“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.” Proverbs 24:3-6
One of the most important aspects of being premed is getting good advice from people who know what they are talking about. The road to medical school is a long one with lots of simple small steps, and getting good advice will help keep you heading in the right direction. Here is a small list of questions you probably will want to ask someone at different stages of your premed journey:
· What professors should I take for my _______ class?
· How in the world am I supposed to pass my ______ class?
· How do I go about asking for letters of recommendation?
· Do you think I should pursue a research experience?
· What is it like to fill out the AMCAS?
· How should I study for the MCAT?
· How can I get some shadowing experience?
· What are some good places to volunteer?
· What the heck is a personal statement?
· What date should I try to get my application in by?
· How should I prepare for a medical school interview?
This list could go on and on for a long time, but as simple as it sounds many premeds do not ever ask these questions. Instead of seeking advice, many students just kind of wing it and presume it will all turn out alright. This is a foolish approach. You are investing a lot of time, sweat, and money in being a premed; don’t you want to make sure you are investing all of that effort in the best way possible? You owe it to yourself to get advice and be the most successful premed you can be.
And note this: this principle is not just for the freshmen. It doesn’t matter where you are in the medical school journey, seeking advice is essential to ensuring that you are making the most of the opportunities in front of you. There is a danger as we grow older to begin to think that we know all of the answers, and that pride is extremely dangerous. Proverbs 19:27 says “Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” How terrible would it be to work really hard for so long and then to not put your best foot forward because you didn’t get advice at a mock interview first? Keep getting advice throughout the process, and keep moving forward.
Where is the best place to get this advice? Great advice can be hard to find. “Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel (Proverbs 20:15).” It can be a difficult process to find great advice, but it is so worth it!! Search for it like you would a jewel. Look for an upperclassman you respect who is a step farther along in the process, and buy them some coffee! They remember what it was like to be in your shoes, and if it is someone you want to listen to then I am confident that they would love to help you out. You probably will also get a new friend :D. A main reason I am where I am today is because I had the opportunity to get advice from an upperclassman who had just been through the process. Take advantage of your school’s counselors and career center if they are available to you. Their full-time job is to help people get into medical school and they are good at what they do. Go to their seminars. Take notes. Listen to them. Invest in yourself by getting some good advice. You won’t regret it.
· What professors should I take for my _______ class?
· How in the world am I supposed to pass my ______ class?
· How do I go about asking for letters of recommendation?
· Do you think I should pursue a research experience?
· What is it like to fill out the AMCAS?
· How should I study for the MCAT?
· How can I get some shadowing experience?
· What are some good places to volunteer?
· What the heck is a personal statement?
· What date should I try to get my application in by?
· How should I prepare for a medical school interview?
This list could go on and on for a long time, but as simple as it sounds many premeds do not ever ask these questions. Instead of seeking advice, many students just kind of wing it and presume it will all turn out alright. This is a foolish approach. You are investing a lot of time, sweat, and money in being a premed; don’t you want to make sure you are investing all of that effort in the best way possible? You owe it to yourself to get advice and be the most successful premed you can be.
And note this: this principle is not just for the freshmen. It doesn’t matter where you are in the medical school journey, seeking advice is essential to ensuring that you are making the most of the opportunities in front of you. There is a danger as we grow older to begin to think that we know all of the answers, and that pride is extremely dangerous. Proverbs 19:27 says “Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” How terrible would it be to work really hard for so long and then to not put your best foot forward because you didn’t get advice at a mock interview first? Keep getting advice throughout the process, and keep moving forward.
Where is the best place to get this advice? Great advice can be hard to find. “Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel (Proverbs 20:15).” It can be a difficult process to find great advice, but it is so worth it!! Search for it like you would a jewel. Look for an upperclassman you respect who is a step farther along in the process, and buy them some coffee! They remember what it was like to be in your shoes, and if it is someone you want to listen to then I am confident that they would love to help you out. You probably will also get a new friend :D. A main reason I am where I am today is because I had the opportunity to get advice from an upperclassman who had just been through the process. Take advantage of your school’s counselors and career center if they are available to you. Their full-time job is to help people get into medical school and they are good at what they do. Go to their seminars. Take notes. Listen to them. Invest in yourself by getting some good advice. You won’t regret it.