The Medical School Journey

Navigating medical school (and higher education in general) as a first-generation student definitely has its obstacles, but WashU Med does its best to provide as many valuable resources as possible. My coach has been super helpful, and it’s been especially meaningful to have a physician who has a lot of shared life experiences as a role model and mentor whom I can always go to for advice. We’re also currently working on forming a First-Gen group, and there’s been a First-Gen Students dinner, so there’s a small community here that is looking to support other first generation students. It’s also been super helpful to connect with older medical students through experiences like Clinical Mentorship, because they’re also super happy to give you any advice that’ll help you through understanding the “hidden curriculum” of medical school. Overall, there’s a wide variety of resources and ways to find mentors, and there’s no shortage of people at WashU Med who are super happy to give you advice and help you navigate medical school as a first-gen student!

-Aya A., M1

Learning that many of my peers had multiple family members in medicine made me feel self-conscious about being the first person in my family to attend college (or high school) for the first time. Initially, I felt out of place or that I was somehow already behind my peers. Thankfully, the support from coaches, mentors, and other students alleviated those self-imposed concerns. After all, WashU Med isn’t about judging where you came from but preparing you for where you want to go.

-Tim H., M3

I started medical school at 21, and I’m still 21 as I’m writing this. Full disclaimer: I’m not the youngest person in my class, and if some of you reading this think, “But I’m younger than you, or not even 21. How will I fit in?”, know that it’ll be ok. There are many age-inclusive social events within and beyond campus, and, aside from a few remarks about how young you are, you’ll fit right in and likely find great friendships with the more senior members of your class.

Being an international medical student in St. Louis has been an immensely enriching experience for me. The city itself offers a vibrant and diverse community where I’ve had the privilege of interacting with people from all corners of the globe. From the mosaicism of languages here in a local game of intramural soccer to finding my own community as a Moroccan immigrant, St. Louis truly feels like a city of immigration where anyone can find their place.

WashU, as a renowned medical institution, attracts not only exceptional talent but also an incredible array of individuals from various cultures and backgrounds. My journey here has allowed me to forge friendships with faculty, fellow medical students, and exchange students hailing from all around the world. Learning from their pathways to medicine has been of great value to me, offering diverse insights that have enriched my own educational experience. Whether one’s interests lie in global health opportunities or simply gaining a broader understanding of health care from different angles, the WashU Med community is welcoming and supportive. While adjusting to a new health care system and a different culture has its challenges, the unwavering support of our community has made this journey not only manageable but also rewarding. St. Louis has become a second home, and the warmth of people I’ve met here has made my medical education a truly fulfilling one.

Medical school extracurriculars look a little bit different than extracurriculars in undergrad. Gone are the days of trying to get involved in as many student groups as you can to impress admissions committees. Instead, you can join as many or as few student groups of your choosing, without feeling forced to be president of three different groups (although, if you are passionate … by all means!). At WashU Med, there are so many different groups to get involved in with varying levels of commitment. Another great thing about medical school extracurriculars is that you determine how much or little that you want to be involved in an organization. If you want to go to every event that an organization hosts, you can. If you forget your lunch and want to attend a lunch talk that an interest group is hosting and learn some valuable information while you eat, you can. Even more, if you are very passionate about a particular interest (maybe you love food and want to get involved with the Culinary Medicine group), you can apply for a leadership position and plan all of the events for your fellow classmates. It really is what you make of it. Maybe your commitment is one hour per month simply attending an event you find interesting or one hour per week as a student leader creating fun, educational events. Obviously, your academics come first, but attending events or getting involved with any of the organizations on the Medical Campus is a great way to learn, meet other students, and have a little bit of fun all at the same time!

I’ve been going to public schools for my entire life, from way back in grade school to that large West Coast public undergrad institution that’s way better than our rivals across town. And while I loved my undergrad experience, going to a large public school did come with a lot of challenges. While navigating the pre-med years, my school did not have a pre-medical counselor or office that I could consult directly for advice. I had to go out of my way to make relationships with professors for possible recommendation letters down the line, it was difficult to stand out in classes of 350 students, and there were times when the class atmosphere was a bit too intense for my liking. Getting support services from university resources could sometimes feel like waiting for your number to get called at the DMV. With all that being said, it’s been such a pleasant and welcome change coming here to WashU Med! With a class of 124, it’s so easy to get to know faculty and deans and begin to form some valuable networks. We have so many resources at our disposal as medical students, from health services to financial counseling to student wellness to career advice. And with many of the deans knowing us students by name and on an individual basis, asking questions and getting support from many aspects of WashU Med feels not only easy but welcomed! Having this plethora of resources and being this individually cared for as a medical student is a huge perk of this place for me, made all the sweeter coming from my dear old public undergrad.

Coming to WashU Med from a “non-elite” undergraduate background was intimidating. At Second Look Weekend, it felt like every other person I met was from an Ivy League, elite public, or well-known private school, while I was from a school best known for tailgating and frat parties. I worried I wouldn’t “fit in” with my classmates, but I’ve discovered that our class benefits from the diversity of different undergraduate experiences, and it’s fun to share about my alma mater and my college experience. It’s very real to feel imposter syndrome when you compare yourself to others, but I have to remind myself that no one makes it here by accident. Each person admitted to the class is chosen for a reason, and it might just be the experiences you gained at your “non-Ivy” school that have shaped the unique skills and talents you’ll add to the class.

Coming from a small school is understandably intimidating, as many of your classmates may have come from larger, more well-known institutions. I came from the University of North Florida, a lesser-known state school in Jacksonville, Fla. While I was not particularly concerned with how the administration would perceive me in class (I thought, “They did pick me, after all”), I was concerned about how my peers might perceive me. Thankfully, it took less than five minutes on campus to see how welcoming everyone was.

Once you’re at WashU Med, people don’t care about your MCAT score or what school you came from. Everyone knows that each student worked tooth and nail to get where they are. We all want to see each other succeed, regardless of how we got here. So, if you’ve come from a small school, rest assured that it will not impact your time here at WashU Med.

Having graduated in the early summer, I wondered if I would burn out going straight through to medical school. But, with the comparatively long summer WashU Med offers, I felt energized and ready to go when school started. Medical school will almost certainly be more different than undergrad, but without a gap year, the adjustment will probably be less drastic. Just keep in mind that some of your classmates will have some cool life experiences, so listen when you can so you don’t miss out on all the cool stories around you.

I took 1.5 gap years before coming to WashU Med. Having this gap between undergrad and medical school was useful for so many reasons. I worked two different clinical jobs during this time — one in a large hospital and one in a small neighborhood clinic — and gained a lot of valuable experience that I’ve been able to use while I’ve been here at WashU Med. Coming from a non-medical family, this exposure was incredibly helpful in breaking down the learning curve of the medical field’s complicated hierarchies, systems, and jargon that I had not been exposed to before. Most importantly, having a full-time job let me save plenty of money for my medical school living expenses. I also lived in my undergrad apartment for half of the gap year and at home with my family for the other half. Outside of my work shifts, I was free to spend quality time with my friends and family without the burden of academics. Knowing the long academic journey I’m about to undertake as a medical student, I value my gap year experience even more and am so thankful I gave myself that break.