“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”

― J.K. Rowling

As May fast approaches and a new medical school application cycle is about to begin, many are getting ready to start their application journey. I remember having so many questions when I first applied to medical school, so I thought I would compile some tips and tricks for those about to navigate this daunting process. Like any self-respecting millennial would, I turned to Facebook and asked my friends what was the best advice they received as applicants. Amidst some much appreciated sarcasm and good humor (we are currently studying for boards after all), there were many thoughtful responses and a few important themes emerged.

1: Start early. All good things take time. It is will take time and thought to research where you will apply, put together your personal statement and complete the other sections of your application. You will also want to request transcripts and letters of recommendation well in advance. Once you are able to submit your application, it can take weeks for AMCAS to process your file and send it to the schools you have chosen. When you start receiving secondary applications, a good rule of thumb is to complete them within two weeks of being sent the offer. You may get several at once, so it is helpful to begin as soon as possible to allow ample time for each prompt.

2: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Medical school is a marathon, not a sprint. The application process is no different. The power of having someone in your corner to help and guide you along the way cannot be overstated. Your mentors, the career center at your college, and those you may know in medicine are great resources to take advantage of when applying. They can offer insight into what to write about in your application, which schools to consider and are an incredible source of encouragement as the year goes on. Keep in contact with those you meet shadowing, working, doing research or through any other experience. These are people you can ask for letters of recommendation later and might just end up being your biggest advocates, even if you don’t realize so at the time.

3: On the subject of letters of recommendation, hopefully you had the opportunity to get to know your professors and physicians you’ve come in contact with over the years. Then you should have an idea of those you get along with well and who you would like to approach for letters of recommendation. Whether you know your letter writers well or not, it can help to set up a meeting to discuss what you would like your letter’s focus to be or to send a CV and copy of your application. This gives the writer material to draw from so they can craft beautiful letters that are personalized to you and your experiences. It also isn’t a bad idea to ask whether the individual would be able to write you a strong letter. If they decline, take it as a complement. A poor letter can be detrimental and they just weren’t the right person for the job. It says nothing about you personally.

4: When writing your application, remember that throughout each section you are telling your story. Use the opportunity to show the reader what you are passionate about, the things that make you unique and how what you gained from each experience will help you become an excellent physician. Have someone you trust read through your application. Too many people can make things complicated, since everyone has their own style, but a new set of eyes never hurts. Your proofreaders can look for grammar, make sure each section flows together and let you know if the traits you wish to highlight come across your writing. The career counselor I worked with suggested beginning my personal statement with a story to capture the reader’s attention. From there, I described my journey to this point and how everything I learned along the way will help me as a medical student and physician. Let your personality shine through! Trust me, admissions committees will appreciate it after seeing hundreds of the same cookie-cutter applications.

5: Take your cue from each individual medical school regarding updates. Some explicitly state that they don’t wish to receive any updates. Others, like my medical school, welcome updates particularly if they add something new to your application like new grades, new experiences, letters, or research. If you have something new to share, write a short message detailing the new thing that you are doing. You can attach a transcript, paper, letter or any other supporting material you wish to be included in your file. Updates show your interest in a school and can add valuable information that might just make the difference in being offered an interview or an acceptance from the waitlist.

Best of luck everyone! Let me know if I can help in any way. Just remember that even though applying is stressful and can take forever, the reward at the end of the day will be so worth it.

“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.”
― Ralph G. Nichols

As I sat in our student lounge this week, studying for Step 1, I found myself grasping at anything that would bolster my motivation as I reviewed a seemingly endless sea of information. Catching up with friends, taking breaks to walk outside and enjoy the sunshine, and reminding myself of the trip to Baltimore I get to take next weekend helped, but the benefits were short-lived. What truly keeps me going is my drive to help my future patients. They are the reason I try to learn everything I can and soak up every opportunity I am presented. That fire I have for serving my patients is something I hope is never extinguished. This week, it was refueled in an unexpected way: through an episode of one of my new favorite TV shows.

Monday’s episode of “The Resident” depicted a story that is all too common. A patient was admitted to the hospital and when she later experienced an alarming change in symptoms, attempts by her spouse and other care team members to advocate for her fell on deaf ears. By the time their concerns were heard, it was too late to save the patient.

It’s an awful feeling to feel you aren’t being heard. I would be willing to bet most people have experienced that frustration at some point in their lives, whether it is with friends, family members, colleagues or their healthcare provider. I can think of several instances, in my family alone, where we have interacted with physicians who could have done some more listening. Hypothyroidism, underactivity of the thyroid gland which regulates the body’s metabolism, runs in my family. It took my mother years before someone took her symptoms seriously, finally diagnosed her with hypothyroidism, and prescribed her treatment. Recently, it took my sister standing up for herself and not backing down to get someone to listen when her symptoms worsened and she needed an adjustment in her medication. It was easier to assume that their symptoms were related to aging or being a new mother, so they fell through the cracks.

I am determined to never be that doctor. I will always listen when my patients are telling me about their concerns and goals for care. They know their story and body better than anyone. As someone with Turner Syndrome who knows well what it is like to be a patient with a chronic condition, the best thing we can do for our patients is to give them the tools and knowledge to be able to advocate for themselves. Then, when they do speak up, we need to stop and listen.

“Make a conscious effort to surround yourself with positive, nourishing, and uplifting people – people who believe in you, encourage you to go after your dreams, and applaud your victories.” – Jack Canfield

This week, I had the opportunity to attend a networking event hosted by my school’s chapter of the American Women’s Medical Association. It was a wonderful night and I left inspired by the strong, confident individuals around me. I was reminded yet again how fortunate I am to be here doing what I love, learning how to become an exceptional physician. I could never have made it here without the many people who have helped me along the way. The support and mentorship that I have received over the years has been invaluable and I can only hope to pay it forward one day.

Over the years, my mentors have changed with me. As an undergraduate, I utilized the advice of faculty, academic advisors and my college’s pre-health career counselor while navigating the medical school application process. After graduation, I worked for two years as a medical scribe. The physicians I had the privilege of getting to know were an invaluable source of information and taught me more than any book ever could. They allowed me to get an insider’s perspective on what medicine is all about and became my fiercest advocates. As a medical student, I have served as a module representative for two of our courses and will continue to serve as a rotation representative next year. I also had the opportunity to participate in our Summer Scholars program last summer and will be presenting my research at a national conference in a few short weeks. From each of these experiences, I have gained several wonderful mentors who have helped me begin to form my identity as a future physician and whom I know I can lean on as I start my clerkships and begin looking toward residency and beyond.

Medicine is a team sport. You can’t go it alone, so surround yourself with people who will help pull out the best in you. Reach out to the interesting lecturer in class and learn more about what they do. Shadow that guest speaker that talked to your club. Get to know your residents and attending physicians on your rotations. You never know what role they might end up playing in your life. To those of you who are applying to medical school, don’t underestimate the importance of having someone in your corner who can advocate on your behalf. The process can be so confusing without someone to guide you. Don’t be too proud to to go out on a limb and ask for help. It might come from the most unexpected places, so don’t be afraid to take a chance and answer that email or take that call when someone reaches out to you. People are more willing to offer their assistance than you would think! Having someone with me each step of the way made such a difference.

To my former boss, who cared enough to take the time to read my many applications, picked me up when I was at my lowest, and believed in me even when I had begun to doubt myself: there are no words for how much your support meant to me. You were the reason I continued forward when I could have given up. You didn’t give me a choice. You knew I had it in me. I just needed a push. Thank you!

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” — J.R.R Tolkien

Hello everyone! My name is Jennifer Tich and I am a second year medical student from Andover, Minnesota. As I finish my preclinical studies and look toward beginning clinical rotations, I decided to start a blog to chronicle my experiences as well as offer a little advice and encouragement to both myself and hopefully you the reader.

A little about me:

• I am the oldest of three kids. My mom coordinates the Early Childhood program for our local school district and my dad is an electrician. My sister works as a personal trainer and lives in San Diego with her husband and my adorable nephew Maverick. My brother is about to graduate from the University of New England and starts Occupational Therapy school there this summer.
• I graduated from St. Olaf College in 2014 with a BA in Psychology and from Midwestern University in 2017 with a MA in Biomedical Sciences. Between graduating from St. Olaf and starting at Midwestern University, I worked as a medical scribe and gained invaluable insight into medicine and what it means to be a doctor.
• Kids are awesome! They’re resilient, tell it like it is and are loads of fun to be around (Can you tell I want to go into pediatrics?). I can’t wait to get spend time in our children’s hospital next year.
• I am a huge Harry Potter nerd! I own all of the movies, am a proud Hufflepuff and may or may not still be looking for that illusive Hogwarts letter. Books > Movies every time and Marvel > DC. You cannot change my mind about this.
• Animals are better than people at times. My dog Charlie is a constant source of entertainment and the shenanigans he gets up to could fill another blog. I can’t wait to get home to see him! He’s the best walking buddy and we go on plenty of walks whenever I am back in Minnesota.
• Music keeps me sane. I have been singing for as long as I can remember and have been in a choir of some sort since the first grade. My pre-exam routine is not complete without listening to the Greatest Showman soundtrack as I walk to our testing center. Rehearsals with my friends in my acapella group Neural Groove are always a highlight of my week. I love getting to perform with such talented individuals!
• Most importantly, I am a Christian and the important things in my life stem from this core facet of my identity. I am continually learning and growing in my faith as I try to follow the path He’s laid for my life.

Thank you for reading. I plan to post once every week or two and look forward to sharing this journey with you!