Here we go again...
I began this blog a few years ago to track my journey to becoming a doctor and look back to see how far I've come. However, with time, I also saw the need to use this platform to reach other aspiring physicians and/or scientists. I've hit rock bottom many many MANY times since then. Yet along the way, I have also seen how much I've grown as a person and how much my passion for science and medicine has challenged me in more ways than I thought possible.
I am a first-generation college student. Like many others, my parents had no clue about the college process or seeking aid. So I did it all myself. As soon as it was time for me to begin my medical school process, I quickly realized that I was at a disadvantage. My school did not guide me on when to apply for medical school or how to do it. Heck, I didn't have the money to pay for MCAT resources (not even kidding I had $0.89 to my name) nor did I want to rely on my parents who've already sacrificed so much for my siblings and me to go to college. I knew this was something I had to figure out on my own.
After graduating from college, I desperately needed some cash to save up for this dream (and heaping student debt) while at the same time gaining exposure to medicine and building relationships with those around me. I became a professional science tutor at my alma mater part-time and worked the other half of the week as a medical scribe in a urology clinic in my hometown in the Bronx (if you want to learn how to become a scribe, click here). I loved scribing cause it gave me access to the day in the life of a physician, and tutoring helped enhance my teaching skills and build relationships with clients/students.
However, I still felt stuck and wanted to gain even more exposure to various aspects of medicine, and became an EMT. These opportunities and more have allowed me to understand the need for underrepresented minorities in medicine, and have taught me to embrace my passion for learning to better serve and advocate for the members of my community.
But is retaking the MCAT worth it?
This is a question I struggle with every day. I lack the motivation at times to crack open those dusty MCAT books that I was FINALLY able to afford and give it one more shot. I begin to think of the times I wrote the MCAT twice, and performed miserably, and wonder whether I can get over that hurdle and get my goal score. My attempt at getting into medical school seems delusional at this point (lol). But I have to push back the fear and negativity, and just do it. Make a schedule, go over content, practice, and repeat until I see an improvement. I once heard that if medicine is something that you think about on most days, then you must pursue it with all your heart. So if you're like me and are struggling on this journey to medical school or grad school, be patient.
However, don't give up, and don't settle yourself short. You may not have gotten into med school this cycle or the cycle before that, but one day you will. One day all your hard work will pay off. So don't get distracted/discouraged by what you see on social media. Everyone's journey is different. Your journey may take longer than most, but you'll learn so much about yourself through it all. You will gain experiences that no one else has, and those experiences will define the new YOU and how you dictate the next steps on your journey.
So, retake the MCAT. Embrace your journey and don't look back.
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