Podcast
The Premed Years
Hosted by Ryan Gray · EN
If you're struggling on your premed journey, trying to figure out the best way to study for the MCAT, or trying to understand how to best apply to medical school, the award-nominated podcast, The Premed Years, has you covered. From interviews with Admissions Committee members and directors to inspirational stories from those who have gone before you, The Premed Years is like having a premed advisor in your pocket. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or anywhere else you listen to music or podcasts so you don't miss an episode. It's free. Every week. Don't forget to watch us on YouTube, or follow us on Instagram too! We're medicalschoolhq everywhere!
42episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
621: Balancing 21 Credits and a Paycheck: Making Premed Work
May 600:41:13Tap to summarize(00:00) — Early spark for medicine: Jasmine’s childhood curiosity and desire to help takes root at age four or five.(02:40) — High school split focus: AP sciences vs. seven-hour show choir and a one-week summer health program.(03:55) — Choosing Howard: Proximity to a hospital/med school and an open-door culture sealed the decision.(05:15) — Major, minor, and momentum: Biology major, chemistry minor, and 40 COVID credits accelerate progress.(06:40) — The hardest part: Juggling 21 credits—including biochem and orgo—while working left her exhausted.(07:30) — Working to afford school: From food service to barista to the gym, she logged 26–40 hours weekly.(09:10) — Intentional time use: Doing homework during/after class and finishing tasks before they lingered.(10:40) — When it became too much: Princeton Review course, burnout, and a first MCAT score worse than practice.(13:20) — Regrouping the plan: Graduating early, studying Jan–Apr, and defining a target MCAT within context.(15:15) — Mindset after a bad score: Grieving the disrupted timeline and pausing to finish strong in undergrad.(17:20) — The timeline trap: Why gap years feel scary and Dr. Gray’s note that 75% take one.(19:50) — Building without connections: Deep website research, spreadsheets, and avoiding Reddit/SDN noise.(23:10) — Doors opened by advising: Programs that delivered mentorship and free MCAT materials.(25:00) — School list and interviews: 22 applications (20 MD, 2 DO), a DO fair, and six interviews.(28:00) — First invites and first A: Riding the wave of early interviews and an acceptance during homecoming.(31:20) — Med school reality: First year was brutal, second year harder, and memorization no longer enough.(34:20) — Final encouragement: Keep going, dream big, and be realistic about the path that gets you there.Jasmine shares a candid, practical look at making premed work when time and money are tight. She discovered medicine early, chose Howard University for its hospital and medical school access, and powered through a biology major and chemistry minor—accelerating with 40 credits during COVID. Meanwhile, she worked 26–40 hours a week in food service, as a barista, and at the gym, all while managing 20–21 credit semesters that included biochem and orgo. When a burnout-fueled first MCAT score came in below any practice test, she grieved the lost timeline, graduated early, and reset: January to April dedicated MCAT prep, a clear “good enough” score target based on her strong GPA, and an application strategy built on deep DIY research and school-by-school spreadsheets (not Reddit or SDN). She applied to 22 schools, earned six interview invites, and celebrated her first acceptance during homecoming. Now in medical school, she reflects on why second year felt even harder than first and how shifting from memorizing to true understanding changed everything. Dr. Gray and Jasmine unpack the pressure of timelines, the reality that many students take gap years, and how to keep moving forward when plans change.What You'll Learn:- How to balance heavy course loads with paid work- Handling a disappointing MCAT and deciding when to retake- Setting a “good enough” MCAT score in context of GPA- Building school lists and opportunities without connections- Why medical school study demands differ from undergrad
Transcribe →620: Four MCAT Retakes and Still Standing Strong!
Apr 2900:46:47Tap to summarize(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
Transcribe →619: Targeted List: 12 Schools, 2 Interviews, 2 Acceptances
Apr 2200:38:16Tap to summarize(00:00) — Family roots and Flint crisis: Medicine in the house, art dreams, and volunteering during Flint’s water crisis point Omar toward health.(02:00) — Why physician, not just public health: Leadership and impact pull him to the MD path.(03:30) — Mentors and mission work: Seeing overseas service in Sudan clarifies what medicine can do.(04:55) — Did family help? Inspiration, yes; U.S. application route, not so much.(06:30) — No campus advisor: Upperclassmen guidance and the MCAT becoming the main hurdle.(08:45) — Building focus for the MCAT: First practice test, CARS timing drills, and trusting the process.(11:10) — The 528 mindset: A cousin’s daily encouragement keeps him from quitting.(12:40) — Starts, stops, and locking a date: Deferrals end when he commits to a test day.(15:05) — Gap years with purpose: Moving for family, AmeriCorps service with ESL youth and a citizenship clinic.(17:10) — Writing “Why Medicine”: Owning family influence instead of hiding it.(19:10) — A focused school list: 12 applications by location lead to two interviews.(22:05) — Interview prep without advising: Mock interviews with peers, strangers, and SNMA resources.(25:40) — The email that changed everything: A 9-day acceptance and celebrating with his cousin.(27:50) — Choosing a school: Family proximity and finances over DC.(25:40) — Biggest regret: Wishing he’d built stronger study habits earlier.(28:00) — Med school pace: Pomodoro, Anki, and 2 a.m. anatomy labs make it doable.(32:00) — What he’d change: Application and test fees, and using fee assistance.(34:40) — Final words: Stay locked in, believe you belong, and aim high.Omar didn’t rush into medicine—even with a nephrologist dad and physician relatives. In high school, moving to Michigan during the Flint water crisis put him in the middle of public health work distributing water, which opened his eyes to health disparities. He wrestled with whether to stay in public health or become a physician, ultimately choosing medicine for its leadership and direct impact. Without a premed advisor on campus, he relied on upperclassmen, peers, and later SNMA for support. The MCAT was his biggest hurdle: a COVID-disrupted prep course, multiple false starts, and a hard reset on discipline and focus. He rebuilt from the ground up—starting with a baseline practice test, CARS timing drills, and accountability from a cousin who insisted he aim high. Gap years followed, shaped by family health needs and an AmeriCorps role serving ESL youth and a citizenship clinic. Omar’s personal statement clicked only when he stopped hiding his family’s influence and wrote honestly. He applied to 12 schools by location, earned two interviews, and received an email acceptance in nine days. He chose a school closer to family and with better finances. In med school, Pomodoro, Anki—and friends in 2 a.m. anatomy labs—keep him going, and he’s candid about application costs and fee assistance options.What You'll Learn:- Turning MCAT overwhelm into a plan: baseline test, CARS timing, and discipline- How to prep interviews without a campus advisor using peers, strangers, and SNMA- Writing an authentic “Why Medicine” even with family in medicine- Making gap years count with service, growth, and purposeful timing- Weighing school choices by location, family, and finances
Transcribe →618: Mission Fit Over Metrics: What This Dean Looks For
Mar 2501:00:17Tap to summarize(00:00) — Meet Dr. Leila Amiri + her route from peer advising to admissions: How a peer advising job led to a career shaping medical school classes.(03:20) — What’s stayed the same—and why the “black box” persists: Core expectations endure while parts of the process remain opaque.(05:07) — Transparency hurdles: politics, misreads, and legal fears: Why some schools don’t publish every detail of their process.(07:15) — Why post‑interview feedback is rare (and how to self-assess): The limits schools face and signs you missed a question in MMIs.(08:11) — 11,609 apps, 124 seats: why the interview matters most: With 615 interviews, only those ready for acceptance get invited.(11:17) — Yield protection explained from the admissions side: It’s about fit and likelihood to attend—not punishing strong applicants.(13:20) — Mission fit at Vermont: service days and first‑patient reflections: Orientation includes community service and reflective small groups.(16:42) — Are you applying to too many schools? Build a focused list: Why 15–20 targeted schools can beat 80 scattershot applications.(21:12) — Beyond stats: read curriculum and support to find fit: Use MSAR plus curriculum and student services to gauge alignment.(23:41) — Metrics as support signals; what high‑average schools expect: Numbers show what a school can support and how students are taught.(25:32) — Federal loan caps: what schools are doing right now: Private lenders, institutional loans, and alumni support are in motion.(27:23) — Private lenders, school loans, deferrals, and SES concerns: Credit checks, tuition delays, and worries about equity.(33:54) — Practice‑for‑service funding and contacting legislators: State partnerships and student advocacy as possible solutions.(34:57) — Reapplying after an acceptance: what schools can see: Prior‑applicant flags and the national matriculant list—no blacklist.(41:31) — AI’s potential to reshape preclinical and expand training: Imagining remote preclinical work and more community training sites.(49:00) — Who thrives at Vermont: team‑based, pass‑only, community‑minded: No “gunners,” active learning, weather reality, and CT campus perks.(52:30) — Connecticut campus: community hospitals and one‑on‑one teaching: Smaller teams, more direct attending interactions, mixed-school learners.(54:35) — Final advice: be true to yourself and repair academics wisely: Fix GPA with science coursework, consider service scholarships, and persist."You’ll hear why true transparency is hard (politics, misinterpretation, legal fears), why post‑interview feedback is rare, and how to self‑assess if an MMI station didn’t land. Dr. Amiri discusses the federal loan cap landscape and what schools are doing now: identifying trusted private lenders, tapping institutional loans and alumni support, deferrals, and practice‑for‑service pathways. She also dispels blacklist myths for reapplicants and imagines how AI and remote preclinical work could expand physician training. If you’re building a school list, reapplying, or worrying about financing, this is a clear‑eyed, student‑first roadmap.What You'll Learn:- Why interviews carry so much weight—and how to read your own performance- What yield protection really is and how mission fit influences invites- How to build a smarter school list beyond MCAT/GPA medians- Current financing moves schools are making amid federal loan caps- Who thrives at Vermont’s team‑based, pass‑only program
Transcribe →617: Five MCAT Attempts, No Plan B: Maya’s Path to Med School
Mar 1800:46:10Tap to summarize(00:00) — Opening and early spark: Maya recalls childhood, cultural expectations, and her mom’s cancer shaping her why.(03:05) — High school full circle: Research at Dana-Farber and reading her mom’s records makes medicine click.(04:26) — ER simulation at Midscience: Realizing she could do this for real.(05:38) — MCAT dread and doubt: Nights staring at the ceiling, wondering if this path is for her.(06:45) — Post-grad without a net: Losing structure, studying alone, and deciding to invest in resources.(08:30) — Choosing community wisely: Avoiding toxic premed circles and building supportive friendships.(10:20) — Leaving campus support: How being outside university systems complicates the process.(11:20) — Three gap years: Cold-emailing a CEO, first job, and early adulting lessons.(12:50) — Why delay med school: Living life, tough East Coast costs, and embracing gap years.(14:15) — Strong application foundation: SNMA, BSU, hospital volunteering, and shadowing.(15:10) — MCAT timing talk: Advisor guidance and taking it when you’re ready.(16:50) — Grace and the long view: “Med school isn’t going anywhere” and an AI aside.(18:10) — Family reactions: Easing mom’s worries about multiple gap years.(18:55) — No plan B: Knowing it was time to return and pursue medicine fully.(20:15) — Rebuilding the app: Mentors, letters, and becoming a medical assistant.(21:55) — Five MCAT attempts: Why she didn’t quit.(23:20) — Faith and mentorship: The SNMA-matched surgeon in Alabama and tangible support.(26:50) — Pipeline cutoff reality: Missing by one point and reapplying 3–4 cycles.(28:50) — First interview at last: Spreadsheet tracking and the scream heard at home.(31:46) — Two-day acceptance: Shock, gratitude, and a family celebration.(36:56) — Paying it forward: Using social media to help students.(38:15) — Step 1 mindset: Starting early, NBME check-ins, and defeating fear.(41:05) — Final advice: Take time, find mentors, and invest in yourself.Maya joins Dr. Gray to share a candid look at persistence when the MCAT and the application cycle don’t go your way—again and again. Growing up in an African family and watching her mom battle cancer set her sights on medicine early. In high school, working on research at Dana-Farber and reading her mom’s records brought everything full circle, and an ER simulation at Midscience at Harvard made the dream feel real.After college, losing the structure and community she relied on made studying for the MCAT alone brutal. Maya ultimately invested in resources, leaned on supportive friends, and found mentors—including a plastic surgeon she met through SNMA who even helped fund tutoring. She took three gap years, built meaningful clinical experience as a medical assistant, and weathered 3–4 application cycles. After five MCAT attempts and a pipeline cutoff missed by one point, she finally broke through—landing 6–8 interviews and her first acceptance just two days after an interview.Now in medical school, Maya is intentional about confidence and early Step 1 prep, while using social media to support students coming behind her. This episode is a blueprint for rebuilding structure, choosing community wisely, and giving yourself permission not to quit.What You'll Learn:- How to rebuild structure and community after leaving college- What changed after five MCAT attempts and multiple cycles- Using mentors and groups like SNMA/MAPS to open doors- Turning gap years into real clinical growth as a medical assistant- A confidence-first mindset for Step 1 and beyond
Transcribe →616: Inside DO Admissions: What the Osteopathic World Wants You to Know
Mar 1100:48:11Tap to summarize(00:00) — Welcome and origin story: Kyle’s path into med ed without being a physician(00:46) — Early admissions work and philosophy: get students into—and out of—med school(02:58) — What AACOM’s VP of UME Services does: support across 71 DO locations(04:48) — Admitted-to-M1 is hard: student services and reps supporting the transition(05:12) — Time in the DO space: Marian start and osteopathic focus since 2018(06:38) — Biggest shift: single match and what’s improved (and what hasn’t)(10:07) — USMLE vs COMLEX: bias, requirements, and what applicants should weigh(12:33) — Data points: general surgery study, plus primary care ~55% context(16:51) — Advocacy update: the FAIR Act and reporting for federally funded programs(20:17) — The DO deposit debate: amounts, rationale, and potential changes(25:32) — Should you apply to DO schools? Choose by fit, curriculum, and support(31:01) — AACOMAS streamlining: 700-character experiences and tech to cut tedium(33:56) — Personal statements: copy/paste and when to add DO-specific experience(38:03) — Financial aid shift: Grad PLUS elimination and new student resources(40:19) — School-backed loans and lender partnerships: protecting students(43:40) — Final takeaways: faculty support, fit, and thriving as a DO or MDDr. Ryan Gray welcomes Kyle Hattenberg, AACOM’s VP of Undergraduate Medical Education Services, for a practical look at DO admissions, advocacy, and student support. Kyle explains his new role supporting 71 osteopathic locations, including work on AACOMAS and student services to smooth the admitted-to-M1 transition. They unpack the single match era, persistent USMLE/COMLEX bias, and how AACOM is pushing for equal consideration—highlighting the FAIR Act, which would require federally funded programs to report on accepting and reviewing both DO and MD applicants.They tackle hot-button issues like nonrefundable deposits ($1,500–$3,000), why schools use them, and ongoing conversations about change—plus Kyle’s advice to contact schools for hardship considerations. Kyle previews AACOMAS streamlining, including aligning the experience section to 700 characters and leveraging technology to reduce tedious data entry. He clarifies personal statement strategy and when DO-specific experiences belong. Finally, they address the elimination of the Grad PLUS loan, with AACOM building financial wellness resources, hiring dedicated support, and exploring partnerships, while noting that some schools already offer school-backed loans. The episode closes with guidance to choose schools based on fit, curriculum, and support—because thriving in medical school comes first.What You'll Learn:- How AACOM supports applicants and 71 osteopathic locations- What the single match means for DOs and where bias persists- FAIR Act goals and what programs may need to report- Upcoming AACOMAS tweaks, including 700-character activities- Deposit realities, Grad PLUS changes, and funding options
Transcribe →615: Why His Application ‘Made Sense’—and Scored 16 Interviews
Mar 400:35:20Tap to summarize(00:00) — Late to medicine: Chris didn’t consider being a doctor until college, shaped by early family experiences with inadequate care.(01:20) — Struggling student to UC Davis: He describes a nontraditional path and surprise at earning a single college acceptance.(02:50) — “You won’t amount to much”: A sixth-grade dismissal and falling in with the wrong crowd set the stage.(04:40) — Misdiagnosed and othered: Labeled with severe ADD, placed in special education, later correctly diagnosed with a comprehension disability.(06:25) — Not going the other way: He credits his mother’s advocacy and a teacher, Mr. Russell, for keeping him engaged.(09:00) — College reset and new peers: A friend shares MD-PhD resources and expands his horizon.(10:35) — Outreach program to research home: A scholars program places him in a lab with a PI for four formative years.(11:50) — On DEI and mentors: He reflects on access programs and the impact of Dr. Connie Champagne.(13:50) — First OR spark: Shadowing an orthopedic surgeon shows him the excitement of patient care beyond pipetting.(15:40) — Sustaining motivation: Reframing medicine as a currency for service and asking who do I want to be?(17:50) — Community and advocacy: He discusses serving Indigenous communities and advocating on the Hill for GME in Indian country.(20:50) — Crafting the Why: How deep reflection and post-it mapping shaped his personal statement.(21:55) — Why MD-PhD: An MD-PI at a summer program shows how medical training sharpens research questions.(23:30) — First interview relief: Landing an invite during the COVID cycle felt like validation.(24:45) — Strategy and scope: 23 applications, West Coast focus, MSTP and non-MSTP programs.(26:00) — Coherence wins: A clear why plus tangible research output made his application click.(27:45) — Multiple acceptances: He recalls the emotions of earning 9–10 offers.(28:40) — To students doubting themselves: Separate self-worth from others’ opinions and keep going.(31:20) — What’s next: Interest in dermatology residency and leading a lab studying skin disease mechanisms.Chris never planned on medicine. Growing up in Southern California, he saw family members with preventable disease go uncared for, struggled in school, and was misdiagnosed with severe ADD in middle school before a later diagnosis of a comprehension disability. After being told in sixth grade he wouldn’t amount to much, a continuation school, his mother’s advocacy, and a teacher’s attention kept him afloat.At UC Davis, an outreach email changed everything, placing him in a lab for four years and opening the door to both science and medicine. A friend introduced him to MD-PhD resources, and shadowing an orthopedic surgeon turned interest into excitement. Chris shares how he built an enduring motivation by reframing medicine as a currency for service, with a commitment to community, including Indigenous communities.He breaks down the hardest premed task—articulating Why Medicine—and the post-it exercise that helped him find a coherent thread. Applying during the first COVID cycle, he earned 16 interview invites and 9–10 acceptances by presenting a clear why and tangible research work. We also discuss advocacy for more GME positions in Indian country and his interest in dermatology and leading a lab.If you’ve ever been told you won’t make it, this conversation offers practical ways to keep going.What You'll Learn:- How a misdiagnosis and school setbacks were addressed and reframed- Ways to access research and mentorship through outreach programs- A practical method to build a coherent Why Medicine- What made his MD-PhD application make sense and earn 16 interviews- Using community and advocacy to sustain motivation
Transcribe →614: ADHD, Anxiety, and the MCAT: Getting Help, Getting In
Feb 1800:47:36Tap to summarize(00:00) — Opening + Early Spark: PBS Nova lights up neuroscience and a reluctant interest in medicine.(01:11) — Family Expectations vs Autonomy: Pressure from a physician dad meets teenage rebellion.(02:38) — Why the Brain: Linking biology to behavior and people.(03:51) — MD vs PhD: Lab work that kept pointing back to patients.(05:19) — Learning the Process: What help a physician parent could and couldn’t give.(06:54) — College Uncertainty: Pre-reqs without a clear why.(08:12) — OChem Walls: A D, COVID retake, and imposter syndrome.(10:16) — Asking for Help: An advisor’s belief and an ADHD nudge.(12:46) — Retaking Again: Why OChem came back during the gap year.(13:39) — Owning It in Interviews: Explaining GPA discrepancies.(16:03) — Finding the Why in Clinic: Psychometrist work reframes the grind.(18:06) — Gap Years Multiply: Burnout, scribing, and a reset on plans.(20:03) — MCAT Long Game: Planning pitfalls and voiding the first test.(24:16) — Treat the Test Taker: Support, therapy, and ADHD/anxiety diagnosis.(27:02) — Accommodations Talk: The policy gap that hurts late-diagnosed students.(31:16) — Secondaries Crunch: No prewriting, 50 schools, heavy lift.(33:06) — First Interview Joy: Late-cycle invitations and renewed hope.(36:11) — Enjoying Interviews: Validation, calm, and showing up as yourself.(37:36) — First Acceptance Jitters: Legacy doubt and social media nuance.(39:42) — Choosing a School: In-state fit, family proximity, and finances.(41:03) — Med School Life: Hard and fun, community and decompression.(42:50) — Make the Time: Gym, therapy, friends, and sustainable studying.(43:24) — Final Encouragement: If it’s meant for you, adjust and keep going.Chauncella shares how a middle-school fascination with neuroscience grew into a conviction to practice medicine—despite family pressure, self-doubt, and some very real hurdles. We dig into an OChem D, retakes across COVID, and the imposter syndrome that kept Chauncella from asking for help. A supportive advisor opened the door to evaluate ADHD, and during gap years Chauncella’s psychometrist role made the patient impact feel undeniable. The MCAT became another turning point: inconsistent planning, test-day anxiety, and ultimately voiding the first attempt led to addressing mental health, receiving ADHD/anxiety diagnoses, and finally moving forward with clarity. Chauncella applied once to about 50 schools without prewriting secondaries, still earning seven interviews—many later in the cycle than expected—and learning to enjoy the process. The first acceptance brought complex “legacy” feelings, but subsequent offers and an in-state choice close to family brought confidence and fit. Now in pre-clinicals, Chauncella prioritizes balance—making time for the gym, therapy, and friends—to sustain the work. This conversation offers practical takeaways on asking for help, reframing setbacks, navigating timelines, and holding onto your why.What You'll Learn:- How to turn OChem setbacks and an MCAT void into momentum- Why addressing ADHD/anxiety can change your study and test strategy- Using gap years for clinical clarity and strengthening your application- Approaching interviews with calm, authenticity, and confidence- Choosing a school with fit, proximity, and finances in mind
Transcribe →613: From Small Border Town to M4: Owning Your Path
Feb 1100:39:59Tap to summarize(00:00) — Getting started: Early interest and a high school health pathway with real certifications(01:35) — Small border town roots: Del Rio, one high school, and limited options(02:35) — Finding a “seed”: Family illness, cancer curiosity, and early research(03:40) — Choosing a college: Looking for rigor, research, and premed support(05:54) — Where guidance came from: Personal research and professional advising(07:35) — Plugging in: Using a premed society to meet advisors and med schools(08:18) — Competition culture: Staying in your lane amid big‑school premed vibes(10:13) — Toughest premed shift: Independence, rigor, and learning to use office hours(11:24) — College to med school: Fire‑hydrant learning and lingering imposter syndrome(13:15) — Asking for help earlier: Seeing peers model it and dropping the pride(13:55) — Biggest time waste: Grind culture and recopying notes vs smarter study(15:15) — How hard to push: Pulling back without tanking performance and pressure talk(19:00) — Pomodoro explained: Focus blocks, real breaks, and building stamina(21:10) — Study tools: Anki, YouTube resources, and iPad drawings for anatomy(22:40) — Sciences reality: Hating Gen Chem, loving visual organic chemistry(25:06) — Getting through hard prereqs: Treating them as a rite of passage(26:00) — App strategy: Using campus visits to set the bar and plan experiences(27:10) — Interviews: First invite joy, MMI’s lack of feedback, and virtual hiccups(30:27) — Acceptance: Texas pre‑match call and the relief of a safety net(31:58) — No backup plan: Optimism, gap‑years okay, but eyes on the prize(33:30) — Support in med school: Family, friends, and “trauma bonding” with classmates(34:19) — Hardest part: Setbacks and remembering your why(35:10) — Most surprising: Intensity you can’t grasp until you’re in it(35:49) — Final advice: Return to your why and stop comparingKaylah, a fourth-year medical student, traces her path from a small border town in Del Rio, Texas to medical school by leaning into curiosity, community, and smarter studying. In high school, a career and technical education program let her earn healthcare certifications that sparked real clinical interest. As an undergrad at Texas A&M, she sought academic rigor and built-in research while learning to ask for help sooner—through office hours, professional advising, and a premed society that brought advisors and medical schools to campus.She shares the toughest moments too: a rocky transition to college, being humbled by General Chemistry (but loving visual organic chemistry), and navigating a competitive premed culture by staying in her own lane. Inside medical school, she talks imposter syndrome, the fire‑hydrant pace of learning, and how Pomodoro, Anki, and visual tools on her iPad kept her grounded. She opens up about the stress of MMIs and virtual glitches, the relief of a Texas pre‑match call after three interviews, and the power of friends and family when things get heavy.If you’re weighing how hard to push versus how smart to study, or how to keep your “why” front and center, Kaylah’s candid reflections will help you recalibrate.What You'll Learn:- How to plug into advising and support even at large schools- Ways to manage competition by staying in your lane- Smarter study methods: Pomodoro, Anki, and visual learning- Handling MMIs when there’s no feedback or affirmation- Keeping your why alive through setbacks and intensity
Transcribe →612: When Your Advisor Says “Wait”—And She’s Right
Feb 400:49:12Tap to summarize(00:00) — Curiosity in the halls of Mass General: Her mom’s triple‑negative breast cancer and remission shape an early interest in medicine.(02:54) — Choosing a major without a premed major: From biochemistry to discovering neuroscience and why UMass ultimately fit.(06:04) — Double majoring without burning out: Overlap with prereqs, honest advising on dual degrees, and following interests.(09:13) — Make advising work for you: Meeting early, becoming a peer advisor, and hearing hard feedback you don’t want to hear.(12:56) — Rethinking gap years: Fears about money give way to growth, responsibility, and better prep for med school.(17:23) — What went wrong on the first MCAT: Cramming, no plan, and taking it during senior year.(19:33) — The retake that worked: Six months, 3 hours a day, weekly full-lengths, and using AAMC practice tests.(22:52) — Lining up letters after graduation: Staying in touch with advisors and professors, and using undergrad resources.(25:34) — Clinical path: EMT to pediatric ER clinical assistant: Building skills during COVID, behavioral health work, and a role that cemented medicine.(32:05) — The application surprise: Not prewriting secondaries—and why she won’t skip that again.(33:43) — First interview jitters and prep: Early invites, mock interviews, and centering fit.(35:52) — Eight interview invites: Why authenticity and geography beat obsessing over stats.(40:33) — Toughest interview prompt: Answering “Tell me about yourself” and a bartender curveball.(44:10) — The first acceptance: A full-circle moment at work and calling mom.(45:40) — Final advice to premeds: Keep an open mind—and be kind to yourself.Today’s guest traces a clear, practical path from childhood curiosity in the halls of Mass General—while her mom underwent treatment and later entered remission—to a medical school seat built on consistency, flexibility, and honest self-reflection. She shares how starting at UMass in biochemistry, discovering neuroscience, and building an early relationship with her premed advisor shaped smarter decisions—like delaying the MCAT and embracing gap years she once feared.We dive into the first MCAT attempt that fell flat (no schedule, cramming during senior year, few practice tests) and the 15‑point turnaround that followed: six months post‑graduation, three hours a day, AAMC full‑lengths every Thursday, and a real study plan. She details lining up letters before leaving campus, keeping in touch after graduation, and why not prewriting secondaries became her biggest application headache.Clinically, she moved from EMT certification and campus EMS to behavioral health sitting and a clinical assistant role in a pediatric ER—experiences that cemented her desire to practice. Finally, we cover interviews (including a surprise bartender question), eight invites, the first acceptance at work, and her closing advice: keep an open mind—and be kind to yourself.What You'll Learn:- How to build a productive relationship with your premed advisor- A realistic MCAT retake plan: pacing, practice tests, and scheduling- Why gap years and nonclinical jobs can strengthen your application- Finding schools by fit and mission instead of fixating on stats- Timing letters and prewriting secondaries to avoid bottlenecks
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