleb’s Answer
Hi Willow,
I think community college is a great place to start your medical journey. I am currently taking classes at a community college here in Indiana and the people you meet here can be great mentors and supportive friends that can get you to where you want to be. If I were starting my medical journey in your shoes, here's what i would do:
- Talk with people in your class, find out their stories and what drives them. Building strong bonds are what patients really value in their physicians and all of your patient encounters will begin with a simple conversation. So, learn how to talk and listen to others. This will make you an empathetic person and also build a strong network of colleagues that can help you in your studies and open doors for opportunities for further learning. I have tried to implement these practices in my time in community college and I have created friendships that build me up and push me to keep chasing after my medical dreams.
- Gain meaningful experiences. This can be work that allows you to learn and grow, extracurriculars that fill your soul with joy, and volunteering that builds a sense of companionship with your fellow man. Medical school admission committees will want to know "Why are you choosing medicine?" and these kinds of experiences can help you answer those questions. You can often gain pre-medical trainings at community colleges, such as medical assisting, certified nursing assistant, and emergency medical technician classes that open doors for jobs that can lead to valuable healthcare experiences. For me, I volunteer at my church and on this website to help others like me, I started going to poetry showcases at my community college to express myself, and I took a CNA class at my community college and used it to land a job at a hospital that now has me working in the ICU and learning a lot more about medicine! All of these things have been invaluable experiences to me.
- Be curious. Ask questions to everyone. Doctors, nurses, professors, coworkers, etc. No matter if you think it is dumb or not, it will show others that you want to be the best you can be and (most of the time) they will respect that and offer you great tidbits of knowledge. I try to ask nurses and doctors and my coworkers as many questions as I can and they have provided immense support in terms of feedback and advice that they wish they had when they were my age. Keep your curiosity and you will go far.
- Be kind to yourself. Becoming a physician is hard. If it wasn't everyone would do it. You will fail... a lot. You will feel lost... a lot. You will question your own abilities and wonder if you're cut out for this... a lot. At least this has been my experience up to this point in my life.I have found that it is okay to feel this way. But the one thing you cannot do is give up, no matter what you face you keeping pushing and keep fighting. Over time, and it'll take a while, but you will grow to be confident in your ability to overcome challenges and deal with complex situations, both of which will serve you well as a physician.
I hope this helps you. This is a LOT of information, but give yourself some grace and time to, as Dr. Hanson above me says so truthfully, "Enjoy the expedition". I wish you the best of luck on your medical journey! If I can be of any assistance, let me know!
I think community college is a great place to start your medical journey. I am currently taking classes at a community college here in Indiana and the people you meet here can be great mentors and supportive friends that can get you to where you want to be. If I were starting my medical journey in your shoes, here's what i would do:
- Talk with people in your class, find out their stories and what drives them. Building strong bonds are what patients really value in their physicians and all of your patient encounters will begin with a simple conversation. So, learn how to talk and listen to others. This will make you an empathetic person and also build a strong network of colleagues that can help you in your studies and open doors for opportunities for further learning. I have tried to implement these practices in my time in community college and I have created friendships that build me up and push me to keep chasing after my medical dreams.
- Gain meaningful experiences. This can be work that allows you to learn and grow, extracurriculars that fill your soul with joy, and volunteering that builds a sense of companionship with your fellow man. Medical school admission committees will want to know "Why are you choosing medicine?" and these kinds of experiences can help you answer those questions. You can often gain pre-medical trainings at community colleges, such as medical assisting, certified nursing assistant, and emergency medical technician classes that open doors for jobs that can lead to valuable healthcare experiences. For me, I volunteer at my church and on this website to help others like me, I started going to poetry showcases at my community college to express myself, and I took a CNA class at my community college and used it to land a job at a hospital that now has me working in the ICU and learning a lot more about medicine! All of these things have been invaluable experiences to me.
- Be curious. Ask questions to everyone. Doctors, nurses, professors, coworkers, etc. No matter if you think it is dumb or not, it will show others that you want to be the best you can be and (most of the time) they will respect that and offer you great tidbits of knowledge. I try to ask nurses and doctors and my coworkers as many questions as I can and they have provided immense support in terms of feedback and advice that they wish they had when they were my age. Keep your curiosity and you will go far.
- Be kind to yourself. Becoming a physician is hard. If it wasn't everyone would do it. You will fail... a lot. You will feel lost... a lot. You will question your own abilities and wonder if you're cut out for this... a lot. At least this has been my experience up to this point in my life.I have found that it is okay to feel this way. But the one thing you cannot do is give up, no matter what you face you keeping pushing and keep fighting. Over time, and it'll take a while, but you will grow to be confident in your ability to overcome challenges and deal with complex situations, both of which will serve you well as a physician.
I hope this helps you. This is a LOT of information, but give yourself some grace and time to, as Dr. Hanson above me says so truthfully, "Enjoy the expedition". I wish you the best of luck on your medical journey! If I can be of any assistance, let me know!
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Willow
Nicole Banda
Speech-Language Pathologist
4
Answers
Buda, Texas
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Having a mentor in the field!
Madison Buchman
doctor
160
Answers
West Hartford
Updated
Madison’s Answer
Having mentorship! Planning ahead for requirements and knowing how long I would need to fulfill them. Start early getting work or volunteer experience, try some minor research roles and then see if that fits you. Get an advisor that you trust and that has good results with others! A good mentor makes all the difference
When thinking about planning ahead: make a to do list or a timeline. Right down both short and long term tasks/goals. In this timeline make sure it is DOABLE and also realistic! Make lists either for just a week at a time, maybe a month at a time, or even for the full year. Keep them simple/short wording/ and try and take tasks/changes one at a time instead of stressing over them all at once or tying to tackle them all at once. Plan YOU time in this as well (time for working out/meditation/doctors vists/spots activities/clubs/family or friend time/sleep/food/cooking).
All big life changes are stressful. Plan for your support system, let friends/family know that you have these changes coming up and that you will likely need support through that. Maybe even specify what that type of support looks like. People are always willing to help, sometimes you just have to let them know you need it.
Hope this helps!!
Sincerely, Madison
When thinking about planning ahead: make a to do list or a timeline. Right down both short and long term tasks/goals. In this timeline make sure it is DOABLE and also realistic! Make lists either for just a week at a time, maybe a month at a time, or even for the full year. Keep them simple/short wording/ and try and take tasks/changes one at a time instead of stressing over them all at once or tying to tackle them all at once. Plan YOU time in this as well (time for working out/meditation/doctors vists/spots activities/clubs/family or friend time/sleep/food/cooking).
All big life changes are stressful. Plan for your support system, let friends/family know that you have these changes coming up and that you will likely need support through that. Maybe even specify what that type of support looks like. People are always willing to help, sometimes you just have to let them know you need it.
Hope this helps!!
Sincerely, Madison