How To Apply To Medical School Part II: Writing a Resume and Personal Statement

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” 
― Louis L'Amour

Welcome back to another entry into the "How To" Series. Since I'm currently up to my neck in reading and PBL objectives that must be done, this post is going to be short and sweet-well that's my aim anyway.

The photo decorating this post was taken in Zurich (in a bathroom) and I found it quite humorous. Since I'll be talking about writing your resume and your personal statement, I thought it was one of the more appropriate photos for this post.

As a non-traditional medical school applicant, my resume gave my application the "umph" it needed and it was a requirement for some of the schools I had applied to. I found that the biggest challenge I had with writing my personal statement was accurately relaying my thoughts to the reader in a way that wouldn't be misleading, or too convoluted. It took me a few months (yes months!) to perfect my personal statement and to be satisfied with my final submission

When writing your personal statement don't be discouraged if you begin and you find yourself with a million and one stories to tell or on the other hand, not sure what to say. We all get it 'all wrong' in the beginning (gang falsch). After a few days of contemplating what picture you want to paint to those who will be reading your personal statement, you start ironing out a few wrinkles. However you may still be wrong (falsch) in the construct and flow, but you're making progress nonetheless. Taking time to research what a good personal statement entails or simply taking time off from working on your piece, you're almost getting it right (fast richtig) and with more proofreading and constructive criticism from friends, family members or professors, you finally end up with a piece you can be proud of and ready to submit. Yes! You will get it right (richtig) at some point or the other, but first you must dedicate the time to just start writing "no matter what!"

Resume Writing

Step 1 

Start with a strong bold heading of your name and contact information. There are so many templates on the web that can make this step the easiest of them all. 

Step 2:

Follow a general outline, being sure to include things like: 

a) Education

b) Work Experience

c) Professional/Teaching Experience

d) Licenses/Certificates/Accreditations

e) Awards and Honors

f) Publications/Presentations

g) Pre-Med Societies

h) Volunteer Service

i) Extracurricular Activities

Step 3

Review your final piece. Your resume is one of the shortest reflections of yourself you can create. It gives a chronological outline of your life (to an extent) and it should be accurate and true. Try to ensure there are no gaps in your resume and take a second or third look at it before submission. There are multiple sites that require help for resume writing, Johns Hopkins even has a neat little PDF outlining how to construct a good pre-med resume. Feel free to check it out. 

Personal Statement

As much as I love quotes, I would advise you when writing your personal statement NOT to use them as your introduction. Most personal statements requires you to describe yourself and why you would make a great medical student and future doctor. For me the hardest part was showing my passion for medicine and illustrating why I felt medicine to be my calling.  This article gave great insight into things to consider before sitting down and writing your personal statement. Since its quite a detailed article, I'm just going to add three simple things that I found helpful when writing my personal statement. 

Thing 1

Be able to answer the question "why do you want to become a doctor?" Take the time to reflect what really drew you to the field of medicine. Once you can honestly answer this question you will find it easy to at least construct an introduction. 

Thing 2

Create an outline (similar to what  you would do if you were writing an essay for an English class) of what each paragraph would likely entail. This can be done in bulleted form or simple headings such as "Paragraph 1, II..". This will give you a visual idea of what you should include in each section and would help keep you on track. 

Thing 3

During your draft and editing phases, whenever you have someone proofread your personal statement, or as you complete a paragraph and before editing, go through a checklist that asks the following questions: 

1. Is the opening paragraph personal?
2. Do you start with action or an image?
3. Does the essay show rather than tell?
4. Did you use any words that are not usually a part of your vocabulary? (If so, get rid of them.)
5. Have you used the active voice whenever possible?
6. Have you overused adjectives and adverbs?
7. Have you eliminated clichés?
8. Have you deleted redundancies?
9. Does the essay sound interesting to you?
10. Will the ending give the reader a sense of completeness? Does the last sentence sound like the last sentence?

The above is just an example of things you can include. I used this during my process and it made it easier for my friends and family who proofread my personal statement to offer suggestions on what sections needed improvements. 

All the best as you begin this step of your medical school application. It seems like an insurmountable task at the moment, but hang in there, get to writing and in a matter of weeks you'll be able to check another task off of your 'to do' list. 

How to Apply to Medical School Part I: Pre-Med Requirements

“I think you will agree that life's plans are not always tied up in neat little packages. Occasionally we find ourselves at unexpected crossroads with more than one opportunity from which to choose. Time itself is often the best indicator of which decision to make, for it can tell so many thing that are now hazy.” 
― Linda Lee Chaikin, Tomorrow's Treasure

Hello my fellow night owls and medical sciences enthusiasts! Ever since I embarked upon applying to medical school (and there were many attempts) I've been asked by friends and other Pre-Med majors what is the ideal way of applying to medical school in a timely matter and ensuring you're granted an interview and potentially an acceptance. From these questions came the idea for this new series "How to Apply to Medical School" specifically at the moment,Caribbean based medical schools. 


Part One of this series will focus on applying to medical schools in the Caribbean that are not affiliated to the United States; meaning they are not American based medical schools and the degree you will be awarded upon completion will be a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) versus the Medical Doctor (M.D.) degree awarded at American medical schools. 

In addition to my advice, there will be guest contributors to each subsequent part of the series. Their advice, tips and tricks and overall experience with the process will be featured in the "Words of the Wise" section of the blog so be sure to check that section out after stopping here. 

Now with all that being said, let's get started. 

What are the requirements for Medical School?

Before I seriously considered applying to medical school, I can recall older siblings of my friends discussing how they had to register as a "Pre-Med" student at their college with equated to an insanely large amount of science classes and lab sessions all to ensure they met the requirements for their medical school application. 

After I did my research for the medical schools I was interested in attending and talked to some friends that interviewed for medical schools, I learned that your undergraduate major does not matter. What matters the most is that when you apply, you are a well-rounded individual who knows that medicine is what you want to study and that you are capable of fulfilling the necessary requirements for the school of your choice. 

Had I known this when I applied to college, I do believe I may have majored in either English, or Humanities and taken the necessary science courses. 

Below is a list of courses most medical schools require. It is important for you to do the research for the schools you would like to apply to for medical school and to see what their pre-requisites are for admissions and take those courses. 

a. General Chemistry (I &II with labs)

b. General Biology (I & II with labs)

c. General Physics (I & II with labs)

d. Anatomy and Physiology

e. Molecular and Cellular Biology

f. Microbiology

g. Organic Chemistry (I & II with labs)

h. and/or Biochemistry

i. Precalculus/Calculus

j. and/or Statistics

When I had applied to the University of the West Indies, because I had completed a degree, I submitted my transcripts from undergrad supplemental to my national examination results, which I sat senior year of high school. The university requirement were provision of the following:  

• (and/or) An academic certificate (test results of the -GCE, CAPE (CXC) CSEC (CXC) exams), 
• A professional certificate or diploma, 
• Transcripts from awarding institutions, and a 
• TOEFL exam score for those whose first language isn't English. 

It is quite common at the University of The West Indies, for students to get accepted out of high school based on their -GCE, CAPE (CXC) and CSEC (CXC) examination results without having to pursue an undergraduate degree prior to admission to medical school because the medical degree received is considered an undergraduate degree in and of itself. 

What if I satisfy all of the pre-requisites?

This is the moment where you can jovially pat yourself on the back for being one step closer to satisfying your medical school application. 

Now that you have checked the pre-requesities off of your "to do" list (that in and of itself deserves celebrating), next up, daunting as it might appear, is for you to maintain a competitive grade point average (GPA) throughout your undergraduate years. A competitive GPA ranges between a 3.7-3.8. 

The application process can be a tedious and overwhelming process, however, if you plan your time wisely and work on it early, rather than waiting, you can avoid the frustration that comes with procrastination and last minute planning. 

Until Wednesday...take the necessary steps to ensure you are meeting ALL requirements to fulfill your dream of becoming firstly a medical student and secondly a GREAT doctor. 

The Journey

"Once you start studying medicine, you never get through with it."-Dr. Charles Mayo

The above quote is one of the many that decorates the walls of Mayo Clinic's lobbies and is sporadically displayed on monitors throughout employee entrances and exits, between the institutions updates and latest news for its employees. 

My journey for studying medicine began with the inception of the thought that I could be of service to those in need-medically. As I grew in age and knowledge of the opportunities, I played with the idea of being a veterinarian, a pediatrician, even a cardiologist. The more interested I became and the stronger my passion for medicine grew, I found myself researching the steps I would have to take in order to become a doctor.

Fast forward a decade, and like Jonah, I've strayed from my initial 5 year plan for myself and my calling and attained a Biology degree and a degree in Clinical Laboratory Science with 4.5 years experience in the field of Laboratory Medicine.

I doubt that Jonah for one minute got a good night's rest after fleeing the calling to preach and deliver Ninevah. Well I didn't. With each degree, I prayed for God to show me his plan and purpose for my life and if I were to become a doctor, for it to be made clear. Like Gideon I got just what I had prayed for-an acceptance letter to not one, not two but three medical schools after thinking my applications were discarded and not even given a second look. 

January-May 2014 marked the completion of my first year of Medical School, and now as I prepare to start year 2, I can say that it has been a rewarding journey overall.

At the ending of the semester, right before our Phase Examinations, I was afforded the opportunity of watching the leatherback turtles lay their eggs and venture back to the active ocean from which they emerged. Seeing the journey of the leatherback placed an emphasis on my journey to where I am today. The fact that despite remarkable and at time, disappointing strayings from my original plan for my academic and medical career, I am right where God wants me to be. 

As the application process for medical school begins for some, and the first year of postgraduate/or professional school unfolds for others I will be starting a series entitled "Tips for Applying to Medical/Dental/Pharm/Vet School" followed by a series on "So it's your first year in ____ School. What to Do Now", so be sure to check back often for pointers and for guest posts in the "Words of the Wise" section, where students just like you, will be giving advice and what they've learnt from their application process. 

The Hike

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt

Sluggishly I emerged from the warmth and comfort of my bed and silenced my blaring alarm. It was now 5 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Such an ungodly hour to have to rise in my opinion, especially since I spent most of the night *limin' with friends. The time had come for me to get ready to hike my second waterfall in Trinidad since my arrival to the island for Medical School. The Rio Seco Waterfall, is listed as an "easy" hike, with a distance of 1.25 miles, but the waterfall is worth the hike. Or so most TripAdvisor reviewers said, this is what I would be finding out-just how challenging this hike is. 

My friends and I made our way from our lodgings at the Joyce Gibson Inniss Hall on the Mt. Hope compound, down to the University of the West Indies Main Campus where the rest of the eager hikers were gathered. As many yawned, and tried to mentally and physically awaken their senses, my mind ever so often posed the question "Why did you sign up for this...today?" Luckily, I didn't have time to dwell on the question or to change my mind. We gathered into the 'maxi' (24 seater bus/jitney) and made our way to Rio Seco Waterfall. 

The maxi driver was kind enough to drop us off up the hill, eliminating some of the winding, steepening terrain we would have encountered. The hike started off as 'easy', in that for about 20 mins we were walking on a paved road, which then ran out and the real hike began. At some point in the previous week, it had rained in the forest and in Salybia, which meant we would be encountering lots of mud and water in addition to the small rivers we would have to cross. Imagine my excitement. It pays to have the appropriate and correct shoes for every occasion, and I soon found out that my Nike cross trainers were not made for hiking muddy terrains. 

We went up hills and rocks, and we went down hills and rocks. We crossed two ice cold rivers in one direction, and met them upon our descent. We were shaded by the canopy of the trees, and I even came close to loosing a shoe or two in the mud. Overall it was an adventure and the waterfall-the reward, in the end was breathtaking. 

As I hiked, the thought emerged how my hiking experience that day was so similar to medical school, and the entire process of getting to where I am at this moment. From the initiation of the hike, there was this bird called the Pawi, that makes this shrill noise, however it never revealed itself to us. Imagine my disappointment. I likened this bird to all of the negative influences I've encountered along the way thus far and whom many of you reading this have also met or will at some point run into.  You know, those persons who have nothing better to do but to ensure they impart their misery onto your life by trying their best to defame your character. Sad, I know, but it happens. That bird taunted us the entire time. There would be moments of peace and quiet, and a few bursts of laughter and the sounds of casual chatter and then you would hear it.  That loud annoying shrill. After a while, it became background noise, and no one paid it any mind. The same is true about those "nay sayers". Remain polite, stay true to yourself and your beliefs and you'll be surprised how quickly the talk of the market won't have any effect on you. 

The melodious sound of the river, I likened to the encouragers. The sound of the river only increased, the closer we came to the waterfall. Persons will always be there to offer encouragement and support, and this tends to increase as your goal is reached. I've been blessed to have persons globally and locally, who at the right moment flood my FB inbox, what's app and my personal email with encouraging words and thoughts, all of which makes this journey all the more bearable. 

I don't know how often Trinidadians in the area frequent this waterfall, but on the day of our hike, we were constantly being greeted by persons heading to or leaving the waterfall. As the hike moved forward, and it seemed as though it would only get worse; being greeted by children and other adults with smiles and cheers, made me realize that the hike is not impossible, and that it very well can be done with a smile. It reminded me that like the hike, medical school and its tedious schedule and overwhelming course load, is not impossible and it can be completed with a smile once taken in strides. 

There was always a gradual incline and decline, and this was similar to the gradual incline and decline I am currently experiencing with my courses, my motivation, and my overall general psyche'. There are days when I feel like a Spartan, and can grab life and the sort by the horns, and own it. Then there are those days when I question why I am here, and if I have what it takes to truly be a GREAT doctor. Like the hike, the gradual inclines and declines are the true test of your willpower, and without them it would be one flat walk. And that's just boring. The same is true with medical school. It's not easy (if that was the case then everyone would be doing it), but it's doable, you just have to remember to not allow the declines to consume you, allow them to run their course, but don't dwell on them. 

At certain points along the trail there were these handmade wooden railings, that I must say I appreciated especially when there were sudden changes in the terrain and a sudden slip to the left would result in a nasty fall over the edge. These railings I likened to all of the resources at one's disposal while in medical school. There are textbooks, e-books, mobile device apps and the advice and guidance of upper years. They are all available to buffer the blow of the coursework and they provide invaluable solace and direction needed for the journey. 

Lastly, the reward. The rushing, bustling, waterfall. I likened this to achieving the ultimate goal. Arriving at the destination. To know that you survived the shrills of the pawi, while being guided by the increasing sounds of the river reassuring you that you were heading in the right direction, that you didn't allow the nay sayers negativity to engulf and devour you. Instead you took on the cheers of fellow hikers (students) who had experienced the rugged terrain and overcame it. You met the gradual incline and decline and moved forward, holding onto the railings. Now at the waterfall you can bask in the coolness of its waters- the excitement and sheer joy, of surviving all that you faced during the application process and interview, and will face in medical school. I'm awaiting that day. 2018 is so close yet so far. I shall encounter so much more, but after this hike and realizing the similarities, I appreciate all that I will be faced with in the future and I implore you to do the same. 
Pick up that MCAT book! 
Study for that exam! 
Proceed with writing that personal statement! 
Question why you're wanting to embark on such a hike, and be prepared for all that is in store. 

*limin': Liming is, in other words, an activity not subjected to a formal set of rules. Its value to the participants is entirely contingent on the shared meaning that can be established spontaneously. A typical lime begins when two or several acquaintances (neighbours, colleagues, relatives or simply friends) meet more or less by chance; in the street, at the grocer's, outside somebody's home, or in the rumshop. For it is impossible to lime alone: liming is inherently a social activity; it is constituted by the (minimally) dyadic relationship and cannot be reduced to the individual agent. A second necessary condition for a lime is the presence of an ambience of relaxation and leisure. Both (or all) limers should relax physically (recline in chairs, lean against walls etc.) in a manner enabling them to converse at their ease. Thirdly, the situation should assume an air of openness: a lime is in principle open to others who might want to join. Liming is, in other words, a social and public activity.