Next up in our series of featured med school bloggers is Steven, author of the blog MD Journey and student at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. Enjoy Steven’s thoughtful answers and use them to help you make your way through the med school admissions process.
Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from, where did you go to school and when did you graduate; and what prior degrees do you hold
Steven: I grew up outside of Portland, Oregon and attended Seattle Pacific University. I graduated in 2008 with a BA in Biology and a minor in Spanish.
Accepted: How have you found your experience at Creighton so far? Is med school anything like you had expected it to be?
Steven: My experience at Creighton has been overall very positive. It is hard to say whether med school is like I expected it to be – I tried not to go in with too many expectations. I have been surprised by a couple things. I actually have more free time than I thought I would. Unfortunately this free time is shadowed by a constant pressure to study. Finding balance in life and truly shutting your brain off after studying is more difficult than it sounds. I am still trying to figure it out.
Accepted: How many medical schools did you apply to? How did you decide on your chosen program?
Steven: I applied to 16 medical schools. Creighton’s humanistic approach to medicine appealed to me and ultimately played a big role in my decision.
Accepted: What is your favorite class so far?
Steven: My favorite class so far was probably Anatomy. I loved the hands-on aspect of the course. Plus anatomy lab allows you to build a unique camaraderie with classmates. It would be hard to go through medical school alone; anatomy seems to bring people together in a way that makes sure that doesn’t happen.
Accepted: Have you decided on a specialty yet?
Steven: I have not decided on a specialty yet – I have considered Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Anesthesiology and several others.
Accepted: Can you recommend a nice coffee shop or some other place that’s good for studying and/or relaxing?
Steven: Right now I am sitting in a coffee shop called Urban Abbey in downtown Omaha. It has become one of my favorite study spots.
Accepted: Do you have any application advice for medical school applicants?
Steven: Get your applications in early! If you are waiting on recommendation letters don’t be afraid to gently remind your letter writers. One letter held back my application quite a bit and I always wonder if it hurt my chances a little.
Accepted: Why did you decide to blog about your med school experience?
Steven: I have always been interested in writing. My website gives me a chance to practice and hone the craft. I also find writing therapeutic. It gives me an opportunity to process what is kind of a crazy life. I love communicating with other med student bloggers – there are some talented people out there and it is fun to read their perspective.
Do you want to be featured in Accepted.com’s blog, Accepted Admissions Blog? If you want to share your med school journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at bloggers@accepted.com.
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