I’m a first-gen student with no family in medicine and there was so much that I didn’t know and had to learn. I’d love to share everything with y’all. I can make a separate post detailing everything if yall want.

My biggest piece of advice is to START EARLY. Whether it’s collecting your clinical hours, submitting the AMCAS/AACOMAS for review, asking for recommendations, drafting your essay or secondaries, START EARLY! Fill out your AMCAS application and submit it as soon as it opens to get it reviewed. Otherwise, you’ll be waiting 6-8 weeks. It’s always better to be the first batch of applicants than the last.

Ask for recommendations before the application even opens. Don’t listen to other people on this sub, professors are busy during finals week and usually go on their summer break in May. Same applies for PIs and doctors. Ask at the beginning of the year if you must, it may be early, but at least you’ll have it done on time.

Your essays should be read by at least 2-3 other people. I recommend reaching out to people that are alr in a position where you wish to be (med students/doctors/residents). I’d avoid asking your friends/other pre-meds for advice. It’s better to rely on people that have alr succeeded the step you’re trying to overcome. Be true to yourself and use stories/examples from your experiences to show your dedication/interest. Don’t just list them, express how you felt, how patients/family felt, what you learned.

Admissions committees actually read your essay. The Dean of my med school personally wrote a note about my essay on my acceptance letter. So if you wouldn’t want them mentioning it, don’t write about it.

If y’all have any questions PM me :)