Where We’ve Been

Unlike many students in med school, when I graduated high school I had NO plans of going to college. Instead, I enlisted in the Air Force and served on active duty for six years. At the end of that tour of duty, I started thinking about medical school and finally returned to college to get my undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona. There is a lot that has been said and written about how challenging being in the military is, but what got me was how challenging it was to transition back and try to be a regular person. I felt like I had to create a new identity — there was the version of me that used to be in charge of people, that ran combat missions, and now there was this new version that went to school and worried about my math homework. I even had to buy new clothes, it turns out Under Armour shirts and Oakleys aren’t exactly the thing to wear on a college campus. I was fortunate that the University of Arizona had a well organized and supportive veterans center, and I was able to find connections there. Still, though, it sometimes felt like there was a gulf between me and some of my classmates. Many of them were great people, they just had their own social thing going on, and I wasn’t a part of it. I was often closer in age to my professors than my fellow students.

When I started the process of applying to medical school, a concern that was at the front of my mind was finding an environment where I could fit in and truly connect with my classmates. I didn’t want to sign up for another four years of having friendly acquaintances instead of friends. I wanted to be surrounded by people who would value the experience I had to offer, while also challenging me to learn and grow. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that it isn’t just what you know but who you know that matters. One of the greatest assets I hope to get from medical school is a strong network of fellow doctors I can reach out to for the rest of my career. When I came to Second Look at WashU, I was anxiously looking at all my possible future classmates — would these turn out to be people I could find a place among? What I found was a group of people who are some of the nicest and smartest people I have ever met. Every one of my classmates I have gotten to know has maturity and has engaged in the kinds of substantive experiences that build character. I have consistently felt included since day one, and I could not be happier to have chosen to come here.

I grew up in Western Canada, attended college in Montreal, and this is my first time studying in the U.S. WashU is probably one of the most Canadian-friendly medical schools, and that is reflected in our class (three Canadians and many dual citizens). I think even for students coming from the U.S. coasts, St. Louis bears a distinct identity. Its culture and demographics are definitely different from those in Canada; the difference here is greatly attributed to the historical racial and socioeconomic divide in the city.

Depending on where you are coming from, St. Louis might be considered a relatively small city. However, even if you are accustomed to living in a major metropolis like Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal, there are surprisingly just as many activities to partake in here in St. Louis and ample restaurants to try. If you are a fan of good barbecue (this is non-existent in Canada), then you’re in luck! Living and eating in St. Louis is also more affordable than other big cities.

I have been told it gets cold during the winter and hot in the summer. So far though, it only snowed a few times and then somehow became 20 degrees Celsius in December (probably like 70 degrees Fahrenheit, I still have no idea how freedom units work). I have only seen one person wear Canada Goose on campus, and I have still yet to bring out my toque and gloves. This lack of snow can either be a pro or a con. Hockey is still a thing here, and the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup last year. (The Blues winning is probably a con.) Overall, St. Louis has been great so far, and I am excited to continue learning about and living life in the U.S.

Many people say St. Louis isn’t that big. That is false. It’s a big city. I say this because I grew up in a small town in rural New Mexico. In eastern New Mexico, all of the roads are straight and flat and virtually abandoned. I definitely have had to focus hard on improving my driving skills since moving here. Granted, there are a lot of perks to coming to the big city. Not only do I get to come to an awesome medical school, but there is also quite a diverse range of cuisines, with many restaurant options. There are a lot of different neighborhoods, each with their own culture, vibes, and experiences — which can be fun to explore. St. Louis itself has some beautiful attractions and a diverse population, and the medical center is full of resources for trainees in the health sciences. Finally, I live right by Forest Park, which is a massive city park with museums and a free zoo! I’ve heard that it’s bigger than Central Park in NYC. On a nice day, Forest Park is full of people from St. Louis and beyond. St. Louis has a lot to offer!

After growing up in the St. Louis area, when the time came to apply to colleges I was ready to see another part of the country. However, after driving six hours back and forth, to and from school for breaks, I was much more open to the idea of staying in St. Louis when the time came to apply to medical school. While I didn’t choose WashU because of its location, I have definitely come to appreciate being a little bit closer to home. I love being able to easily visit my parents for a home cooked meal, and it’s also nice to be familiar with the area while starting a new experience like medical school. That being said, I still feel like I have learned a lot about St. Louis in my first few months as a medical student here that I didn’t know already. I grew up about 30 minutes away from the medical school, so I wasn’t as knowledgeable about this particular area as I am now. I’ve really enjoyed getting to visit new restaurants and go to new events with my classmates, and even places that I’ve been to many times before are fun to get to experience with a new group of people. If you are worried about being bored, don’t be! Medical school will provide plenty of new experiences even if you are already acquainted with the area.

Between growing up in D.C. suburbs, going to school at the University of Virginia, and spending my gap year in D.C., all I had really known prior to St. Louis was the East Coast. Moving here was definitely an adjustment in terms of it being a less dense city, but I have found that there is still enough to do in my free time. The city also has a very diverse population, which was comforting coming from D.C., where residents come from all over. And people here are so nice! Strangers will chat with you just to chat! It’s cool and new to me being in an environment this friendly. It would be nice if the city had a few more hills (why is the Midwest so flat?), but it really has been a smooth transition to Missouri.

I’m originally from Huron, Ohio, which is a small town in northern Ohio. I went to college in the Midwest too, at THE Ohio State University. The city of St. Louis has so many fun things to do, which makes it feel like a brand new, exciting place to explore. At the same time, the pace of St. Louis feels familiar to me, which I think helped me to quickly get comfortable in the city. I also really like that I’m never too far from home, and with an hour flight, I can be in Columbus or Cleveland. Even though I’m from the Midwest, this is the first time I’ve been outside of Ohio, and the welcoming atmosphere at WashU has helped me to feel at home here.

I always pictured myself staying in the south for medical school after growing up and going to undergrad in North Carolina. Although I ended up coming to a school in a region not normally considered to be part of the south, I feel like in a way I stayed true to my original intentions. Everything that I considered integral to the true southern charm can be found in St. Louis, and there is an additional multicultural influence in St. Louis that really amplifies this charm in a way you may not find in the south. The St. Louisans in the Central West End area are super friendly, and there is a great feeling of hospitality both throughout WashU and in the whole surrounding community. Beyond the people, the prices are just as good as they are in the south, so you won’t be breaking the bank with food or rent. The diversity in food is great, and southern staples such as barbeque are still incredibly popular throughout the city.

The only thing that requires adapting to is the weather. The St. Louis summer is quite similar to that of the south, but the winter is rougher. I had to upgrade my winter wardrobe following our first snow in October, but beyond that adjustments have been minimal and, it has been a great time so far in St. Louis!

What drew me to the WashU medical school is the same as what drew me to the undergrad program: the people. The Midwestern charm is a real thing, as the people here are both astoundingly bright and exceedingly genuine. There are professors here who are at the top of their field and, yet, are perfectly willing to sit down and talk about their work. This has made extending my stay here in St. Louis an easy choice to make. Additionally, the freedom offered during med school has given me ample opportunities to see more of what St. Louis has to offer. The med school atmosphere is markedly different from the “WashU Bubble” that many experienced in undergrad. I have started to feel more like a resident of St. Louis than just a student who happens to be here.

Coming straight from college can simultaneously be a smooth and crazy transition. Having been sitting in lectures just three months prior, the return to class was familiar. On the other hand, I was going from living in a dorm and eating in dining halls to having to cook for myself and living in an actual apartment. Although I was a bit nervous for this switch into semi-adulting life, I found myself feeling settled quite quickly — the friendliness of both my new classmates and the overall community definitely helped a lot. With medical school being a wonderful experience that bonds all of your classmates, you’ll notice that any age differences that may exist between you and your classmates are not apparent at all. Additionally, there are many students at WashU who are also coming straight from college so you’ll have lots of company in your 17th straight year of school. Overall, while medical school is more school, it’s vastly different from undergrad so you’ll both be prepared for continuing to learn while immersed in a completely new experience — enjoy!

I took a few years off before starting at WashU, and I was worried it would be hard to get back into school mode after working a normal job. I shouldn’t have been. A lot of job skills translated well to med school — 40 hour work weeks have given me great work ethic — but more importantly, once I’m done with work for the day I know it’s best to just relax and not worry about stuff I have to do tomorrow. Med school can sometimes feel overwhelming but taking it one day at a time has made it manageable. The best thing about taking gap years though is I got to experience normal 20-something life before starting school. It completely cured me of fear of missing out. People online like to romanticize this idea of med students sacrificing their youth to learn medicine, but I still spend just as much time hanging out with friends, seeing shows, and having fun now as I did during my gap years. I just get to learn cool facts about the body, and I don’t have to sit behind a desk for 40 hours a week!