What did your journey to medical school look like?

While starting college I was initially pre-med, but halfway through changed my mind once I began doing undergraduate research. I was drawn to the field of research and completed a combined BA/MA degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a master’s in Biotechnology. I wanted to pursue a PhD after college, so I began working at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to strengthen my publication/research experience before applying.

After about a year and a lot of self-reflection I realized a life devoted to research was not meant for me. I changed my mind once again and decided to pursue medical school with full vigor this time around. While working full-time, I spent the next 2 years preparing for the MCAT, shadowing doctors, and furthering my research credentials to strengthen my resume.

I applied in 2019, got accepted, and am happy to say I made the right choice in the end.

Does being a non-traditional pre-med major hurt your chances of getting into medical school?

Being a non-traditional pre-med major will not hurt your chances, but you must still take the required pre-med courses (e.g. biology, chemistry, physics, etc.) required for acceptance into most med schools.

At the end of the day it is the strength of your application that determines your chances of getting into a medical program, so be sure to do well in school regardless of your major!

We all know what the basic pre-med requirements are, but what are some other classes you took that you found helpful for the MCAT or med school?

Preparing for the MCAT is met by taking most of your basic pre-med courses. After that you will most likely be using Princeton/Kaplan/ExamKracker resources to be studying for the MCAT in your own time or in an independent MCAT prep course. If your school does offer any resources for MCAT prep/study, then I would highly suggest you take it though! Also, most of the material learned in med school won’t be covered fully by undergrad courses so I wouldn’t worry too much about that (again basic pre-med courses will be sufficient here). I didn’t take anatomy in undergrad but I’ve heard that class was helpful as an intro to the human body, so I suggest taking that if you can.

What is one thing all pre-med students should keep in mind in undergrad?

That not everyone will get into medical school. I don’t say this to discourage you or dissuade you from applying, but it is a harsh reality for a majority of applicants every year. If you are going down this road then I want you to be open and honest with yourself.

The road to medical school is a tough one, that requires hard work, determination, and a lot of sacrifice. If you are willing to put in the hours to achieve that goal, then move forward with full confidence!

And if there is ever a time in between when you are struggling, then reach out for help earlier rather than later!

If you could go back and do one thing differently as a pre-med student, what would it be and why?

Never be afraid to ask for help if you need it! I was often stubborn and prideful in my own ways to ask for help, even if the results (and the eventual grades for a class) were less than ideal.

Learning to adapt is necessary if you want to be a successful student, so don’t get stuck in old habits if they aren’t working for you!