So you have decided you want to become a doctor, great! No matter what your reason is for choosing this path, hold onto it and never forget it because this journey will tear you down at some points and you will constantly have to think about why you are doing this in the first place. Being a freshman premed is hard!
Have I scared you off yet?
I hope not! Choosing to be a premed student and to become a doctor was one of the best decisions of my life and although the road is a rough one, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Visit Your Premed Advisor
The first step as a premed is to visit your premed advisor. At my college, we were assigned a generic advisor for our first two years and then assigned a faculty advisor. However, I found out who the official pre-health advisor was and I talked to her first.
If you are lucky enough to have an advisor like mine, they will map out all your courses you have to take each semester to fulfill your chosen major/minor as well as take courses required by medical schools.
At my first meeting with my advisor as a freshman, I had every biology and gen-ed class I had to take each semester until I graduated. It seemed daunting and overwhelming at first, but don’t be scared!
If you do not have a reliable and helpful advisor, check out @medicalschoolhq for amazing advice, motivation, and help!
Scheduling Classes
If your advisor does not map out every class you have to take and when, I suggest taking General Chemistry I your very first semester of freshman year. The chemistry series takes up 5 semesters and you will want it all to be over with when you are in your upper level biology classes.
It also gives you time to retake a class if you fail it {which hopefully won’t happen if you follow my study tips!}
Another class to take your very first semester is General Biology. This is a prerequisite for every other biology class you have to take during college so you will want to take it as soon as possible!
Don’t sweat it if you cannot fit it into your schedule for your first year. I took General Biology sophomore year and was perfectly fine and graduated in 4 years!
Other than General Chemistry I and General Biology, the other classes you should take your first and second semesters are your gen ed classes that are required to graduate. These are generally easier classes so they hopefully won’t take much study time away from chemistry and biology.
Join Clubs
One of my big tips for anyone entering college, premed or not, is to join a club! If your school has a premed club, definitely join. You will meet fellow premed students and they usually bring in speakers from medical schools!
You can also join a club for something you are interested in. There are clubs for politics, hobbies, sports, almost anything! And if there is not a club for something you are passionate about, make your own! Clubs are great for making friends and learning new things.
Clubs are also a great opportunity to take on leadership positions. I was the vice chairwoman of a club and gained experience organizing events, talking to politicians, and running meetings!
Volunteering
One important aspect of the medical school application is volunteer service. Schools like to see a prolonged dedication to a volunteer opportunity so it is good to start volunteering right away.
My school has a volunteering club and many clubs have their own volunteer opportunities. You can also talk to your premed advisor for medical-related volunteer opportunities around your campus such as at the local hospital or a free clinic.
Try to find one or two volunteer opportunities that you really enjoy and stick with them. Medical schools like to see consistency and dedication.
Hold Off Working
Depending on your financial situation, I would recommend not working during school for your first semester. The transition to college is stressful enough without balancing a work schedule too!
Once you know you can handle the rigor of premed classes, find a job that can give you clinical experience. I took a class and received my CNA license and I worked at an assisted living rehab facility and now at a hospital performing direct patient care.
If you do not want to go the clinical route, look for jobs on campus! If your campus does research, they may need student workers to take care of lab animals. My school has a student staffed science resource center that helps other students check out anatomical models and microscopes. Campus jobs can also be flexible with your class schedule.
Get Your Support System
Lastly, surround yourself with supportive people. Being a premed student is tough and I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have my dad to be on the other end of the phone as I was crying about my physics exam.
You will have ups and downs and you need to have people you can lean on when things get tough. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Your school will have lots of resources and, of course, you have me 🙂
What do you wish you would have known as a freshman premed student? Drop a comment below or message me on my Instagram, @medicineandmoscato and don’t forget to hit the button below and share with your friends!
