By Dana Marie Walsh, LECOM OMS Class of 2010

Pre-med: B.A. Biology, Ithaca College
GPA: 3.85
MCAT: 25

Why did you choose a career in Medicine?
Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to be a pediatrician. My mom works as an RN in the nursery of a hospital and I have always loved science. Those were initially the two driving forces for me to start on the pre-med pathway. During my freshman year of college, I was in an accident and broke my right leg. All of the experiences from being rushed to the emergency room to almost not being able to walk again really confirmed my desire to become a doctor and help others as my doctors helped me. read other replies on this topic

What was the hardest part in preparing for med school?
It was difficult seeking out the necessary clinical experiences and studying for the MCAT.

What did you do for MCAT preparation?
I received a scholarship to take a Kaplan MCAT prep course for free. I took that during the 2 months prior to the exam. It was a lot of work and I could not really keep up with it. I regret not studying more and not taking the MCAT in April instead of August.

How much did you shadow physicians?
During the summer before my senior year of high school, I was involved in the Health Careers Opportunity Program at SUNY Stony Brook. For a week we got to follow around various health professionals such as a respiratory therapist, physical therapist, and emergency room doctor. During the summer before my junior year of college, I volunteered in an emergency room at a hospital. This was quite minimal though as I found that emergency medicine wasn't for me. During this past winter, I followed around my mom in the nursery for a couple of hours and then an osteopathic pediatrician for a day.

How much did you volunteer?
I volunteered about 20 hours in the emergency room of a hospital.

What clinical exposure did you have?
I followed and assisted health professionals around for a week in high school such as a respiratory therapist, physical therapist, and emergency room doctor for a total of 30 hours. I volunteered in an emergency room for 20 hours. I shadowed an RN in the nursery for 3 hours and an ostepathic pediatrician for 5 hours.

What did you do for research?
I did a semester of research, which was for about 10 hours a week, in an evolutionary biology lab. I found that I did not enjoy working in a lab much so I did not continue with this although I recommend doing lots of research to get into med school.

Do you have any leadership experience?
I held numerous leadership posts throughout my undergraduate career. My positions included: Circle K New York District Secretary, District Conventions and Conferences Committee Chair, District Kiwanis Family Committee Chair, District Marketing Committee Chair, District Sunshine Committee Chair, Club President and Club Treasurer; Premed Society Vice President and Treasurer; and Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society Executive Committee Member.

What suggestions do you have for the personal statement?
Write it from the heart. Include the one thing that truly pushed you to pursue medicine. For me, breaking my leg really pushed me forward. It encouraged me to help others more through volunteering and to never give up on my dream of helping others as a doctor just as I was helped. My doctor helped me walk again. I want to be such a support system for children one day.

What suggestions do you have for the secondary applications?
Put as much effort into the essays as you can, as much as the personal statement on the primary application if you can.

What suggestions do you have for the interview?
Really prepare for the interview using the questions on Student Doctor Network. I didn't discover this site until a few days before my first interview. I would have been so much better prepared if I had known about that sooner and if I had done mock interviews.

Did you do any other extracurricular activities?
I was extremely involved in a community service organization called Circle K (related to Key Club and Kiwanis). I volunteered about 250 hours with Circle K at a soup kitchen, elementary/middle schools, a nursing home, an emergency shelter, and various other events.
I was a member of Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Oracle Honor Society and worked with the Red Cross and the Community Service Network.

Did you take any extra coursework in preparation for med school?
I was a Biology major and took the required prep courses such as Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. I did take Microbiology and Biochemistry because I thought med schools might like those advanced courses.

Other Advise
Apply EARLY! Take the MCAT in April not August. If you get a low MCAT score, don't be afraid to apply to DO schools. Take interviews SERIOUSLY! Get lots of clinical experience!