599: Shadowing, CNA Shifts, and Three MCATs—A First-Gen Roadmap

The Premed Years

Ryan Gray

Science, How To, Health & Fitness, Medicine, Education

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 9 July 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

(00:00) - Journey to Becoming a Physician

(06:37) - Balancing College and Productivity Methods

(12:06) - Overcoming Adversity and Grit

(18:01) - Navigating Clinical Experience and McAt Prep

(28:06) - Navigating Medical School Application Process

(37:17) - Support and Encouragement in Medical School

Growing up without any physicians in her family, Mandy found her path to medicine in an unexpected place—through a suggestion from her mother to take a biomedical class. This seemingly small decision led her to participate in HOSA Future Health Professions during high school, where she first glimpsed her future in healthcare. Mandy's story is one of resilience and self-reliance, as she navigated each step of her journey independently, from choosing the right college to overcoming the academic challenges she faced along the way. Her tale is a testament to the power of passion in guiding one's career path, even when obstacles arise.

Throughout her college years, Mandy became adept at juggling a demanding schedule by adopting productivity techniques like time blocking and the Pomodoro Technique. She candidly discusses the importance of mentorship, especially for first-generation college students like herself, and the value of seeking guidance from advisors and seasoned professionals. Her experience sheds light on the critical role that support systems play in sustaining ambition, particularly when tackling difficult courses and maintaining a strong academic standing. Through personal anecdotes, Mandy illustrates how support and mentorship can provide the resilience needed to surmount personal and academic trials.

As Mandy prepared for medical school, she faced the unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, yet she persevered with determination and adaptability. Her journey through the medical school application process, loaded with both excitement and anxiety, offers valuable insights into choosing the right school based on personal fit and community vibe. Mandy shares her moments of doubt and joy, underscoring the crucial role of family and friends in her success. Her narrative is a rich tapestry of grit, passion, and dedication, offering inspiration to anyone aspiring to pursue a career in medicine against the odds.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, before we jump into our podcast today, I have a favor to ask of you.
0:04.7	If you can go to Medical School HQ.net slash survey, I would love to learn more about who you are so we can best serve you.
0:12.1	More content, more resources, more to help you on your journey.
0:16.1	Go to Medical Schoolhq.net slash survey.
0:19.0	Today, our survey runs through March sixth the premed year session number
0:23.8	five hundred and ninety nine hello and welcome to the premed years where we believe that
0:34.2	collaboration not competition is key to your success.
0:38.1	I'm your host, Dr. Ryan Gray, and in this podcast, we share with you stories,
0:42.0	encouragement, and information that you need to know to help guide you on your path to becoming a physician.
0:49.3	Welcome to the premed years. Thank you so much for joining me today.
0:55.7	In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Mandy, a first-generation college student who swapped dreams of the courtroom for the clinic
1:01.4	after a hosa shadowing experience in high school. We discuss her leap from overloaded freshman
1:07.5	schedules to CNA night shifts, surviving three MCAT attempts, and the Google
1:13.0	calendar time blocking habit that kept her sane. If you're battling burnout, self-doubt, or just
1:19.4	need proof that grit wins, Mandy's journey will inspire you. Let's dive in. Mandy, welcome to the
1:26.0	premed years. Thanks for joining me. Hi, thanks for having me.
1:29.3	I'm excited to chat.
1:30.3	I want to start with, when did you first realize you wanted to become a physician?
1:35.3	Oh, man.
1:37.3	I think probably my senior year of high school is when I started getting pretty serious about it.
1:49.3	We had a really cool opportunity to shadow a lot of physicians in our local hospital.
1:54.2	And I just kind of realized that that was really what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
	...

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