Talitha Cumi

have 3 achievable goals a day: having a laundry list of things to do everyday is super unrealistic, and you just end up feeling bad about yourself because you didn’t accomplish your goals for the day.

leave your sundays open: i love sundays because they’re my day to chill out and catch up on school work that i wasn’t able to finish during the week.

recognize when you’re at your emotional limits: forcing yourself to get work done when you are unable to comprehend your study material does not benefit anyone.

learn how to say no: people will ask you for your time and it will stretch you to the limit, whether it be at your job, in your extracurriculars, or in your personal life. know when to step back and say no.

take care of yourself physically: take breaks, go for walks, shower regularly, get enough sleep, eat healthy, see your friends

celebrate your accomplishments: go out to eat with friends after a big exam, indulge in a night off after a busy week with some netflix and wine

make a study plan beforehand: it can be daunting to see how much work you need to put in to a class or task beforehand, but this allows you to spread your work evenly so you don’t become overwhelmed.

learn how to ask for help: it is very rare that people make it through school, whether it be high school or university or any graduate program, without needing the advice of others or just a kind soul to vent to. find that person.

never forget your hobbies: you will need things that keep you sane. if you love to play music, write, play volleyball, or cook, make you sure you don’t lose these things. they will become your escape when times get tough.

Hey anon, I think part of it is just from experience from job interviews. I also went through my school’s career center interview workshop to get tips on things like how to sit (yeah there’s a right way), body language, and presentation. I also did a mock interview to get feedback on my answers, which really helped.

I think the important thing is to remember that if you’ve gotten an interview they’re looking for a good reason to KEEP you, not kick you out.

For me, practicing saying my answers out loud helped them come across more coherently during the real thing. Be sure you really know your application, because anything you disclose is open for discussion during the interview.

Also, don’t be intimidated by the interviewer. They’re just people (you’re people too -what) and you’re interviewing them/the school as much as they’re interviewing you. Ask them questions about their specialty, their training, what they like about working at the med school. One of my mock interviewers described it like a first date; give them a reason to call you back! Just be yourself.

read the things they write

ask their go-to movies

observe the way they treat their pets

check out the songs they listen to

ask them if they prefer tea or coffee

converse with them under the stars

do they like summer over winter?

observe how they act when they’re mad

do they sleep with lights off or on?

when they watch the skies, do they observe the moon or the stars first?

would they rather eat alone?

how do they treat those who are ‘inferior’ to them?

the way they approach strangers when they’re lost

if they like texting better than calling

how they act when they’re scared

if they like rewriting their notes for an exam

during what situation do their eyes shine the brightest?

the things they say when they’re partly intoxicated

how they act when they’re alone and with their friends

how they look at the people they love