The Journey to Medical School: Insights from Roya Akbary
Author: Emily Nguyen
Roya Akbary graduated this past June from the University of Toronto with a Honours Bachelor of Science where she completed a Psychology Specialist and Physiology Minor. She is now a first year medical student at McMaster University.
There are an increasing number of individuals who are interested in pursuing medicine. However, the application process is competitive and challenging to navigate. We had the pleasure of conducting an interview with Roya surrounding her experience and path to successfully gaining admission.
What extracurriculars did you take part in during undergrad?
I was involved with student organizations and research on campus. Most notably, I was on the Outreach Team of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) for 3 years and I did research in Psychology and Neuroscience labs. WISE had a great impact on my undergrad experience by giving me the opportunity to advocate for issues that I am passionate about, reach out to the community, and step out of my comfort zone personally and professionally. Off-campus, I volunteered at a physiotherapy clinic where I learned about allied health professions and healthcare teams.
How did you balance your time?
It was definitely hard to manage my time between school, extracurriculars and personal life. Between 2nd and 3rd year, I hit a point where I was sacrificing my personal wellness to say “yes” to more extracurricular opportunities and responsibilities. I had to learn to say “no” when I had enough on my plate. This was hard because I can be a people pleaser and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. Especially as a premed, it can often feel like you need to do everything when really, there is no way to do so. Each individual needs to evaluate which activities are most important to their identity and story. One way to do this is to identify which activities don’t feel like work to you. These are ones you are more interested in and intrinsically motivated to pursue. I also depend on my physical planner and Google Calendar to stay organized and on top of my work. It is important to schedule in time to study and time for yourself as well.
Why were you interested in medicine?
I care about people. I love learning about the human body and mind and interacting with people. Medicine sparked my interest because physicians play a unique role in educating and advocating for patients while also getting to learn about the nitty-gritty science of how humans work. Additionally, I want to give a voice to those facing inequity and make a lasting impact on their lives.
What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine, but are concerned about being an “ideal and well-rounded” applicant? For example, having research experience, good grades, and volunteering at a healthcare centre?
I know this is not the answer people are looking for, but there’s no such thing as an ideal candidate. Yes, it is important to be well-rounded for your own wellbeing. Carve out time for yourself and non-medical activities and do it for you, not for how it will look on your applications. If you are doing a certain activity ONLY because you think it will get you into medical school, re-evaluate whether it is really the best use of your time. Ask yourself, “what will I take away from this experience and be able to tell others?” In my experience, activities that I pursued just because I thought it was needed for my application were not fruitful because my heart was not invested. Yes, some clinical exposure to medicine is important to show that you are knowledgeable about the field, but this does not have to interfere with your self-care and non-medical activities you are passionate about. You don’t want to fit into the generic medical school applicant box anyways. Stand out with things that make you unique. On that note, you don’t need to force yourself to do some quirky activities to stand out from the crowd. When it comes to your application, I think it is important to convey your story and you’ll be able to tell it best when it is true to you. By the way, I did not have a 4.0 GPA nor did I have any undergraduate research publications. I was told these were necessary to get into med school and I still got in, so don’t listen to these myths that exist to discourage you. If you want to pursue medicine, just do it.
How did you maintain your confidence during the competitive and stressful medical application process?
The medical school application process was a roller coaster ride. My confidence shifted up and down almost every day. I think it is important to realize that this feeling is normal and that other people are experiencing the same emotions. Having friends going through the process with me this past year really helped because it prevented me from isolating myself with the stress. I definitely struggled with imposter syndrome during interview season which was a low point of my confidence. I felt out of place and as if I had been invited to the interview by mistake. On the other hand, actually writing up the applications helped build my confidence in my pursuit of this path because it allowed me to reflect on my motivations and experiences. I realized that all of my experiences had prepared me for this moment and that this path was the right one for me.
What are your top 3 study tips?
1. I am a visual learner so I like to draw out charts and diagrams to summarize information.
2. Study in a place that will be similar to where you need to write your exam. For example, a desk and chair, not on your bed!
3. Sleep! All-nighters don’t work for me. I would rather review topics when I have gotten enough sleep so that my brain is sharp. Your brain does not work the same when it is sleep-deprived and your test-taking skills will be greatly diminished.
With Roya’s thoughtful insights and tips, we hope that this article will help those who are considering a career in healthcare.
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