So, you didn’t score as well as you hoped on the MCAT? Drs. Zulma and Marina provide perspective on what that means for your chances of reaching your medical dreams, and remind you that while the MCAT is important it is not the only thing that gets you into a medical school. They discuss where you should apply, how to make the rest of your application shine, and when you should take a gap year to study up and polish the resume.

The child of immigrants to the Bay Area, hear how Wumi took “not a linear path” through college, a degree in psychology, and several gap years, before being drawn to osteopathic medicine. Having just survived the intimidation of the MCAT and “drinking from the firehose” in first year, her insights into ways to maintain mental health under stress and constant challenging evaluations are fresh and what everyone needs to hear at some point on this journey.

Dr. Jacqueline Winkelmann has a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Marina about growing up in Puerto Rico, code-switching as a fair-skinned Latina in the rigorous environment of Washington University of St. Louis, and finding her passion as a pediatric hospitalist. “Dr. Jacq” is also the force behind Scrub Sisters (www.scrubsisters.org), a sisterhood of women in medicine supporting each other to find their voice through mentorship and community. Join us for an enlightening discussion of the realities of becoming and remaining a physician as a minority woman.

Hear the details of Ruben’s inspiring journey from a childhood on a rural Mexican farm to UC Berkeley, an MBA, and how FMD’s free mentorship program helped him over the finish line to being accepted at his top choice of medical school. For more details on application coaching, see our website at https://www.futureminoritydoctor.com/acp.

We are all-too-aware of how our own minds can conjure up worst-case scenarios, and make us anxious about problems that never materialize or are easily avoidable. Science is just now beginning to understand the power of imagining positive outcomes, picturing yourself handling problems with poise, and self-affirmations. Drs. Marina and Zulma summarize remarkable studies, and walk you through a few visualizations that will help you let go of worry and tackle your pre-med requirements with confidence.

The average US college student accumulates 1-4 hours of sleep debt per night. This deficit leads to a weakened immune system, anxiety, irritability, impaired driving, and--perhaps most relevantly for this podcast--poor memory consolidation. In this episode, Drs. Marina and Zulma discuss how widespread this problem is, how it has worsened with the advent of smartphones, and share scientifically-proven techniques for better sleep hygiene (including relaxing visualizations from Dr Marina).

Have you ever wondered if you can be a doctor if you have ADHD? In this episode, we talk about what ADHD is, how it manifests in kids and adults, and how it can manifest differently in different individuals. We also touch on some myths about ADHD and what you can do if you have (or think you have) it so that you can still achieve all of your educational and professional goals.

Are you applying to medical school? Consider writing your Impactful Experiences Essay! This essay used to be called the "Disadvantaged Statement," but generally invites applicants to share the unique challenges they've had to overcome. Although this is an optional step in your AMCAS application, it is your opportunity to share the special circumstances in your life that speak to who you are and have helped you build resilience throughout your life. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma highlight the immense value of the Impactful Experiences Essay to your application, challenge you to see the opportunity to stand out positively by submitting it, and give you inspiring examples of what this essay looks like and how you can write yours well!

Are you thinking of reapplying to medical school? You may have applied before, were not accepted, or are still waiting for schools' replies but are concerned that you may not make it and should consider reapplying. Allowing time for your emotions to flow is necessary; then, you can learn from the experience and move forward. Taking inventory of your rejected application will help you spot what you may have missed, where the trajectory of your application needed improvement, or maybe your school choices could have been better tailored for your scores, experiences, and number of activities. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma teach how to candidly review your application before reapplying and share awesome tips to help you improve your chances next time.

Have you ever wondered what going to medical school without a science degree would be like? There are lots of reasons why you would want to consider majoring in other fields, like engineering or history. You don't need a science major to become a doctor. Expanding your knowledge in different areas that interest you will make you a more well-rounded future doctor, and the humanities offer some great options. While you will still need to take the science and premed courses, the insights and perspectives that humanities courses bring are valuable and can make you stand out in a sea of talented applicants.

Dr. Alexa Angulo is an international medical graduate (IMG) from Mexico who graduated from UABC in Tijuana and has just started her residency in pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia. She shares her journey, from challenges in high school and medical school in Mexico to passing the additional requirements for IMGs before they become ECFMG-certified and can apply for a residency position in the US. Every journey is unique. Dr. Angulo will inspire other IMGs to pursue their career dreams and navigate their path to matching a residency position in the US.

Do you have a strategy for applying to medical schools? How can you select the best school based on your unique needs or preferences and decide which schools are right for you? Once accepted to one or more medical schools, how do you choose the best one to spend your next four years? In this episode, Dr. Zulma and Dr. Marina discuss various aspects of selecting how many schools to apply to, helping you develop your own plan and consider the most suitable options for you.

Are you a URM student ready to prepare your medical application for the next cycle? In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court banned race-conscious admissions policies. If you are committed to becoming a doctor, serving your community, and impacting the world, do not let this change hinder you! In this episode, Dr. Zulma and Dr. Marina touch on the context of this recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling ending race-conscious admissions policies in higher education and the history of disadvantaged applicants' admission process. They also share their experiences and hurdles as URM themselves when entering medical school. Finally, they empower URM students to navigate their application process in light of the ruling guide on how to write their essays as a result!

How can you write a reader-catching activity description for your medical school application? Whether applying for an MD or a DO school, you will be asked to present 15 activities showcasing your skills in action. Often, students focus so much on their personal statements that they underestimate the incredible value of their activities. In the activity description, applicants can display snippets of their whole trajectory leading up to being the skilled medical student schools seek. Overlooking them may mean leaving a great opportunity on the table and hurting your application! In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma demonstrate how applicants can choose and write robust activity description paragraphs, maximizing the potential of their application by showing how well-rounded and strong applicants they are!

Do you struggle with taking initiatives? Often, premed students struggle with shyness, fears, lack of motivation, and other barriers that prevent them from advocating, speaking up, or taking action. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma discuss and share their tips on how to benefit from taking initiative as a premed student, becoming more helpful, and finding the fine balance in participating without being shy or showing off. Learn how you can expand your opportunities and enjoy thriving as you get yourself out of your comfort zone.

Bianca Silva just graduated from osteopathic medical school at the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences and is beginning her residency in family medicine at Kaiser Permanente. She shares the story of her path into medicine, which involved growing up in an immigrant family, going to community college, transferring to a four-year university, working multiple jobs, taking post-bac courses to improve her GPA, finding a great mentor, and getting a master’s degree in business administration. She highlights what she loved about studying osteopathic medicine and learning the art of hands-on healing techniques.

Did you know that you will need to ask for a few letters of recommendation when you apply to medical school? Most schools request two letters from science professors and one or more others from other people you have worked or done research with. And, even if you’re years away from applying, it’s not too early to start preparing. In this episode, Dr. Marina and Dr. Zulma share their tips for how to prepare to get great letters of recommendation, no matter where you are on your premed path.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a medical doctor (MD) and doctor of osteopathy (DO)? You’re not alone. In this episode, we help clarify the difference between these two degrees and explain how each of them can help you achieve your dream of becoming a doctor.

In this episode, Dr. Leith States shares his story of growing up in Compton, losing a friend to cancer, being tokenized as a Black/Latino/Indigenous student, joining the navy during medical school and working as a battalion surgeon and public health emergency officer, completing an MBA, and now working for the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) at a federal level. He opens up about the challenges of applying to medical school, overcoming self doubt, and often being the only male of color at federal health policy meetings.