It’s the 3rd Quarter: Go time!

It’s the beginning of the 3rd quarter. You’ve regrouped after your halftime break. You step back on the court…

IT’S GO TIME!

If you are a fan of basketball you know that the first few minutes of the third quarter are the most important of the game. Simply watch the Golden State Warriors and you will learn this lesson. They come runnin’ and gunnin’ out the gate. At this point in the game, you have had a chance to learn your opponent. You’ve battled with them the half and no matter if they kicked your butt or you dominated them, you must view the score as zero-to-zero. You cannot hold your head down in defeat nor can you become overconfident. You’ve now hopefully had a halftime break which may have consisted of a pep talk from your coach/mentor and peers. You’ve had time to catch your breath and clean up any first half wounds.

[Cue Eminem “Lose Yourself” song as students walk back on campus]

You may, not be an athlete but it is YOUR GO TIME! This is your one moment to get your perfect GPA, MCAT score, or to apply to medical school. Premeds who do not recognize that the first few weeks of this semester are crucial will fall behind. There are key things you must do and prepare for during this time. Year after year, I have premeds tell me they were not aware of something or missed a crucial deadline. Some think that they didn’t need to know these things since they are just freshmen or sophomores but it is never too early to prepare. You need to have your game plan ready so you can finish the year strong and become the best applicant you can when it is time to apply. Here are a few key things you should accomplish over these next few weeks:

1. Set your goals

This is always step one (remember to G.R.I.N.D.). If you do not have a GPA goal or MCAT goal then please get on this. Maybe you have a goal to become a leader in 2 organizations this semester. Maybe a goal to shadow a physician. You’ve got to know what you are aiming for. Set those goals early and post them up so you can easily. Share the goals with your mentor or another accountability partner.

2. Solidify your summer plans

Summer time is a great way to get medical experience, study for the MCAT or do something unique. Every summer break should be used wisely. Many summer program application deadlines are in January and February, so if you are interested and haven’t yet applied for one, then get on it ASAP.

3. Ask for letters of recommendation

For those applying this application cycle, I hope you have warmed up to a few professors or other potential writers by now. If you have not yet asked them, it would be a good idea to meet with them during office hours before the semester gets very hectic. You can thank them for teaching you and let them know your intentions on applying this cycle. This is another great opportunity to share your PreMed STAR profile link with them so they can learn about your journey. Take advantage of this.

4. Prepare for the MCAT

If you have are taking the MCAT this year make sure to have your study plan mapped out. Once the school year gets going this can be a tough thing to do. There will be many distractions you will face. If you need help planning you may consider checking out Megan’s MCAT study plan.

5. Plan your extracurricular activities

School organizations, hospital volunteer opportunities, leadership roles. This is the time to plan out what you will join. Do this before the semester gets hectic and do not overcommit yourself. Update your CV or PreMed STAR profile as you add more activities and leadership positions. 

6. Familiarize yourself with the application process

Even if you are a freshman, it is wise to be educated on the application cycle. Knowing what is expected of you on the application early will allow you to prepare better for it and optimize your candidacy. Like every other year, PreMed STAR (alongside SNMA/MAPS) will hold the Application Bootcamp Series in a few months. You will not want to miss out on this. In May, the applications will be open. Keep your PreMed STAR profile updated to make this process easier.

There goes your pep talk. Now, are you ready?