If you've been following me for a while you know that I love to share new resources that I think could be helpful during the pre-med/medical school years! 

So, of course, I am so excited to introduce Qalbaq!! Qalbaq was created by a physician and an affordable, accessible way to network, get your questions answered and feel more secure about your career choices. On Qalbaq.com you can book sessions with one of their many consultants for a little Q&A session, a mock interview or assessment prep. Also - fun fact, I'm on their website as a consultant so you can also book a session with me (Please do that would be so fun)!

Yesterday I got a question about how to prep for an interview on short notice. THIS IS HOW FRIENDS! You can book a slot and do a mock interview ASAP so that you feel ready on interview day. Truly this is the perfect timing for this resource and I'm so happy I get to share it with you all!

One of the most difficult things about going into medicine is knowing how to navigate the truly insane standardized tests, applications, etc. Not everyone grows up in a family of doctors or lives in a big city with plenty of networking opportunities so I love the fact that this resource allows anyone to connect with physicians, medical students, employers, etc. A lot of getting into medical school is jumping through hoops and honestly those hoops can be so confusing if you don't have experience in the process. 

I'll always be here to help via insta stories, Q&As, and posts but I highly recommend you check out this resource for some one-on-one time with someone who knows the process. 

Hi friends

I’ve had a couple of people ask me what to do and how to feel better if you haven’t gotten an interview cycle so I wanted to make a post on the topic. First off, I want to just say this sucks and I’m sorry. Truly, it does not feel good, which brings me to my first piece of advice. 

Give yourself space for your feelings. You are allowed to feel shitty even if people are telling you to stay positive.

Now on how to not feel shitty… Plan something to look forward to each week. Good tip in general but extra important when you are anxious about applications.

Set a limit on how often you can check your email. If you open your email every 2 minutes you will lose your mind. I let myself check every hour which is probably too much but it’s what worked for me.

STAY OFF SDN AND REDDITT

If you do want to feel productive, you can write some letters of interest or update letters. Honestly, I only did this for a school after I was waitlisted so I’m not sure what the success rate really is. However, if you have something new (new job, new paper, new volunteering thing, etc) to tell them, definitely send the letter!!

Talk to someone who gets it. Hopefully everyone in your life is being supportive, but sometimes it really helps to talk to someone who went through the application cycle because they actually get it.

Know that there is 100% nothing wrong with you or your application. You did your best and I am so proud of you.

Xoxo

It's getting close to that time of year again. I am starting my second year of medical school in just a week and a half. And even more exciting, new first years will be starting in a few months. I remember being so nervous the summer before my first year of medical school so I wanted to share some things I wish I could've told myself back then. To all the incoming first years, congrats on your acceptance!! To all the premeds, keep this post in the back of your mind for later or for motivation.

What You Should Do Before Medical School Starts: 

1. ENJOY YOUR SUMMER. Get enough sleep, see your friends, spend time with your family, take your doggo on a ton of walks and spend time enjoying yourself. You deserve it. You've worked SO hard to get into medical school and you're going to work so hard during school. Use this time to relax and refresh.

2. If you want to feel productive, you can learn how to use Anki. Notice how I said learn how to use it, NOT start using it. There are some youtube videos and reels that you can look at just so you understand how it works. It can be confusing at first so downloading the app and getting a feel for it can be helpful.

3. Find ways to make your study space more enjoyable. You are going to spend a lot of time studying, either at home or on campus. Get ready for that by creating a study space that you love at home or buying things to make study days on campus more enjoyable.

4. Read posts made by older students at your school. There is likely a Facebook page with your classmates and older students, join it!

What you SHOULD NOT Do Before Medical School Starts.

1. Study. DON'T DO IT. There is nothing to study. Do not let anyone in your class or online tell you that you have to start Anki before school starts. You haven't learned anything. Why would you study...? Relax instead. There is plenty of time to study later, trust me.

2. Worry yourself to death. It will all be okay. When the time comes, you will figure everything out. Again, just relax and all will fall into place.

Welp, I hope that was helpful!!! I'm so proud of you for your acceptance and I hope you are enjoying your summer.

Xoxo and Happy Relaxing

When Can I Start? - 

As early as you want! Some hospitals require you to be 18 years old but you can always start in clinic if that is the case. You should definitely start as soon as possible if you already know you are interested in medicine!

How Can I Shadow? How Do I ask?

Reach out to doctors you know, cold email doctors in your area or find shadowing programs online! Check out my instagram for an email template to ask for shadowing. 

What Do I Bring -

1. A small notebook and a pen so that you can take notes! Shadowing is a valuable experience and you should be taking some notes throughout the day.

2. If you have a name tag or ID badge, I would definitely wear it!

3. Water bottle and a snack! It might be a long day and you'll be on your feet a bunch.

What Do I Wear? - 

Dress business casual unless the doctor specifically tells you to wear scrubs! If you are shadowing in surgery they will usually give you hospital scrubs to change into but you can always pack a pair just in case! Wear comfortable but professional shoes! Ladies - I would seriously avoid wearing heels because you will be on your feet all day. Trust me, you need comfortable and supportive flats. If you are a medical student, you should wear your white coat!

How Long Should I Stay?

You can ask beforehand. The doctor might leave it up to you in which case you can leave at the lunch break or at the end of the day! Make sure to bring snacks either way though, just in case.

Is There Something I Should Have Prepared Besides Questions? What Should I Learn Beforehand?

Having questions in mind before you go in is great! You typically don't have to know much to shadow but if you want to be proactive you can do a little google search into the doctor and the specialty! 

What Should I Expect My First Time Shadowing?

It really depends on the doctor and the specialty. But, in general expect to follow the doctor around and just listen for the most part. You won't be expected to participate, especially if you aren't a medical student. Hopefully, the doctor will take time to teach you in between patients so be ready to take some notes!

How Do You Organize a Time to Shadow with a Busy Med School Schedule?

So far it hasn't been too difficult. It really depends on the doctor's schedule, especially because some doctors are only on inpatient service one week out of the month. I typically find a morning that doesn't have any required lectures and pick that day. If i miss other lectures I will watch the recordings later. Finding a full free day can be difficult but I consider a free day any day that doesn't have a specifically required session since I can always watch recorded lectures later on.

Any General Tips?

1. If you ever feel light-headed or like you are going to pass out, quietly excuse yourself and sit down immediately. You really don't want to pass out in the OR or in a patient room so it's best to excuse yourself and sit down! If this does happen, do not stress about it. Plenty of medical students end up having to excuse themselves on their surgery rotation. It happens and it's totally okay but just be honest with yourself if you need a break.

2. I will say it one more time...bring snacks, drink water and wear comfortable shoes!!!!!

As a first year medical student, I am so eager to make connections with pediatric neurologists both at my school and at other California schools. At first, I didn’t really know where to start or what to say but I knew I wanted to introduce myself.

It can be nerve-racking to cold-email someone who you aspire to be one day. So, here are some tips for reaching out, asking for shadowing or research ideas and finding a mentor!

1. Research the person you are emailing! If they have a specific area of research you are in, read the abstracts (or even better, whole papers) of their most recent publications. Mention specifics in your email or later meetings to show your interest and commitment.
2. Have a goal in mind! This one I learned recently because I was caught off guard with this question. If you are looking for research, what are you hoping to get out of it? Do you want to create your own project? Do you want to get to know the lab and what research is like? Etc. It doesn’t have to be super specific but have an idea of what your end goal is.
3. Respect their time but DO NOT be afraid to follow up! People are busy and sometimes they forget to respond to emails. I usually give it a week before I send a short and very respectful follow-up email. Anytime I’ve done this the person has always thanked me for reminding them that they forgot about my first email! Do not be afraid to follow up.
4. Have some questions ready for them if you do get a chance to meet in person or over the phone. This is especially important if you are looking for a mentor in general. You want to show interest and also learn something if you are going to be taking up their time!
5. Don’t be afraid to reach out! This is honestly the most important thing. Cold emailing is scary but can lead to so many exciting opportunities. The worst thing that can happen is they say no or don’t respond and you move on to the next opportunity.

I hope this was helpful! Be on the lookout for an email template on my instagram soon!

Much Love Always

With finals coming up and the MCAT back in full swing, I want to share some of the strategies I use while taking tests. These strategies are things that work for me but keep in mind, everyone is different. Find what works for you and run with it. Although I don't personally struggle with test anxiety, it can be a huge hurdle for those that do. While I don't struggle with specific test anxiety, I do struggle with generalized anxiety. Therefore, my one test anxiety tip comes from that experience.

1. TRUST YOURSELF. Personally, I rarely change an answer after I have gone on to the next question. The only way I will change my answer is if I catch a mistake (if I didn't read the question correctly, didn't do the math correctly, etc). I never change my answer unless I am almost positive that my first choice is incorrect. I strongly feel that if you do not know the answer, your first choice is probably going to be a better guess than whatever you change it to. 

2. Do not agonize over one single question. This is especially important on the MCAT because time is so limited. If it's a difficult question, either mark it to come back to or make an educated guess and move on. There comes a point when staring at a question isn't going to make you any more likely to know the answer. 

3. If you find yourself anxious or spacing out, take a minute to ground yourself. If you aren't pressed for time you can go through the 5-4-3-2-1 method but if you are taking the MCAT you may need something quicker. The 5-4-3-2-1 method involves focusing on your 5 senses. First you notice 5 things you can see, then 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell and one thing you taste. If you are more pressed for time I suggest just noticing what you can feel. Either way, the goal is to ground yourself into your surroundings to take your mind off of the anxiety.

4. Avoid studying for the hour before the exam. I know it's tempting to study until the very last second but I think it just makes you anxious. The only time I study the morning of an exam is if I'm going to passively do Anki reviews. If you are taking the MCAT you should NOT study the day before either. Just relax and trust yourself. 

5. If you have the time (you may not for the MCAT), cross out each wrong answer and silently tell yourself why it is wrong. This mostly applies to biology based questions since you can easily do process of elimination. I also find that physically crossing out wrong answers helps me focus on why I am picking a certain answer. 

6. Do NOT worry about the same letter being the answer choice for multiple questions in a row. I've fallen victim to this as well but you should not change your answer choice just because it is the same letter as the question before. Ignore it. This seems silly but I know it can sometimes cause doubt. 

7. Okay so this is not a real tip but if I truly do not know the answer (like if I need to make a blind guess in the dark) I pick C. I remember someone (truly no idea who) telling me it was statistically the best choice (based on what test-writters tend to pick). Truly I do not know if this is true but I've been doing it for years lol.

I hope this helps you develop your test taking skills! 

Good luck on finals

xoxo

It's that time of year again and I imagine that many of you are so overwhelmed thinking about finals. My own finals start in a week from yesterday and so I completely understand the panic. These tips are meant to help you through studying for finals in undergrad (especially as a pre-med). I am definitely using some of these tips as I study for my medical school finals but I don't want to pretend like I know the best way to go about medical school finals. I'm truly just rolling with it and hoping that I study the right way, but I guess we will see! Here are some things that worked for me when I was in undergrad:

1. Make a to-do list for each final. Include all the lectures/practice questions/etc that you want to get through. Having a list always makes me feel more in control! It is also great to be able to check things off as you go so that you can see the progress you are making. 

2. Schedule your time. I say this on my blog/instagram a lot but it really works. Schedule each day with exactly what you want to accomplish. Some people prefer to study each class for a few days before switching. I personally prefer to study for multiple classes a day. Pick which works for you and make a schedule.

3. GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Do not pull all-nighters. Really don't. It is not sustainable considering you are probably studying for a week or more and it is not going to help you learn material.  Also, fun fact, you consolidate your memories while you sleep so you need to sleep in order to remember what you learned!! 

4. Try to avoid junk food/fast food. I am in FULL support of chocolate while you study or ice cream every night as a reward. This is not me telling you to "eat healthy". I say this only because fast food and junk food can make you sluggish and tired.

5. Remember that coffee is not a meal. Another fun fact, your brain is picky when it comes to fuel. It requires glucose to work at its best so it is important that you remember to eat real meals while you're studying.

6. The library is not for everyone. Some people thrive in the library but it is okay if you don't! You shouldn't feel pressure to live in the library just because that is what people around you are doing. I hate the library and much prefer to study at home!

7. Let your meal times be a break! You don't need to study while you eat dinner, I promise. Use the time to decompress.

8. Study by yourself before you study with peers. As much as I love studying with friends, it is only helpful if you all know the material. It is very difficult to go over content or do practice questions as a group if you didn't study first. 

9. Carefully choose your study partners. Throughout undergrad I had 3 people that I consistently studied with. We worked well together, supported each other, learned the same ways and all stayed on top of the material. It was amazing and we really helped one another. Find your people and stick to them. Large study groups often turn into social hour and that isn't the best during finals week. Also, make sure to avoid people that insist on comparing themselves to you. You don't need to compare your study habits to anyone else's and you shouldn't allow others to make you.

10. Remember that it will be over soon and you will be okay. 

Happy Studying

xoxo

Interview season is right around the corner so I thought I would share some tips I have for medical school interview days! I realize that interviews will likely look VERY different this year due to the current pandemic but these tips should still apply. As always, if you have any specific questions feel free to DM me or message me through my Contact Page!

Secondary applications have started rolling out which means those of you applying are probably stressing already. Secondaries can seem SO overwhelming, especially if you don't have a good method for organizing them. The key to staying calm in the midst of secondaries is having a plan and an organization system. That being said, here are some strategies that helped me keep track of all of my secondary applications.

***I also want to say that you should NOT stress over schools that have not sent you a secondary application yet. Just focus on the requests you do have and the others will come soon enough!***

Being a pre-med can be so overwhelming. I remember always feeling like I was drowning and like I would never make it to medical school. But I'm here to tell you that you will be okay and you will get to medical school. In fact, I start in just one month!

To help you feel a little bit at ease, I compiled my Top 5 Pre-Med Tips! I hope this helps.

As you probably know by now... I'm starting medical school this year (in July to be exact). I am so excited but also so nervous. I've spent the last month wondering what I need to buy, what will make medical school easier, and what to expect of the coming year. I'm sure I'm not the only one with these worries. To all the other incoming MS1's, I feel you and I'm here to share some of the knowledge I've gathered.

In order to feel a little more at ease, I asked some current medical students what I should buy for my first year of school. This list may not apply to everyone or every program, but it's a good starting point! Also keep in mind that these are just people's suggestions and nothing on here is 100% necessary.

I just want to start off by saying that, given the current pandemic, I am not sure what the interview situation will be for this application cycle. That being said, I hope everyone gets to experience in-person interviews so I am going to jump into how to navigate them assuming that interviews are scheduled normally this year.

I honestly did not know that CASPer existed or that I had to take it until pretty deep into the application process. So if you're in the same boat - don't worry - now you know! CASPer is a Situational Judgement Test which basically means it tests you on how you would handle difficult ethical situations.

Again, I think this topic is best done with a Q&A post because there are so many misconceptions about it!

There are over 100 medical schools in the US and there's no way you can apply to all of them! When you get ready to apply you'll have to make a list of 15-35 schools you want to apply to. This can be a super stressful process and often causing a lot of confusion in the beginning. I've had some people ask me how I decided where to apply and so I decided to do a whole post on it. I hope you like it!


I give such a large range of how many schools to apply to because not everyone's situation is the same. Things to take into consideration when making this decision are:

Finances: Each primary application costs $40 (except for the first which is $140) and each secondary application costs $90-$130. This adds up QUICKLY so keep that in mind when you decide how many applications you want to send in.

School Rankings: If you decide you want to apply to a bunch of top schools, you probably will have to apply to more schools overall. In order to keep your list from being very "reach school" heavy you will need to expand your list.

Your Statistics: Simply put, the higher your statistics the less schools you have to apply to. However, if you're applying to all top tier schools that get tons of applications this may not apply to you.

Your Extracurriculars: Same as statistics - stronger extracurriculars enhance your chance at each school you apply to. In theory, if you have strong extracurriculars you can apply to fewer schools.

Now for how to pick WHICH schools to apply to:

Location: I cannot stress this enough!!! Do not put schools on your list if you are not willing to live there for four years. For example, Mayo is an exceptional medical school but I absolutely could not live in Minnesota for four years so I did not apply. Fun fact: I basically crossed off the middle of the country because I am so afraid of the cold and that is okay!!

Statistics: Use MSAR for this part -
Like I said in my "Application Timeline" post - you want to apply to:
          - 25% Reach Schools: Schools that have a median GPA/MCAT higher than yours
                     - For some schools you will hit their median GPA but not their median MCAT or visa versa: I would put these in the "in range" category ONLY if you are not far off with the score that is below their median
          - 50% In Range Schools: You meet or slightly exceed their median GPA/MCAT. These are also schools that have one stat that is slightly higher than yours and one that is slightly below yours.
           - 25% Safety Schools: I HATE calling them safety schools because no medical school acceptance is guaranteed. Email me if you have a better name for this category. Anyway, schools in this category should have a median GPA/MCAT significantly lower than yours.

In-State Preference: Some schools strongly prefer people from their state/area. This could seriously inhibit your ability to get an acceptance so consider this when adding schools your list. University of Washington is a notorious example of this. Other schools do not have as strong of a preference but will ask you about your connection to the area in the secondary application (ex UC Davis).

Cost: Private medical schools tend to be more expensive than public schools (assuming you have in-state residency). If this is going to be a big issue for you keep it in mind while applying. 

Number of Applicants: Some schools get a ridiculous amount of applications. For example: UCLA is in Southern California and is a top school so it gets tons of applicants. NYU also gets a high volume due to free tuition. I'm not saying you cannot apply to these schools but they do tend to be reaches no matter what your stats are.

I debated whether or not to release the schools I applied to and decided I want to be as transparent as possible so here it goes:



Super funny fact about me: I actually had U Chicago on my list and applied to Rosalind Franklin (Chicago Medical School) on accident. It worked out just fine and makes me laugh so hard now. Remember that small mistakes (this isn't even that small of a mistake) are not the end of the world.

I hope that was helpful. If you need any help editing your school list feel free to send me an email through the "Contact Me" page on the blog. You can also DM me at @jordan_eisner

Happy Applying
xoxo

If you've been following along with my blog or instagram you probably know that I am currently in between undergrad and medical school aka my gap year. For the past ~10 months I have been working as a medical scribe at a private internal medicine practice. Gap year jobs can be a great way to earn money, learn some medicine, and gain real-life skills before diving back into school. Going into my gap year I wasn't 100% sure what I wanted to do but I am so happy I chose to be a scribe.

I'm going to go through this topic Q&A style with a combo of questions that I had before I started my job and the questions I've been asked before!

The 2021 application cycle is just around the corner (AMCAS opens May 4th) so I thought this was a good time to discuss the primary application. The AMCAS primary applications consists of two big writing prompts: your personal statement and the activities section. It also requires you input your grades, family information, and letters of recommendation. In this post I want to focus on the personal statement and the activities sections because those are the most anxiety-producing sections.

Organic Chemistry is probably the most infamous pre-med class there is (although I thought Physics was WAY worse). I think one of the reasons it can be so intimidating is that it requires a different set of study skills/habits than most classes.

I managed to get through Organic Chemistry with *most* of my sanity intact (although my parents and a few of my friends may disagree) and did well in the class overall. So, I decided to share some of the study strategies I used in the hopes that it will help someone else make it through with some sanity and a good grade.

I'm not going to lie, the MCAT is extremely stressful. In fact, I ended up developing Celiac Disease while studying for the MCAT due to stress. Yes, I was always genetically predisposed but never had any symptoms... until the MCAT rolled around. The gene is usually "turned on" by extreme stress, hence my diagnosis shortly after finishing the exam.

BUT... there are definitely ways to take care of yourself while studying for the MCAT

Here are some of my favorites:

One of the most important extracurriculars for medical school is research experience. If you want a full list of extracurriculars you'll want to participate in, head over to my post titled "Extracurriculars You Need for Medical School".

Although it may not seem like it, you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to how you want to gain research experience! The most important thing to remember is (as always) to pick something you are passionate about and can do consistently!

It is no secret that getting into medical school is difficult to say the least. My favorite thing to say is that I have a double degree in neurobiology and hoop-jumping because I have so much experience going through the recommended motions of applying.

Medical schools have taken on a "holistic review" approach which means that while they still put emphasis on GPA and MCAT score, they also heavily consider your extracurriculars.

When thinking about extracurriculars for medical school there are six categories or "boxes" you will want to check off. I'm going to go through them all here but keep an eye out for later posts that dive deeper into each activity!