Tips for an Incoming Undergraduate Freshman

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I'm going to be a freshman at TCNJ this fall. I am majoring in biology (and possibly working on minoring in something else).

I am 100% certain on becoming a medical physician. I applied to many combined BA/BS/MD programs, including the UMDNJ-affiliated ones, but was unfortunately rejected by UMDNJ's selection committee.

Regardless, I have every intention to continue to work on the pre-med path. Any tips for freshman year and how I should plan out my next 4 years of undergrad? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Random tidbits that may/may not help: I am already a certified and active EMT-B in NJ. I also hope to be involved in public health policy somewhere down the line (maybe in my 50s or 60s....who knows. Of course, becoming a doctor and practicing medicine is still my first and foremost goal).
 
Don't come back here until after your sophomore year at the earliest.
 
Don't come back here until after your sophomore year at the earliest.

Lol.

I'll give you a warmer welcome! 🙂

Just work your butt off to get the highest possible grades, and don't worry too much. Browse the sticky topics to kind of get an idea of what awaits you. Good luck!
 
Take whatever classes you want freshman year (maybe throw in chem or bio or math), just make sure you do really well in all of them. It will be very nice later on to maintain a GPA rather than try to salvage it.

Apart from that, enjoy your freshman year. It's not a time to worry.
 
I'll actually second what FE said and recommend that you not return here for a year or two. It'll make you paranoid and, frankly, your first semester or two should be focused on making the adjustment to college successfully and doing well in your courses rather than getting immediately to the business of building your resume.

That said, I think these considerations should always be on your mind as you go through college:

1) What am I doing to build my resume?
2) How can I get clinical experience?
3) How can I get leadership experience?
4) How can I meaningfully get involved in things that I care about?
5) What can I do to make good use of my summer time?
6) Am I getting too focused in one particular area?

For #1, do well in your classes and, most importantly, do things - no matter what they might be. This is critical yet can be hard if you're somewhat apathetic (like me). Personally I have no problem hanging out all day with friends and doing absolutely nothing that I can point to and say, "look at what I did!" If this is you, you MUST force yourself to do things that you can talk about on an application. No, you don't always need to be doing these things - I spent (and still spend) plenty of wasted time on video games - but you need to make sure that wasted time is balanced with productive time.

For #2 and #3, you shouldn't be immediately concerned with getting these things knocked out. In other words, if you haven't accumulated clinical experience during your first year, by no means are you screwed. Again, the key is to do these things at SOME point and for a length of time that shows that it wasn't simply something you did to check it off the list (...even though it inherently is).

See above for #4. Do things you're interested in. Be involved. Get leadership positions. Be liked by your peers and superiors. This will lead to experiences that you can talk about meaningfully on your application and interviews. Most importantly, these DO NOT have to be your "typical" ECs. In fact, if your goal is to get into a top-notch school, I would almost say that doing the "typical" ECs will be hurtful. The ultimate point, though, is to do things that demonstrate in a tangible way that you have interests, that you can work well with people, that you galvanize a group of people around some kind of cause (whatever that may be), and that lead to some insight into your general character.

For #5, just do SOMETHING during your summers. It doesn't have to be in a lab or at a hospital. See the above paragraph; it just needs to be something you genuinely care about and is a productive use of your time. Maybe it's doing some kind of community service project... maybe it's some kind of hobby/EC that you're passionate about... who knows. Just don't spend the majority of your summer time sitting on the couch watching TV. Summers are excellent times to get things done.

For #6, this is the oft-repeated "well-rounded" characteristic schools are looking for. Try and do a variety of things. The main exception to this is if you plan on applying to MD/PhD programs, in which case your application will almost certainly be unbalanced as you'll more heavily engage in research.

I know this is all very abstract, but there isn't necessarily a checklist of things that you need to do (...and yet there is). If I had to give you three pieces of advice, it'd be these:

-Do your absolute best in your classes. This may prevent you from partying like your less motivated peers, but that's the way of the world.

-Do activities that you genuinely care about and yet are "serious" (for lack of a better word) enough to be included on an application to professional school.

-DO SOMETHING DURING THE SUMMERS.

Hope that helps. Relax.
 
I'll actually second what FE said and recommend that you not return here for a year or two. It'll make you paranoid and, frankly, your first semester or two should be focused on making the adjustment to college successfully and doing well in your courses rather than getting immediately to the business of building your resume.

That said, I think these considerations should always be on your mind as you go through college:

1) What am I doing to build my resume?
2) How can I get clinical experience?
3) How can I get leadership experience?
4) How can I meaningfully get involved in things that I care about?
5) What can I do to make good use of my summer time?
6) Am I getting too focused in one particular area?

For #1, do well in your classes and, most importantly, do things - no matter what they might be. This is critical yet can be hard if you're somewhat apathetic (like me). Personally I have no problem hanging out all day with friends and doing absolutely nothing that I can point to and say, "look at what I did!" If this is you, you MUST force yourself to do things that you can talk about on an application. No, you don't always need to be doing these things - I spent (and still spend) plenty of wasted time on video games - but you need to make sure that wasted time is balanced with productive time.

For #2 and #3, you shouldn't be immediately concerned with getting these things knocked out. In other words, if you haven't accumulated clinical experience during your first year, by no means are you screwed. Again, the key is to do these things at SOME point and for a length of time that shows that it wasn't simply something you did to check it off the list (...even though it inherently is).

See above for #4. Do things you're interested in. Be involved. Get leadership positions. Be liked by your peers and superiors. This will lead to experiences that you can talk about meaningfully on your application and interviews. Most importantly, these DO NOT have to be your "typical" ECs. In fact, if your goal is to get into a top-notch school, I would almost say that doing the "typical" ECs will be hurtful. The ultimate point, though, is to do things that demonstrate in a tangible way that you have interests, that you can work well with people, that you galvanize a group of people around some kind of cause (whatever that may be), and that lead to some insight into your general character.

For #5, just do SOMETHING during your summers. It doesn't have to be in a lab or at a hospital. See the above paragraph; it just needs to be something you genuinely care about and is a productive use of your time. Maybe it's doing some kind of community service project... maybe it's some kind of hobby/EC that you're passionate about... who knows. Just don't spend the majority of your summer time sitting on the couch watching TV. Summers are excellent times to get things done.

For #6, this is the oft-repeated "well-rounded" characteristic schools are looking for. Try and do a variety of things. The main exception to this is if you plan on applying to MD/PhD programs, in which case your application will almost certainly be unbalanced as you'll more heavily engage in research.

I know this is all very abstract, but there isn't necessarily a checklist of things that you need to do (...and yet there is). If I had to give you three pieces of advice, it'd be these:

-Do your absolute best in your classes. This may prevent you from partying like your less motivated peers, but that's the way of the world.

-Do activities that you genuinely care about and yet are "serious" (for lack of a better word) enough to be included on an application to professional school.

-DO SOMETHING DURING THE SUMMERS.

Hope that helps. Relax.

Blammo. Dude knows his stuff.
 
I know this is all very abstract, but there isn't necessarily a checklist of things that you need to do (...and yet there is).

This is so true! Thanks for the excellent insight. Do you have any regrets from your undergraduate experience? Or on the hand, do you have anything you are really glad that you fulfilled while you were an undergrad?
 
Step 1. Never give up.
Step 2. Believe in yourself. Don't let the haters steer you away from your goals.
Step 3. Make friends, learn how to make "you time". Learn how to get life balance and scheduling.
 
I'm going to be a freshman at TCNJ this fall. I am majoring in biology (and possibly working on minoring in something else).

I am 100% certain on becoming a medical physician. I applied to many combined BA/BS/MD programs, including the UMDNJ-affiliated ones, but was unfortunately rejected by UMDNJ's selection committee.

Regardless, I have every intention to continue to work on the pre-med path. Any tips for freshman year and how I should plan out my next 4 years of undergrad? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Random tidbits that may/may not help: I am already a certified and active EMT-B in NJ. I also hope to be involved in public health policy somewhere down the line (maybe in my 50s or 60s....who knows. Of course, becoming a doctor and practicing medicine is still my first and foremost goal).

Partying is good for you
 
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