Ready to find your strength and community amidst the competitive demands of medical school? Join hosts Deana and Carlos as they sit down with Deondra Montgomery, an M3 at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSU CHM), about turning cultural shock and academic challenge into focused momentum. Deondra shares the profound emotional pressure of being a Latina/Black, first-generation student and the culture shock of moving from sunny Southern California to Michigan for medical school. She reveals how she overcame a "rocky" M1 year by strategically connecting with student groups like SNMA and LMSA, which became her vital support network. Learn the precise strategy she used to build a strong Neurosurgery portfolio without a traditional home lab, securing mentorship through cold outreach and advocacy. Whether you're struggling with the transition to medical school, seeking competitive research opportunities, or navigating identity in medicine, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Deondra’s story proves that resilience, community, and strategic self-advocacy are the true blueprints for success in neurosurgery and beyond. What You’ll Learn:

1. The emotional and academic challenges of the first-generation student experience.
2. How to overcome M1 struggles and the culture shock of a major geographical move.
3. The Blueprint for Research in a competitive surgical specialty (Neurosurgery) when you feel "behind."
4. Strategic importance of SNMA/LMSA for support and professional growth for URM students.
5. Key takeaways from M2 mini-rotations (ruling out Ob/Gyn, loving Internal Medicine).
6. How to stay true to your cultural identity while immersed in the medical world.

If Deondra's story inspires you, hit the Like button, share your thoughts in the comments, and Subscribe for more insider advice on thriving in med school and beyond. Explore additional resources and catch every episode of The Med School Years:

Main website: https://medschoolyears.com

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OqsJPY...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Welcome to the nineteenth episode of The Med School Years Podcast! We sit down with Kamilla, an M4 at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM), who is gearing up to apply for the incredibly competitive field of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Kamilla shares her unique journey, detailing how she transitioned from a Business and Law background (she realized she "hated tearing down arguments") to medicine. She provides unfiltered insight into what it takes for a DO student to be competitive in surgery, including why she took both COMLEX and USMLE (Step 1 & 2). We also discuss the balancing act of being a Division 1 athlete, becoming a social media influencer, and navigating clinical rotations in diverse environments (Maine vs. New Jersey). This episode is essential for any non-traditional student or competitive DO applicant looking for strategic advice.

Ready to fast-track your medical journey and own your unique story? Join hosts Dina and Carlos as they dive deep with Dr. Alexandra “Ally” Copa—an accelerated third-year psychiatry resident at Jackson Memorial Health System—about turning personal challenges into professional strengths in medicine. Dr. Copa shares how she went from Miss Rhode Island to Brown University, then into a pioneering three-year MD/psychiatry pathway at UM’s Miller School. Learn how she conquered Step exams in a compressed timeline, balanced self-disclosure with professionalism, and built resilience through her own recovery from an eating disorder. Discover her passion project: integrating somatic movement therapies—like bootyoga—into holistic mental health care for children and adolescents. Whether you’re a premed exploring accelerated curricula or a med student seeking ways to stay true to yourself, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Dr. Copa’s journey proves that leveraging your passions, networking strategically, and advocating for mental health can propel you forward—without losing sight of who you are.

Welcome to the seventeenth episode of The Med School Years Podcast! We sit down with Nicole Hinz, an M3 at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, to discuss the raw reality of clerkships and the transition from preclinical studies. Nicole shares her journey from aspiring neurosurgeon to discovering a passion for Pediatrics, detailing the emotional shock of M3 (where she almost passed out in the OR!) and the difficulty of coping with patient mortality while maintaining energy. She offers powerful advice on abandoning perfectionism, building empathy through experiences like the Gateways program, and why finding a support system, like a therapist or counselor, is crucial for survival and preventing burnout in this high-stakes field.

Welcome to the sixteenth episode of The Med School Years Podcast! We interview Cindy Liu, an M2 at the prestigious NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where the median MCAT is 523 and tuition is free. Cindy offers an unfiltered look at what it's like to thrive in this hyper-competitive, yet surprisingly collaborative, environment. She discusses the pressure that comes with free tuition, how her engineering background shaped her approach to problem-solving, and her strategy for landing a competitive specialty like Radiation Oncology. This episode is a must-watch for current medical students struggling with perfectionism, study strategies, and finding their identity beyond grades. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction and the NYU Grossman "Wow Factor" 2:10 Diversity and Composition of the Class 3:30 Pressure from Free Tuition and High Expectations 5:50 The Emotional Moment of Receiving the Acceptance 7:45 Choosing NYU: Location, Hospitals, and School Fit 10:10 Myth-Buster: Elite Undergrad Not Required 12:20 Engineering Thought Process Applied to Medicine 14:50 The Reality of MMI and Interview Preparation 17:55 How Interview Skills Translate to Patient Care 19:20 Leadership and Taking Over Student Organizations (Oncology Club) 22:00 Navigating the Research Pressure and Pass/Fail 25:15 Exploring Radiation Oncology and Specialty Niche 29:05 Flipping the Boards: Taking Step 2 Before Step 1 31:10 Living and Thriving as a New Yorker (City Life and Diversity) 34:15 Final Wisdom: The Shock

Welcome to the fifteenth episode of The Med School Years Podcast! We sit down with Alex, an M2 at FAU Schmidt School of Medicine, to discuss his unique journey from a business major at Clemson to a medical student.

Alex shares the emotional reality of receiving the long-awaited waitlist call from his top-choice school and debunks the myth that it's "too late" to switch careers in college. He dives into his hands-on gap year experience in vascular surgery, his strategy for catching up on research, and the secrets to networking that lead to valuable projects. This episode is a must-watch for any non-traditional applicant or student who feels they are behind the curve.

Timestamps:

0:21 Introduction and The Emotional Waitlist Call

3:30 The Reality of Med School vs. High Expectations

5:00 The College Switch: Business Major to Biochemistry

8:27 The Defining "I'm Out" Moment That Led to Medicine

11:25 Navigating Resistance and Being a "Lone Ranger"

13:30 Clinical Experience: MA/Scribe in Vascular Surgery

15:30 Misconception: Research Volume vs. Patient Care Experience

17:31 Networking Secrets: Finding Research Opportunities in Med School

20:15 The Value of Mentorship and Paying It Forward

23:45 Understanding "South Florida" Geography (A Quick Guide)

25:20 Gratitude: The Feeling of Wearing Scrubs

26:50 The Biggest Challenge: Mastering the Volume of Information

30:30 Maintaining Wellness in a "Destination Medical School"

33:30 Small Class Dynamics and Diversity at FAU

Welcome to the fourteenth episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this powerful discussion, we welcome back Sam, an M2 at the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. As our first-ever repeat guest, Sam offers a candid look at his journey since being on the Premed Years podcast, and the profound changes and lessons he's experienced.

Sam shares his unique path as a non-traditional applicant, revealing how his difficult personal history has shaped him into a grounded and grateful medical student. He dives into the realities of pursuing a career in neurosurgery, offering invaluable insights on the balance between research quality and quantity, and the immense importance of a strong support system.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone who feels like their journey is non-traditional or who is struggling to find gratitude and balance amidst the pressures of medical school!

Welcome to the thirteenth episode of The Med School Years podcast! In this fascinating discussion, we interview Ashley Houlihan, an M2 at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. A native of the New England community, Ashley shares her unique journey to Brown, from her time as a club ice hockey player at Syracuse to finding a true sense of belonging at an Ivy League institution.

Ashley dives into a range of topics, including how she's using her creative side as a medical artist, her unique community service work at a juvenile detention center, and her fascinating scholarly concentration project researching TikTok's influence on patient health. She also offers invaluable advice on finding clinical experience abroad, navigating the BS/MD dynamic at Brown, and how a focus on your own wellness is key to surviving and thriving in medical school.

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction and the Community at Brown

2:50 Transitioning to a Smaller City from NYC

4:30 From Big School Spirit to a Smaller Med School

6:22 How Ice Hockey Built Grit for Medical School

7:45 Weaving Art and Creativity into Medicine

9:50 Community Service at a Juvenile Detention Center

12:55 The Scholarly Concentration Program at Brown

14:58 Research on TikTok and its Impact on Patient Education

17:10 How an Experience Abroad Led to a Specialty Interest

19:00 Advocating for Yourself for Opportunities

20:25 Navigating the BS/MD Dynamic at Brown

23:18 The Reality of Medical School vs. Expectations

25:35 Becoming a Mentor for Future Medical Students

27:32 The Value of a Strong Pre-Health Advising System

29:05 Strategic Career Exploration and Finding a Specialty

31:14 Final Interview Tips

33:38 Finding Balance and Avoiding Burnout

36:00 The Best Food Spot in Providence, Rhode Island