X. Alexander Yang

Class of 2018

Major: Molecular and Cell Biology

Studying at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the MD Program

Pursuing a specialty in orthopedic surgery

Q: What are some meaningful extracurricular activities that you were involved in while at UConn?

I had two mentors who have continued being my mentors and now close friends even now years after graduation. One was from the Asiantation Mentoring Program (AMP) and the other from PATH. My AMP mentor has been exceptionally important to my development but professionally and personally throughout college and beyond. My PATH mentor went to another med school and continued to give me advice through my time through medschool. He has now matched to Derm at my home program! Additionally, I was involved in the Chinese Undegraduate Student Association (CUSA) as the president from sophomore to senior year. This was an integral experience to my growth as a leader and team player. Finally, I was a course TA for both the biochemistry and anatomy & physiology course. I believe being a great mentor and teacher comes through practice, and what better place to practice than as a course TA. There are a few students who I've kept in touch with even now to give advice on med school courses.

Q: What are some ways that you take care of your mental health and overall wellbeing?

Make sure you always save time to workout and have hobbies!!!

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring pre-health students?

The process is a game. Get involved with extracurriculars which interest you. Get involved with extracurriculars which don't interest you (But you unfortunately need to check off a box). Make sure you do as well as possible in classes, give yourself enough prep time for the MCAT, give yourself enough prep time to complete your apps on time. It's a terrible process. We all know it. And just because we've all been through it doesn't make it okay for it to be the way it is. We're going to be the generation to change things, so get pumped.