Name: Ashleigh Masucci
Hometown: Exeter, NH School: UMass Chan Medical School Year: MS1 |
What made you interested in joining GAB as a mentor?
I became interested in joining GAB as a mentor because I didn’t receive much guidance around the medical school application process from my own undergrad institution. The only way that I was able to truly understand the steps was from reaching out to upperclassmen who had recently gone through the process, so I would love to give back the same kind of mentorship! What's one thing you wish you knew before applying to medical school?I wish I knew all the hidden costs of the application cycle – it’s truly remarkable how medical schools can charge you for every step of the way. You’ll pay fees for your primary applications, as well as for each secondary application. Additionally, I was unaware that the personality tests we had to take such as Casper and AAMC Preview cost money send scores to schools. I would recommend having money saved up before you begin applying! There’s also a Fee Assistance program for individuals who qualify, which is incredibly beneficial by waiving at least 15 primary apps and most of your secondaries. What helped you most during the application process? Taking everything one step at a time and celebrating the little wins. When you look at the entire journey to medical school, it can seem totally daunting and impossible. What helped me survive was dedicating time and energy to only the task I had right in front of me. Whether that be studying for the MCAT or writing my personal statement, I didn’t think about anything else or the future hills I’d have to climb. Additionally, whenever I completed a task, I made sure to acknowledge that and give myself a treat like a coffee on the way home, or a nice homemade meal. It’s important to keep morale high! What's a tip you'd like to share with applicants? See if your undergrad institution has a writing specialist that is willing to help you perfect the grammar of your personal statement. My college provided us with a professional writer who I had access to even after I graduated, and this was truly so helpful to getting my statement right where it needed to be. If you don’t, find a friend (preferably a skilled writer friend) to review your statement, but don’t share it with too many people. Too many people means too many opinions, and this is a piece that could be edited forever, so make sure the final product is something YOU feel good about. Any additional words of wisdom? Sometimes people feel like things they did in undergrad or postgrad that were not directly related to medicine or healthcare should be excluded from your application, and I say that this is completely false. During postgrad, I had to waitress alongside my fulltime research job in order to afford the application costs. The restaurant industry has many parallels to medicine, and being able to multitask and connect with patrons are both extremely transferable skills. In fact, my waitressing experience came up in multiple interviews. Don’t be shy to include these kinds of incredibly valuable experiences. |