Tips and Tricks for Success
Navigating the Pre-Health journey can be quite the overwhelming task. Between school work, clinical experience, volunteering, research experience, and studying for post-graduate program entrance exams, it is very easy to lose sight into why you wanted to work in healthcare in the first place! Below are a few tools and tips I have learned throughout my pre-health journey from mentors, peers, and self-experience.
1. Create a Routine/Schedule
When it comes to being a Pre-Health/Law student, there are so many different responsibilities you hold. When everything begins to pile up, it can become quite overwhelming. Establishing a routine that you follow each and everyday will help to make the most of all your time and work efficiently! A good recommendation is printing out a schedule that contains all your time commitments throughout the week (class schedule, club meetings, research/volunteer shits, etc.) and sticking to this schedule.
2.) Stay on Track of School
The Pre-Health/Law journey requires you to take lots of advanced and difficult coursework. In order to succeed in these classes, it is important that you set aside adequate time to complete all assignments, as well as ensure you have time allotted in your schedule to study. Staying on track in all your classes and not falling behind will eliminate un-needed stress from building up, and create a sense of confidence when it is time for test day.
3.) Organize Your Time
Create time management skills and prioritizing your time is essential in your undergraduate years regardless of your major. Having proper time management skills is a task that will be necessary throughout the course of life. Learning how to organize your time throughout each day will take loads of stress off of you. Majority of stress comes from having fear of the unknown, so organizing your schedule and knowing when you will complete that assignment, or study for that test, will allow you to focus better on your current work and not have to think about what you will have to do later.
4.) Find Trusted Mentors
Regardless of how organized, responsible, and smart you may be, there is nothing better than having someone who has accomplished what you are striving to do. Having a mentor to guide you throughout your Pre-Health/Law journey can alleviate lots of stress and help you to make the most out of your undergraduate years. Mentors are extremely useful in giving advice and helping you succeed in order to achieve all your goals and dreams.
5.) Try New Things/Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Reaching out to new organizations, faculty, and students can be an intimidating thing to do, especially early on in your undergraduate career. The idea of rejection and being passed over is a scary thought. With that being said, the only way to grow and expand your resources, knowledge, and connections is to branch out and put yourself out there. Getting used to putting yourself out there is an important skill to have throughout your academic and professional career. Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Make the most of all U of A has to offer during your Pre-Health/Law journey. There are countless resources available, so do not be afraid to reach out and start your journey.
6.) Don't Compare Yourself to Others
Imposter syndrome is a very real thing that many students find themselves dealing with. It is so crucial that you do not begin to compare yourself with other students during your Pre-Health/Law journey. Doing this will only cause you stress and make you feel bad about yourself, even though you are doing amazing things. Always remember that everybody has their own unique path they are going on, and no two people will have the same. Enjoy your individual journey and all you are doing, and congratulate those around you who are also doing amazing things!
7.) Surround Yourself With a Good Support Group
You have probably heard that you are the product of who you are surrounded by. During your Pre-Health/Law journey, it is so important that you surround yourself with peers and mentors that want to see you succeed and accomplish all your dreams and goals. With all the craziness and busy schedules that comes with the Pre-Health/Law journey, you cannot surround yourself with negativity and people who constantly put you down. Find peers to study with and faculty that want to help you accomplish great things throughout your undergraduate years.
8.) Find Your "Why"
Finding your passions and purpose is what college is all about. During your Pre-Health/Law years, it is so important to experiment with new opportunities to find out what you truly enjoy doing. Finding your "why" means figuring out why you want to take the path that you are aspiring. Why do you want to wake up everyday and be a physician? A lawyer? A nurse? A physician's assistant? A physical therapist? There are so many answers to these questions, but it is important you have your own unique, honest, and true reason. Having this answered will make your journey throughout your undergraduate and postgraduate years much more enjoyable and rewarding.
9.) Exercise
Even when you are caught up in your crazy busy schedule, it is so important that you make time to get some physical activity and exercise in. Exercising has been proven to be one of the healthiest things you can do for not only your physical health, but for you mental and emotional help as well. Getting into a regular exercise routine can help to improve your mood, emotion, drive, and overall day-to-day routine. Exercising releases lots of endorphins that will increase your health and improve your performance in all the great things you are doing!
10.) Relax and Have Fun!
Finally, the most important tip I is to take a deep breath and relax. The Pre-Health/Law journey is a rigorous course that takes a lot of determination, discipline, and hard work to get through. Because of this, it is imperative that you take time for yourself to relax and appreciate all the hard work you are doing. Take a nap. Watch Netflix. Go out with friends. Scroll through TikTok or play some video games. Whatever it is, do not lose sight of who you are throughout your journey. Make sure you are keeping up with your friends and family and maintain a healthy social and sleep balance throughout your years. Having a good school-work-life balance is essential to avoid burning out and not losing your passion of why you want to be in healthcare/law! Keep up the great work and know you are doing and going to do some awesome things! Reach out if to resources if you ever need anything!