By Nour Al Zouabi, Health Professions Peer Ambassador
Feeling enthusiastic about a specific course, but it does not fit your major’s requirements? Take it! Feeling hesitant to change your major to a major that you are genuinely passionate about? Why not, since you are still contributing to diversity in the health field by bringing an interdisciplinary view to medicine.
It is critical to note that you are NOT required to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a specific major as a pre-medical or pre-dental student. Your major during your undergraduate studies does not necessarily define your passion for medicine. I know you are asking: What truly does then? It is “why medicine?” and your character as a person. A holistic overview of an applicant is currently the approach used by most graduate schools in the United States, including medical and dental schools. As an applicant, you are being assessed based on different components, including but not limited to your clinical experience, why medicine specifically as a career to serve others, volunteering experience, extracurricular activities, and (of course) your GPA and standardized exam scores. The 15 Core Competencies include a wide range of competencies that applicants can practice and connect to various medically and non-medically-related experiences. So, NEVER give up on something you enjoy doing just because you do not see many applicants doing it. Be your unique self and spend your time in undergrad as you dreamed in high school.
The most common phrase among pre-health students is “I love science, and I want to help people.” Isn’t that a big part of who we are as pre-health students and our motivation to be in the health field? However, it is important to note that the medical school admission committees need applicants to be more specific on why they want to become physicians since there are so many other healthcare professions that play critical roles in the health team. Therefore, in personal statements and interviews, applicants should focus on what they care about to show who they are and their passion for medicine.
Most importantly, that is why we should stop treating this process as a list of boxes that need to be checked. While it is essential to complete specific requirements, they should not be treated like boxes because they serve as part of your process and preparation to be in the health field. For example, you have to complete a required list of classes, but you are not asked to declare a major in any of these fields if you are interested in other majors. These classes are meant to give applicants a basic understanding of the sciences involved in medicine. In a similar sense, clinical experience is an opportunity for applicants to gain insight into the practice of medicine. It is a valuable experience to provide applicants with hands-on experience in the field, what it is like to work directly with patients, and demonstrate their commitment to the field despite its challenges. Shadowing is usually a good place to start and is meant to provide applicants with an overview of the healthcare role they are interested in and a chance to envision themselves in this role. In the past two years, shadowing opportunities have been minimal, so do not be discouraged if you do not have many hours. Now is an excellent time to start emailing doctors in your area to ask for shadowing opportunities for the summer. Again, do not be discouraged if you hear a “no” before “yes.”
During this time in the semester, as students, we may be asked to multi-task and do many things simultaneously, so please do not forget to take time for yourself and do things that make you happy. Applying to medical or dental school may be a long, exhausting, and stressful journey, so practicing self-care time is critical as you move on in your journey. Enjoy the process and celebrate every small step (no matter how small it is) you take toward your dream. Use resources that are available and know that a whole support system is rooting for you.
Do not forget to check the Peer Ambassadors’ office hours if you would like to chat with us. We all love talking about medicine and many other great things! Good luck with your exams and papers (I also have some, but WE got this)!
Nour is a junior in the honors program with a major in molecular and cell biology, an individualized major, “rights, health and refugees”, and a minor in chemistry. Click here to learn more about and connect with Nour.