Pre-Med Advice: What You Need to Know as a Pre-Med Student
Hello, Sunshine! For today’s blog post I had the privilege of interviewing UCR alum and first-year medical student at the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, Leandra Doan. She has excelled tremendously in her academic career as well as outside of the classroom. Pre-Med Advice: What You Need to Know as a Pre-Med Student
ABOUT
Leandra
Leandra graduated from the University of California, Riverside with her Bachelor’s degree in Biology. She started a Youtube channel during the summer before entering medical school and posts videos giving pre-med advice while documenting her journey in medical school.
I found her story extremely empowering and knew I needed to share her side as a medical student.
Interview: Pre-med Advice
- When did you realize that your future lies in medicine and how did you take the steps to pursue your goals of getting into medical school?
“I think I’ve always been interested in the medical field, but I decided to truly pursue medicine late into my freshman year of college after a memorable experience with my physician! I decided to explore the field by seeking shadowing and volunteering opportunities. I also spoke with upperclassmen who were also pre-med to ask about their journeys.”
2. What are some things you would tell your past-self as an undergraduate student?
“I would tell my past self to step out of my comfort zone more. Your first year is filled with so much free time, so it’s best to take advantage of that and explore different organizations on campus to meet new people. “
3. What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming a doctor, but still doesn’t know if that is 100% the occupation for them?
“I would encourage them to explore the medical field. It is totally understandable to not know what career you want to pursue, and it’s a big decision to make! My advice would be to find shadowing opportunities, research what life is like as a physician, and try to ask yourself if you’d be happy being a physician in the future.”
4. How did you go about managing your medical school applications and when did you start preparing for the MCAT?
“I asked upperclassmen about the medical school application process, and I started preparing for my MCAT the summer after my sophomore year. I started looking into schools to apply to late in my junior year. It was hard to manage my time for sure, but I prepared early to avoid procrastinating at the very end. I have received so many questions about my MCAT and how I prepared, so I made a video on my channel!”
5. What were some extracurricular activities (both medical and non-medical related) you were involved in at UCR and which one impacted you the most? Why?
“I was involved in many extracurriculars at UCR, and I would definitely say that Medical Scholars Programs was one of the highlights! I met so many great people in the organization, and the tutoring services helped a lot during my hard classes. I was also a Resident Advisor on campus, and that position helped improve my leadership and communication skills.”
6. What core attributes of your application allowed you to get accepted into so many amazing medical schools?
“This question is difficult to answer because I never asked for feedback from admissions offices after I was accepted. In my opinion, I don’t believe my acceptances were due to one or two things. Medical schools look at applicants holistically, so every detail of your application matters. I was involved in my extracurricular activities for a long period of time, and I think that definitely helped show my passion.”
7. Do you have any tips for medical school interviews and how aspiring medical students can prepare?
“Research each school before you interview and calm your nerves as best as you can. Interviews are your opportunity to see the school and meet current students, so you should ask as many questions as you can.”
8. What has (in your opinion) been the most challenging part in applying to medical schools/ being a pre-med student?
“The hardest part for me was preparing for the MCAT! It’s such a grueling test, but all the hard work pays off in the end.”
9. Any last words you would like to share?
“I wish everyone luck with their future endeavors! Hope you all can check out my Youtube channel for more detailed advice 🙂 “
Conclusion:
There you have it! I want to thank Leandra for taking the time to answer these questions. I strongly recommend anyone who is thinking about pursuing medicine to check out her channel.
Thank you for joining me, and don’t forget to check out my recent blog post!
I also guest posted! It was such a cool experience. Click here to read through my first guest post.
Follow @sunnybunchofficial on Instagram for updates!
You matter, never forget that.
Pre-Med Advice: What You Need to Know as a Pre-Med Student
Pre-Med Advice: What You Need to Know as a Pre-Med Student
Pre-Med Advice: What You Need to Know as a Pre-Med Student
Pre-Med Advice: What You Need to Know as a Pre-Med Student
Pre-Med Advice: Everything You Need to Know as a Pre-Med Student
