Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to my FAQ page! If you’re a premed student, you’re likely no stranger to the uncertainties that come with this tireless journey. Whether you’re a college student working on your premed requirements or someone considering a career change to medicine, I hope this FAQ page brings you some insight and motivation wherever you are on your premed journey.

Early Career

What age did you go back to school for your bachelor's

I went back to school at 24! I never got my bachelor’s degree when I first went to college.

What did you originally go to college for

Fun fact: I almost didn’t go to college! I decided to go because it was the only way I could leave home at the time.

I started part-time at a community college just taking general classes with no end goal in mind. Then after two years, I transferred to a state college to pursue an associate’s in crime scene technology.

What did you do before deciding premed

I got my associates in crime scene technology
Worked as a hostesss/server
Took modeling/acting classes
Got certified as a Corporate Flight Attendant
Worked as a Corporate Marketing Recruiter and Sales Executive
Day traded stocks

Premed Journey

Did you work during undergrad

Yes! I worked as a server, ER scribe, and patient care technician throughout undergrad.

I also blogged and worked with brands on Instagram as a side hustle.

Have you ever failed a class

Yes, I failed several prerequisite classes. There were various factors that contributed to this but what I want to emphasize here is just because you failed a class or had to withdrawal, doesn’t mean you’ve ruined your chances.

What matters most is your comeback and, of course, an upward trend!

Have you ever considered other health professional careers

I never seriously considered other health professions for most of my premed journey EXCEPT during my master’s program.

I spent the majority of my master’s program convincing myself to apply to anesthesiology assistant (AA) programs. The money is great and the program is only 27 months… and I was TIRED of being broke and just wanted to “start my life” already.

I registered for the GRE and started my AA application but deep down I still couldn’t let go of med school.

When I started working as a cadaver dissector/teaching assistant at a medical school (shortly after graduating with my master’s), and I fell in love with a different aspect of medicine that I hadn’t experience before as a premed.

I got to do sooo many cool things while dissecting and realized how much I love learning different surgical approaches and techniques.

I thought to myself, “would I really be happy as an AA?” “Would I even be happy as a PA being first assist?

With a lot of introspection and encouragement from the professors I work with… I decided to cancel the GRE and register for the MCAT once again 🙂

Premed EC's

What clinical experience do you have

ER Scribe (1500 hours)
Patient Care Technician (4,000 hours)

What physicians have you shadowed

Emergency Medicine Physician (I did this as a scribe so I can’t count this on my app since it was paid work)
Reproductive Endocrinologist
Neurosurgeon
Primary Care Physician
Anesthesiologist

What non-medical activities are you including on your app

Intramural Soccer
Blogger/Influencer

What did you do for volunteer hours

I volunteered at a school for children with disabilities for 1 year and was a GAL (Guardian ad Litem) for 8 months.

Post-Bacc & Grad School

How many credits did you do in your DIY post-bacc

43 credits throughout 2 years.

How many credits was your master's program

It was a 10-month 30 credit program.

Is it possible to work and do a special master's program

You might be able to get away with working part-time if you’re a stellar student but I highly don’t recommend working during an accelerated master’s program.

What do you have your master's degree in

Master’s in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Health Studies.