(00:00) — Avoiding medicine to committing at 22: Sports injuries, engineering Cs, and a hospital trauma that made medicine click.

(03:06) — Doubting smart enough: Imposter syndrome, scraping through chem, and possible ADHD.

(06:50) — Growing up around violence: Valuing life early and pushing through school and sport.

(08:50) — Living in the moment: Lists, weekly survival, and triaging tough neuro topics.

(09:45) — Hug the bear: A 15-second resilience mindset from officer training.

(11:47) — Perspective check: Why complain about what you prayed for?

(14:14) — The four-time MCAT: Premature first attempt, COVID setbacks, and stubborn determination.

(16:50) — Study your way: Blueprints, not rules—Anki, repetition, and long-term memory.

(19:51) — After a denied cycle: Interviews, honest feedback, and a biomedical sciences master’s with a 3.89.

(23:54) — Applying for fit: Targeting schools that accept Black and Brown students and choose your poison.

(25:15) — The acceptance email: A surprise Charles Drew admit and all the emotions.

(27:17) — MD vs DO vs UAG: Weighing Iowa against family and support in Guadalajara.

(28:52) — Med school’s dark side: Stress, sleep debt, and hair loss alongside joy.

(31:18) — Commuting to cut costs: EV free charging, 6:20 a.m. departures, and parking lot naps.

(33:45) — Rotations on a budget: Housing ideas and staying flexible.

(34:25) — Some call them illegal—I call them mom and dad: Caring for patients and family amid fear and hate.

(37:20) — Control what you can: Social media backlash, gratitude notes, and missing Obama.

(42:02) — Final advice: Step 1 focus and why it’s not failure until you quit.

Richard didn’t run straight toward medicine. He tried kinesiology, engineering until Calc III said no, and three years in pharmacy before a volunteer shift at a children’s hospital trauma bay flipped the switch. In this candid conversation, he shares how a B/C student with a 3.3 GPA, possible ADHD, and mounting imposter syndrome found a way forward by focusing on surviving one week at a time.

Richard opens up about taking the MCAT four times, what went wrong early (including testing before biochem), and the discipline, repetition, and resource fit he had to build. After a denied cycle with interviews, he strengthened his academic record with a biomedical sciences master’s (33 units, 3.89) and applied to schools aligned with mission and representation. He describes the unexpected acceptance email from Charles R. Drew, the pull of family support as he weighed UAG versus a DO option in Iowa, and why mental health and community had to factor into his decision.

We also get real about med school’s costs and stress: commuting to save money with free EV charging, 6:20 a.m. departures, parking lot naps, and the not-so-glam side of hair loss and fatigue. Richard closes with grounded advice for retakers and those who don’t see themselves in medicine yet.

What You'll Learn:

- How a hospital volunteer trauma experience cemented Richard’s path to medicine

- Ways to manage imposter syndrome and build study systems that fit you

- What changed across four MCAT attempts and during a biomedical sciences master’s

- How to target schools for mission and representation while balancing costs and support

620: Four MCAT Retakes and Still Standing Strong!