Transitioning from Premed to Med Student

Maria Rincon Olivares is a latina, first year medical student who received her Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience at the University of Nevada, Reno in 2021 and now attends the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine. In this interview, she shares some of her struggles as a premed student and her experience so far in transitioning to medical school.

1. What are some struggles you faced on your premed journey?

During my premed journey, I really struggled with studying and my grades. I was usually working one or more part time jobs during school, while also participating in other activities during the week such as night classes to get my EMT certificates or volunteering to get clinical experience. By the time I was able to sit down and actually study what was going on in class, I was exhausted and never actually studied the way I needed to. It took a long time for me to be able to be real with myself and start prioritizing my grades over the extracurricular activities I felt I needed in order to be accepted to medical school. Once I did, it actually took a lot of stress off of me when I saw my grades come up, which allowed me to feel like I could still have some activities out of school but have a better balance in my life without constantly living life overwhelmed.

1. Briefly describe your experience so far as a medical student

I have genuinely loved my experience so far as a medical student. As an undergrad student, I always heard about how hard and spirit breaking medical school would be. Starting medical school definitely has its challenges, like adjusting to studying the content and balancing other activities outside of school, but I find a lot of joy learning the content we do, practicing physical exams and history taking, and creating a community with my classmates. I really wouldn't have it any other way.

1. What was the most difficult part of the application process for you?

The most difficult part of the application process was feeling like I needed to have done everything that could possibly be listed on the AMCAS application. I felt really insecure about not having any research under my belt, barely any shadowing, and a much lower GPA than I felt confident applying with. I spent a lot of time in undergrad trying to do everything I could while never feeling like it was enough. If I could offer advice to other premeds, I would say that it's so much more valuable to have longitudinal experiences I am passionate about and can speak to, rather than a bunch of activities on my application admission committees could tell I wasn’t dedicated to.

1. What is something you wish you could’ve done differently as a premed student?

As a premed student, I really wish I would've let myself enjoy my life outside of school a little more. I spent most of my four years working, studying, and volunteering, and I didn't really let myself have much fun or travel much. To be honest, as long as you are doing well in school and setting realistic goals for your personal growth and experiences you want to have as a premed, you will have probably more time and flexibility in undergrad to travel and have fun, so if that's something that's important or interesting to you I would definitely take advantage of that! There is a lot more to life than just your career and educational goals, and it's important to let yourself be happy and take care of your mental health to the best version of yourself you can be.

1. What is some advice you would like to give to current permanent students?

The best advice I can give to premeds is to build a really good support system. None of us ever go through school truly alone, and the people you have around you and in your corner can make a huge difference. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and help you stay motivated even on days you feel like you could never reach your goals. Find an advisor who is familiar with what you need to get into medical school and will tell you the truth of what you need to do while also showing you they believe in you. Some of the best opportunities I've found in my undergrad were from other friends I made in my premed classes or from my premed advisors, so make sure to get to know other people in your profession because you'll never know who will be able to help you :)