If you are planning to apply to medical school soon and want to save yourself the devastation of rejection (and the cost of having to reapply), then this episode is for you! We review the 10 most common mistakes we see on primary applications to medical school, including:

• Rushing your application

• Applying late

• Not explaining clearly WHY you want to be a doctor

• Leaving big gaps in your story

• Not making use of the disadvantaged statement

• Listing too few activities

• Not having enough clinical experience

• Telling instead of showing

• Exuding arrogance or overconfidence

• Not asking for help!

Have you ever wondered what the differences are between a Physician with an NP & one with a PA? These individuals work together on healthcare teams to deliver medical care, but each one has unique education, training requirements, and roles within medicine. In this episode, we explain what the differences and commonalities are between them and what to consider when trying to decide on the right path for you. (Spoiler: Becoming a physician may take longer—think 15,000 clinical hours vs. 1000—but we think it’s worth it!)

Have you considered applying to an international medical school, such as one in the Caribbean or Mexico? In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of international programs so that you can make the best decision possible for your medical education and future medical career. (And stay tuned for future episodes highlighting stories from doctors who went the international route!)

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a doctor who specializes in women’s health and pregnancy? In this episode, Dr. Zulma interviews Dr. Michelle Contreras, a specialist in obstetrics & gynecology (“ob/gyn”). Dr. Contreras shares about her upbringing in rural California, what inspired her to become an doctor, what medical school and residency was like, what it’s like to take care of women through pregnancy and other health issues, what a typical workday looks like for her now, and what she wishes she knew when she was a premed.

Have you heard of post-baccalaureate (also referred to as “post-bac”) programs? Have you considered whether a post-bac program is right for you? In this episode, we guide you through the various types of post-bac programs that exist, reasons why you might consider one, how to apply, and the potential pros and cons. Dr. Zulma also shares her experience of doing a specific type of post-bac program called a conditional acceptance program just before medical school, and how she feels it helped her prepare for success in medical school.

Do you feel pressure to go directly from college to medical school? Are you forcing yourself to fit all of your premedical requirements, volunteering, research, and clinical experience into four years — and feeling burned out in the process? If so, it might be a good idea to step back and consider taking a gap year. There are many great reasons to do so, from helping to improve your GPA or MCAT score to helping accumulate more life experiences to simply taking a break from the stress of school. In this episode, we talk you through the many reasons to consider a gap year and help you consider some of the benefits of doing so. After all, in the grand scheme of things, one year (or a few) will just be a small fraction of your journey to becoming a doctor!

Do you struggle with chronic procrastination? Are you the one cramming the night before an exam, pulling an all-nighter, and turning your assignment in just in time? Or, do you procrastinate so much that you end up missing deadlines and dropping classes? If this describes you, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma are here to share their experiences and wisdom with you — so you can start transforming your habits and prove to yourself that you CAN do hard things and succeed!

We all have an inner voice that speaks to us all day, every day. If that voice tends to be negative or critical, it can impede your chances of success. Fortunately, you can gradually train that inner voice to be more hopeful and optimistic. It takes practice, but it’s possible! In this episode, we discuss two main strategies to help train that inner voice in a way that will help you reach your dream of becoming a doctor. We’ve done it, and so can you!

Are you in the middle of taking organic chemistry and struggling? Have you heard horror stories from other students who have taken it and are dreading your turn?

Organic chemistry (also known as “orgo” or “ochem”) is notoriously challenging, but it doesn’t have to your nemesis, and your final grade in this class does NOT determine whether you’re cut out to be a doctor. It’s really just one of those hurdles you have to jump through to show that you have the commitment and perseverance to succeed in medical school.

In this episode, Dr. Marina talks with two current chemistry teaching assistants (TAs) who share their experiences with taking organic chemistry and how they managed to master the material well enough to succeed…and become TAs! They also help to show you that you shouldn’t be afraid of asking for help — in fact, they love it when students come into office hours with questions!

In this episode, Dr. Marina chats with Jessica E., a recent UCLA graduate, about how she managed to score a 516 on the MCAT on her first try. She shares all about how long she dedicated to studying, what test prep materials she used, how she focused her study time, how many practice exams she took, and how she overcame the psychological hurdles of studying for such a big test. If you’re planning to take (or re-take) the MCAT soon, listen and get inspired by her success. If she can do it, so can you!

Are you struggling in your general chemistry course? Have you heard horror stories from other students and want to prepare yourself to succeed?

General chemistry is widely known as one of the first premed “weeder” courses, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a grueling experience. It also doesn’t mean that if you fail chemistry you’re just not cut out to be a doctor. In fact, many people have struggled in chemistry and are fantastic doctors today.

In this episode, Dr. Marina talks with two current chemistry teaching assistants (TAs) who share their experiences with taking chemistry and how they managed to master the material well enough to succeed…and become TAs! They also help to show you that you shouldn’t be afraid of asking for help — in fact, they love it when students come into office hours with questions!

Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma act out some mini medical interview (MMI) scenarios, with not-so-good and good example responses. MMIs are like “speed dating” interviews, and you only have a few minutes to leave a good impression, so preparation and practice are key. We explain a few ways to ensure that your responses show maturity, compassion, problem-solving, and good communication skills. If you’re approaching medical school interviews, this episode is for you!

In this episode, we answer some key questions about getting research experience as a premed student, including:

- How important is it to get research experience before applying to medical school?

- What types of research are there?

- Is there a specific type of research I have to do?

We also share some tips on how to seek out and find great research opportunities, including:

- Talking to professors

- Doing targeted web searches

- Looking at federal work-study opportunities

- Applying for summer research programs

- Overcoming the fear of asking!

Are you just starting your first year of college? In this episode, we share tips we wish we’d known when we were just starting out — like how many classes to take to avoid feeling overwhelmed, how to choose the right balance of classes to take, and how to balance classes with work, extracurriculars, and sleep. Learning to find the right balance for you will pay off when it comes time to apply to medical school.

In this episode, Dr. Marina talks with Gabe C. about how he recently prepared for the MCAT and scored an incredible 514. We also talk about his upbringing in the South, what motivated him to become a doctor, his career detour as an engineer, what he did during his 5 months of preparing for the MCAT (hint: lots of practice questions and full-length practice tests), and what applying to medical school is like. If you’re planning to take — or retake — the MCAT anytime soon, this is for you!

Did you know that quality volunteer activities are a key component of your application to medical school? In this episode, we offer a few pointers for choosing volunteer activities that will help you reap the benefits of altruism AND show admissions committees you’re a caring and compassionate person.

Our five main suggestions are:

• Choose things that you actually enjoy doing.

• Choose at least one activity that shows a medium-to-long-term commitment.

• Try to have at least one CLINICAL volunteer experience.

• Choose some activities that align with your purpose.

• Find a good balance between volunteering & academics.

Are you applying to medical school this cycle and wondering what you can do to prepare for interview season? In this episode, Dr. Marina & Dr. Zulma discuss the different types of interviews you may encounter, what kind of questions you might be asked in each, and how to prepare for interview day.

In this episode, Dr. Zulma interviews psychiatrist Dr. Renee Garcia. Dr. Garcia has a bachelor’s degree from CSU Los Angeles, MD from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Keck USC. She also completed a fellowship in Psychosomatic Medicine at Stanford. She shares all about her upbringing, how she unexpectedly got pregnant during her senior year of high school, how she managed to get through college and into medical school even while raising her son, how she overcame discouragement about her chances to get into medical school, why she chose psychiatry, what it’s like to be a psychiatrist at a large hospital, and what psychosomatic medicine is all about.

One of the most common questions we hear from high school and college students considering a career in medicine is, “Is it possible to be a doctor and have a family?” We get it. We worried about this too when we were younger!

In this episode, we help break this common question down by discussing a few others, including: (1) What is it like being a parent and a doctor? (2) Are you able to do the normal parent activities that non-doctor parents do? (3) Who takes care of the kids? (4) When is the ideal time to have kids? (5) What are the biggest challenges of being a parent and a doctor?

With medical school application season upon us (hello May!), you may be wondering if you’re really ready to take the leap and apply. Application costs can really add up fast, so it’s wise to make sure you are reasonably prepared before you hit that “apply” button.

In this episode, Dr. Marina & Dr. Zulma take you through some questions you should ask yourself to make sure you are adequately prepared to apply, including:

• Am I absolutely sure that I want to be a doctor, and can I clearly explain why?

• Have I had enough clinical exposure to know what I’m getting into?

• Have I shown that I’m a caring and compassionate person through service/volunteering?

• Have I demonstrated that I have what it takes to succeed academically in medical school (e.g. via GPA and MCAT)?

• Have I participated in any research activities?

• Do I have strong letters of recommendation?

• Do I have the personal attributes that it takes to be a great doctor (e.g. communication skills, humility, open-mindedness, maturity, resilience)?