10 Tips for Pre-Meds This Summer

Well, as most of the world I am just rolling with the punches this summer. Ya know just trying to get over my bout with coronavirus, preparing to move back to Oregon (exciting news coming soon). Any-who, as a pre-med you may be wondering how you can still utilize this summer to the best of your ability ? Here are some suggestions ↓

1. 1. Learn how to read. Okay, yes I know that you know how to read. But, do you know how to read a scientific journal article and properly understand it? Medical journal articles are very heavy material. It is a steep learning curve when you start out in research because typically the first thing they have you do is literature review surrounding the study. One summer I read and summarized 100 journal articles in an excel sheet for a professor and boy did that take some serious coffee and concentration. The internet is full of free journal articles, so if you are interested in research I highly suggest you take advantage. Oh and it helps you to get updated on the newest and coolest clinical trials. Ya know, the ones where people try to cure cancer and prevent Alzheimer's. Kinda important.

2. Shadow. While you currently can't shadow in person, some physicians are accepting "virtual shadowing" . This would most likely look like you observing some type of telemedicine, which is great because it's the platform that medicine is pointing to long-term. Telemedicine shadowing could include you listening in to phone calls or video patient visits, or even the doctor just showing you online charting by sharing their computer screen with you. It's really up to each physician like normal shadowing. However, if neither of these options are available to you then I'm gonna refer you to #2 down below. Also, if anyone has virtually shadowed already DM because I would love to her about it!

3. Make connections. Even if you can't gain clinical experience or shadowing hours, you can still make connections because you will always need connections. Read that again. A large majority of my opportunities were because I made connections. For example, I met one physician I shadowed while studying at a coffee shop and another through the Cardiologist I scribed for. Coworkers put me into contact with a Radiology attending at Mayo so that I could apply for his research internship. People know people, so if you are looking for some connections use your Google and use your friends . Get ready for when you actually can shadow, volunteer, or work in the clinical setting. All you have to do is little bit of research here, some professional email introducing there, and then top it off with just a touch of pestering. Make sure to pester ...professionally, because yes physicians are very busy people. However, a large majority of them really enjoy mentoring young students they just are so busy they forget to reply.

4. Discover Dr. Ryan Gray. If there was one thing out of this entire list that I think would benefit you the most it would be this. No BS he is the best pre-med advisor you are gonna get. I have been listening to his podcast The Premed Years since I was a sophomore in college. As the founder of @themedicalschoolhq, Dr. Gray posts daily on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter..you name it. He is there 24/7/365 to discuss the trials and tribulations of preparing to become a physician. Check him out, I promise you won't regret it.

5. Get ahead. If you are in undergrad, then you may be wondering what the fall term is gonna look like. Whether it be online or in-person, I have no idea. Each University has their own plan. Nevertheless, you will still be forced to take that o-chem or physics or biology class. You might as well explore your classes and start planning. Maybe glance through the curriculum or ask your peers for the best materials to use for the class. I can tell you right now I wouldn't have survived physics without Chegg. Continuing, if you have your schedule, make a game plan about study times. The earlier the accountability the better.

6. Think outside of your box. If ya haven't checked your newsfeed lately let me tell ya, we are currently in the middle of a pandemic. People need help. There are plenty of unique volunteer opportunities available to you if you truly look for them. The one that I picked up was becoming a pen pal to a young girl in the juvenile detainment center where I used to volunteer as a tutor. Quarantine has been hard for me as a person who loves to socialize. However, it is nothing compared to the girls who have to self isolate in the prison. I wanted to reach out and connect through letters. Another way that I have chosen to give back is to go through all of my belongings (while I prepare to move) and donate what I can to Goodwill. With a lot of people out of work, the secondhand stores need all of the donations they can get! Other local organizations that might need help are food banks, senior centers (pen pal/video chat partner), trash clean up (literally anywhere), and even moms who now have to watch kids at home while working.

7. Become friends with Medical Terminology. If you haven't worked in a clinical setting yet, then this is definitely gonna earn you some brownie points. Yes, we all have to take anatomy and yes, some of the words are definitely going to be familiar. However, the medical terminology class I took the summer before scribing really taught me the history and breakdown of medical terms. Learning the basic group of latin roots allowed me to become a very efficient cardiology scribe and someone who could keep up in conversations when shadowing surgery or working on research at Mayo. It made me faster, more aware, and significantly less scared of big medical words. For starter pack click here.

8. Open that Facebook. I know, I know, Facebook is such an old social media platform. However, I have one for the soul purpose of networking in the Pre-Med Hangout Group chat. There are over 15k people in this forum that post about everything pre-med related. Whether you are studying for the MCAT and need an accountability partner or are exploring whether this field is for you or not--> Go. Add. Yourself. Go meet some peers. Go get some feelings validated. Go see how your generation is gearing up to take on medicine. Time to spread those little social wings.

9. Indulge in hobbies. Yes, it is very important that you also take time to relax, rejuvenate, and do something that you enjoy that is NOT school related. Pre-meds are very prone to burnout (myself included, more to come later). Also, medical schools are very interested in learning about hobbies. I have heard from many resources to put at least one hobby in your application activity section and be prepared to talk about it during your interview because it will come up! My current hobbies include running outside, backyard workouts (no open gyms), cuddling with my big puppy while blogging, shopping (spending $$ always makes me feel a teensy bit better ya know) and country swing dancing! When I need a pick me up or to reduce some stress, those are my go-to activities.

10. Become aware. There is so much going on in todays world. Between the medical, political, and social communities there are endless opportunities to learn. Don't be oblivious. As a generation who is rising up to take over, we must open ourselves to present issues. With that though, comes being uncomfortable. Discussing politics and social issues is awkward, especially when you don't put in your research. However, it is our duty as young adults to start forming those opinions backed by solid information and data. I am personally going to be working on this, because it's an area that I can greatly improve on and contribute to. If anyone has any resource suggestions I would appreciate you endlessly if you just comment them below!

Just remember that there are always opportunities to grow. Don't let Summer of 2020 get the better of you.

Be present.

XOXO

Ash