What directions do pre-health students take after graduation? The alumni featured below provide a glimpse into the professional journeys of some of our recent alumni, along with advice to future professional health program applicants.
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to medical school? The Health Professions advisors initially helped me evaluate which profession I wanted to pursue, and provided me with plenty of resources, presentations, and other opportunities to learn more about my desired program (medicine). During my application process, they were a huge help in editing my personal statement and secondary essays, and connected me with other students to help prepare for interviews.
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: Take time to discover yourself and your interests before applying to your desired program. I took a few gap years to work and further explore medicine through medical scribing, which solidified my decision to pursue the field. I also had time to connect with family and travel, which gave me a chance to develop my support system before entering medical school as well as understand myself as a person outside of being a student.
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to medical school?: HPA helped me throughout the entire application process which is long and daunting. From navigating confusing prompts and brainstorming essay topics, refining and perfecting my responses, and tailored feedback after mock interviews, I had help along the way and always made me feel supported throughout this journey. In addition to application help, I was given advice on what to look for in medical schools and how to find the right fit for me and the type of medicine I aspire to practice.
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: If you are not already volunteering within your community, do so immediately. For students applying now and if time allows, draft responses to secondary essays as soon as possible. There are multiple websites where current applicants post essays so you can get started on them immediately. Don’t lie on your applications, just be yourself. Let your passion shine through your words without pandering or being your true self
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to OT school?: HPA [made] the process seamless. They established a structured framework [and] helped me set personalized deadlines for applications. Their regular check-ins not only held me accountable but also conveyed genuine care and support. Whenever I encountered challenges, they were readily accessible to provide assistance. Despite initial apprehensions about crafting my personal statement and preparing for interviews, the resources and guidance from HPA enabled me to effectively manage my time and gain confidence in these crucial aspects of the process.
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: Don't allow doubts or fears to hinder you from connecting with HPA, thinking you lack substantial information or are seeking help too late. I walked into the office junior year with minimal direction, yet walked out with insight...that guided me toward the right path. Don't overlook the support available through CES. The Career Advisors assisted with my resume, offering precise feedback. Reach out to individuals already established in your field. Engaging in conversations can offer alternative perspectives. Through two separate connections, I gained a better sense of my preferred work environment and secured observational hours at a hospital.
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to medical school?: HPA was a sounding board, guiding force, and cheerleader as I figured out my goals and path to medical school. They were an invaluable resource as I made decisions about when and where to apply, and provided so many valuable opportunities, from mock interviews to personal statement review, that ultimately led to my acceptance to one of my top programs. I am so grateful to Nova for her guidance and genuine interest in my success throughout this process!
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: Reach out to people and build your network, even if it is uncomfortable at first! It is essential to have good mentors in your field of interest, especially if you are the first in your family to pursue a medical/health-related career. Try to shadow broadly early on so you get an idea of what you like (this also helps build your network). Finally, make sure to pursue activities because you are passionate about them. These are the things that will make you stand out, and that will keep you grounded and well while you are on this (often difficult) journey to a career in healthcare.
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to medical school?: he pre-health professions office helped me understand how to prepare for the MCAT, provided advice on extra-curriculars and work experience, discussing MD vs. DO, and discussed my potential as an applicant. They also connected me with medical school recruiters from different programs, including the school I currently attend! They also helped me refine my personal statement which many admissions committees had positive comments about and did a practice interview with me which was also very helpful!
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: Take interesting, non-science classes, join non-medical clubs, and spend time with your friends! Medical schools value well-rounded applicants that have interests outside of medicine. Don't do research if you don't enjoy it. Apply broadly (DO and MD) even if you think you're a good applicant. You can become a doctor even if you got a C in O-chem (like me). A good MCAT score can make up for a lower GPA. Aim for the best grades you can while maintaining your mental health.
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to medical school?: The most important way that Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound aided me was by simply being available and accessible. It may seem like a silly response or even a given, however, I witnessed pre-health friends at other schools struggle to make appointments with their advisors. Not only were Puget Sound's advisors always quick to answer emails, available to meet, and conducted great mock interviews, but they also cared about every applicant. I felt truly cared for and supported through my own challenges and goals.
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: I would advise pre-health students to devote time and energy to their other hobbies and academic pursuits. My biggest regret in college was not double majoring in art. I wished that I had less of a one-track pre-med mind going into college. As long as you complete your pre-health requirements, students can major, minor, or explore classes in any discipline they wish. Once your career in medicine starts, it is difficult to find time for exploring other academic areas so I strongly suggest taking advantage of the interdisciplinary aspect of Puget Sound to explore your interests.
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to genetic counseling?: Starting my personal statement draft was very daunting but HPA made it approachable and gave me my footing to start my writing with brain mapping and storytelling. HPA also helped me immensely with interviewing with the mock interviews and feedback, I would say my mock interview was more intimidating than my actual interviews! It helped set my talking points and how to pitch myself to interviewers in a way that was reflective of myself and built the confidence I needed to be successful.
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: My biggest piece of advice (easier said than done) is to be true to yourself! Programs want to see who YOU are and if you would be a match with their program, so advertise your genuine self. Always lead your answers with stories and then expand on how those stories have shaped you and apply to your profession. Even if those stories seem unconventional, there is always a lesson learned that can be applied in any setting. Going into higher academics is such a life-changing event, and you want to be able to go to a program that is fit for you!
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to medical school?: The HPA Advisors were essential in making the entire journey towards applying to medical school more obtainable--it is a long journey with many obstacles, but being able to have advisors there to break them down into steps made it less overwhelming. I gained valuable connections to alumni through HPA that introduced me to mentors [who] helped me develop my personal growth as a pre-med and applicant during my growth years. The advisors never stopped supporting me throughout my journey--I always had someone there to bounce ideas off of, get trustworthy advice from, look over every piece of my application, and lean on during difficult times. I couldn't have achieved my dreams without their unwavering support.
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: Ask for help early and often--everyone on campus is there to support you no matter where you are in your journey. I highly recommend utilizing the resources available during your time in school, as some of my best connections, experiences, and career opportunities came directly through HPA and UPS. Also, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! Applying to a health professions field fosters a lot of doubt, and it's understandable, but have the confidence in yourself knowing you are fully capable of achieving your goals.
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to medical school?: Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound helped me select courses, write compelling personal statements, practice for interviews, make a professional school list and allowed me to gain more confidence and knowledge about the application cycle.
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: My advice would be to seek out diverse experiences such as volunteering, internships, and research, ask a lot of questions and attend office hours to build a relationship with the professors and pre-health advisors, stay organized and learn to manage your time to stay on top of things, but also make sure to take care of yourself.
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to PT school?: HPA was my lifeline to keep me on track to reach my goal of attending DPT school. Making contact with HPA early in my career at UPS allowed me to develop a trusted relationship with the HPA team. Specific ways that it helped me achieve my ultimate goal: Feedback on my resume to showcase my best work; Grad school interview prep; Feedback on grad school essays; Support in determining the most critical items for programs; Celebrating with me when I accepted my program.
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: Find a mentor in the field of study that you can trust. Have a short and long term plan as to how to achieve your goals. Keep track of volunteering, extracurriculars and special recognitions as you go. Take the time to enjoy the process as focusing only on the outcome may not make the journey all you hoped. Surround yourself with friends who will understand the rigor of your program and who uplift you. Prioritize your physical and mental well being. If you don’t care for yourself there is really not enough energy to get you to the goal.
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to nursing?: HPA was incredible in my time at UPS. I credit them to helping me get into my top choice nursing school. They helped me understand what to look for with different schools/programs, helped me brainstorm the best ways to convey my ideas in my essays, and prepare for my interviews. I could not recommend using HPA more. They were so helpful and such an amazing resource throughout the research and application process.
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students? Start with a broad and long list of potential schools you might be interested in, then slowly narrow down your choices from there. In seeking out extra opportunities/volunteering/medical experience, find things that you are actually passionate about rather than just building your resume. With that, don't pigeonhole yourself - programs/jobs want to see you are well rounded and interesting!
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to pharmacy school?: The Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound supported me throughout my application process and professional journey by consistently being available to help. Whether I had questions about the application process for the programs I was interested in, needed to check in during meetings, or needed support even after I graduated during my gap year, they were there for me. The Health Professions Advising team, particularly Nova, also read and edited my personal statement and secondary responses. Nova even conducted mock interviews to provide instant feedback before my actual interviews.
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: My advice would be to trust the process and not lose faith! When I was a pre-health student at Puget Sound, I often thought the journey to achieving my goals would be linear. However, no matter what life threw at me, I stayed true to my vision of supporting, educating, and advocating for patients in my community. For me, that vision is fulfilled through pharmacy.
In what ways did Health Professions Advising at Puget Sound support you throughout your journey to medical school?: HPA supported me through every step of the way. I was able to get advice on my personal statement and learned a lot about my interview skills through both of my mock interviews. They also provided me with resources on how I could improve certain aspects of my application and interview. I don’t think I would’ve been able to unlock that potential without them.
What advice would you give to current Puget Sound pre-health students?: Take the time that you need. I know my family was pretty hesitant about me taking time off before starting medical school, but I think it was the best decision I could’ve made. I was able to gain experience through a full time job and then fully focus on my application when the time came. I was also able to work on my physical and mental health during this time, which will definitely help me in medical school and in the future in general.
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