Mentoring FAQ
Classes and Professors
How do you study correctly for your classes?
It can really depend on the classes but there are some things that work well for most subjects. What has really helped me study for a test is making a one-page review of the important topics for each chapter/unit. That way you have an easy reference to refer to and have all the material organized in one place. If it’s a challenging class that requires more time, I would suggest not only reading the chapter but making a detailed outline as you read. You may not have time to do this for every class but it definitely helps for the more difficult ones. As you go through college you’ll figure out what works best for you for each class (studying in groups, making flashcards, etc.) and how to study.
How do I recover from a bad test score?
Almost every student has received a poor grade at some point in their undergraduate career, but the most successful pre-health students are the ones who choose to not let their bad test grade define them. After all, the most important characteristic a pre-med student can have is resilience. This means that when you receive a bad test grade, you have to be willing to take responsibility, reevaluate how you studied, and work harder to do better on the next test. It has been scientifically proven that if you blame others, such as your professor or your SI, for your bad test grade, then you are less likely improve on the next test. Therefore, the first step to recovering from a bad test grade is accepting that how you studied didn’t work and that you may have to ask others for help.
Your professor, SI, and students who have taken the class in the past are great resources for learning how to study for a class. Also, start your studying earlier. Studying for a test only a couple days before- or the night before- is not typically correlated with a high retention rate. If you start studying earlier then you will be more likely to really know and understand the material both on your test and on the final. Lastly, it is important to stay positive while you are studying for the next test. It is easy to be stressed out while you're studying for a class you are not performing well in, but remaining positive has been proven to facilitate a more productive studying session and means that you will be more mentally healthy.
Can I still get into medical school if I make a C in a class?
Yes, you can! Although it can be very frustrating and discouraging, making a C in a class does not disqualify you from matriculating into medical school. It is very important to make adjustments for future classes and understand why you made the grade you made. In addition, an upward trajectory is very important as a medical school looks at your transcript. Upper division level courses are a great way to show your academic maturity and aptitude.
Which professors should I take for certain classes?
Every student learns in a different and unique way, so it is difficult to recommend a single professor for any class. Some students perform well with a certain professor’s teaching style, while other struggle with it and vice versa. With that being said, even in classes where you don’t initially mesh well with the teaching style used, it is still possible to do well. You just have to learn from your mistakes and be willing to ask for help. Students who have taken the class in the past, your SI, and even the professor themselves are great resources for learning the best way to study for a class. It is important to not be afraid to change the way you study for a class if the way you studied initially didn’t work.
How do I start a relationship with my professor?
A great way to start a relationship is by asking questions that you think of during the lecture. After the lecture, go up to the professor and present my questions and ask the professor if there are answers to my questions. If you can’t make the time after class, try to go into the professor's office hours or even send the professor an email with questions. Over time after asking questions about the lecture also include research questions or anything you find curious in general. If you can’t think of any questions to ask bringing questions about any homework assigned is also a great way to start a relationship.
My professor isn’t great; what can I do?
This is something that everyone will run into at least once during their college career, and there is often very little that can be done to change a professor’s attitudes/policies. When this happens, the best thing to do is figure out what you can do to be your best in the class. For example, if a professor is unhelpful at answering questions about the material, try visiting the tutoring center or joining a study group instead.
MCAT and Pre-Health Committee
What classes do I need to have taken before the MCAT?
Before taking the MCAT, it is best to have successfully completed all the relevant coursework even though the test does not have any set prerequisites. The most recommended classes include:
General Chemistry I & II
Organic Chemistry I & II
Biology I & II
Physics I & II
Biochemistry/Cell Physiology
Psychology
Sociology
…and it would certainly be helpful to have taken:
Associated labs for the classes above
Genetics
Human Physiology
Some ethics, philosophy, politics, or history classes that can help you to practice critical reading skills for the CARS section
Statistics is recommended, but some people self study for this or do research that exposes them to statistical analysis.
When should I take the MCAT?
Whenever you are ready! Once you’ve been exposed to the material that the exam covers, it’s necessary to familiarize yourself with the types of passages and questions that will show up on exam day. This can be done by utilizing the AAMC resources and practice tests, or by signing up for an independent study course, like those offered by Baylor, Kaplan, or Princeton Review. By junior year, many students have taken enough classes to feel ready for the MCAT, but remember that there is no rush! It is a few hundred dollars just to sign up for the test, and it is a very large time commitment to prepare and sit for, so weigh your options carefully.
How should I study for the MCAT?
Studying for the MCAT is a big task. Make sure you have set aside enough time for such a large project. Aim for 3-5 months of study with about 10-20 hours a week, depending on how many months you have. It’s up to you whether or not to take a prep course, but make sure you have a specific plan in mind that will hold you accountable and on course. A big part of MCAT study is practice tests. Aim for taking about one per week towards the end of your studying. Make sure you review the practice tests thoroughly so you can know where your areas of weakness are so you can further focus your studying.
What is a good MCAT score?
It depends on the medical schools you are applying to. According to the AAMC, the average MCAT score for all matriculants to medical school in the U.S. from 2016-2017 is 509. Keep in mind that the average score across medical schools varies greatly, so make sure you are aiming to the score that will get you in the medical program you are interested.
What is the Prehealth Committee?
The Prehealth Committee is a group formed by the Prehealth Office that evaluates and
endorses you as a candidate for professional school. You must have a minimum of a 3.3 BCPM GPA in order to apply. You submit a personal statement and a large application packet with information about yourself and your activities, as well as answers to essay questions regarding three competencies: Thinking and Reasoning/Science Competencies, Intrapersonal Competencies, and Interpersonal Competencies. The goal of the PreHealth Committee is to get to know you in order for them to write you a PreHealth Committee Letter that you will send to professional schools.
Research and Shadowing
How can I get involved in research?
Getting involved in research can be much simpler than you think. There are two main ways to get involved with research: either getting in contact with the professor and asking them if you can join their lab, or doing research for credit through a V course. Before contacting professors about doing research in their lab, go on the Baylor website for the department you’re interested and look at what professors do research and what kind of research each professor does. After selecting the professor you might be interested in working with, understand what the research is about and be prepared to talk about their research when you go talk to them. This will show that you are actually interested and care about his field. If the professor says no, because there is currently no room in their lab, that is not the end of the world, stay in contact. Each semester students graduate and spots open up.
Now if you want to do research for credit, you still have to ask the professor for permission to be in their lab, but specify it is for the research class. Usually each research professor has about 5 spots open; however, sometimes their undergraduates working in their lab will be the ones taking those spots, so be aware not every professor will say yes. To get credit you can choose how many hours to get credit for (3, 2, or 1 hour), and depending on the number of hours you decide to take, will decide how much work is expected from you in the lab. Doing research is an independent task that professor will expect you to go into the lab on your own time and will expect you to be responsible for your work, but if it is something you are really interested in then it should be a lot of fun.
Do I need to do research to get into medical school?
You do not need to do research to get into medical school! Although doing research can help you become a more rounded student and look at problems with a different perspective. Summer research programs are great opportunities to get experience and know if you would like to do it. If you do research, you will be expected to talk about it, so don’t do anything that you won’t be passionate enough to talk about.
How do I approach a physician about shadowing them?
The best way to contact a physician is by calling their office and explain you are a student at Baylor University, who is interested in shadowing. Most of the time, physicians are very willing for you to shadow them. In addition, you could maybe try emailing them if you have their email. Another way is through connections. If you have shadowed another physician at the same hospital see if they could connect you to the specialty that you would like. Whenever you speak to the physician, you should always be confident, professional, and charismatic.
How many shadowing hours do I need to get into medical school?
There is no magic number of shadowing hours that will guarantee you a spot in medical school, but you should try to at least get 50 shadowing hours before you apply! Don’t think of shadowing as a chore, but rather as a great way to see many different specialties and take a peek at what your future career could look like. Remember the more shadowing hours you have, the more likely a medical school will take you seriously when you say you want to be a physician!
Health/Wellness and Time Management
Do you ever get overwhelmed during the year and how do you deal with it?
Yes, it’s no secret that being pre-med can be overwhelming! And no matter how “cool as a cucumber” all your friends are acting, they are likely a little overwhelmed too! Talk to your friends and plug yourself into the pre-med community. You won’t feel as overwhelmed when you don’t feel as alone. Additionally, take a break and take a little time off for yourself - clearing your head often makes things seem more possible. Keep your head up - we’ve all been there and you can get through it!
What are some good time management tips that have worked well for you?
Get a good planner, and keep it updated. Try to fill it out at the beginning of the semester as soon as you get the syllabi. Make sure you have a list of priorities, and make the time that you spend on each activities reflective of where they fall in your priorities. Don’t forget to set aside time for fun, and take advantage of small breaks in between classes to get studying done. Lastly, make sure that when you are studying, you are actually focused on studying, not chatting with friends or checking instagram. That way, when you are doing something fun, you can actually have fun instead of worrying about all the work you have to do.
What is the best way to stay organized?
Write all tasks down and prioritize over and over, as different levels of priority tasks will arise and be accomplished. At the beginning of the semester, look at the syllabus and circle all test dates, due dates for projects and papers, and any large immovable events. Then begin to look at your schedule and see what hours in the day you have free to do homework and study. For service events and shadowing, schedule it like any other class so it does not become an “extra thing” on your schedule. Go to the Success Center in Sid Rich and get advised in a weekly schedule. It can make all the difference!
Summer
How do I make the most out of my summer?
Try different things and stay busy! Summer is a great time to get involved with research, shadow different types of doctors, and work different jobs to find out what you’re interested in and may want to pursue more. There are tons of research internships you can get involved with and many different doctors/specialties you can shadow. Big word of advice- apply to everything early! Look during winter break for summer opportunities. Especially for research opportunities, you’ll probably need to apply to a few programs before you get accepted to one.
Your summer also doesn’t have to be completely medical if you can’t do that. Getting a job (even if it’s not in a hospital) or going on a missions trip can give valuable experience too. But also take some time to relax from the school year- sleep is a wonderful thing.
Others
How do I get leadership/ do I need leadership?
A great way to start leadership is by joining a committee provided by BMSA or any organization that you have a passion for. Having leadership shows that you can work with others, but also be able to lead a group if it ever strays to the wrong direction. Although joining an organization is a good outlet for leadership, you can also become a leader by finding what you’re passionate about and excel as a leader in that passion, whether that is a service event or work.
What is the GRE?
The GRE stands for Graduate Record Examination. This is the equivalent of the MCAT that graduate schools use as their entrance exam. Not all graduate programs require it, some allow you to take the MCAT in its place. The GRE is valid for up to 5 years; however, much like the MCAT, after 3 years, graduate schools might not take your GRE. To take the GRE you have to look up a testing center and schedule when you want to take your GRE through the ETS website (http://www.ets.org/gre), you can take it year round. However, it is recommended that student take it the spring semester before their application cycle. Unlike the MCAT, the GRE is done completely online and only has three sections (Math, Reading, Writing), for the Math and Reading portion you can see your results immediately after submitting. To obtain the writing portion’s results you have to wait 3-4 weeks. There are pre-courses one can take through Kaplan and Princeton, they usually cost around $1000, and to take the actual exam it cost $115.