MS1 at University of California Riverside School of Medicine

JoannA Lynne Lucero Ballesta

Filipino

Four Gap Years

First-Generation College Student

TL;DR

Non-traditional student
First generation college graduate
Four gap years doing an internship at the hospital and eventually became an Emergency Department Scribe
Took the MCAT three times and applied to medical school once
GPA: 3.77 MCAT: 506

Update: Jan 2021

It’s crazy to think that I’m halfway done with my first year of medical school. It definitely has been a great challenge emotionally, mentally, and physically. Medical school is nothing like undergrad, and it has definitely tested my limits. It’s been stressful, especially when I feel like I’ve done so much studying, but it still feels like it’s not enough. I’ve definitely had sleepless nights trying to cram that last lecture or a few more Anki cards. I have to constantly remind myself that I’m where I’m supposed to be and I WILL become a doctor. I WILL understand the material and I just need to “trust the process”. Also, being socially distant from your classmates is another challenge but through Zoom, GroupMe, or social media platforms, we are still able to connect with one another. It’s my classmates that keep me grounded and let me know that I’m not alone. We’re all going through these challenges together.

During this difficult time, it’s so easy to distance yourself, and I would recommend otherwise. If I can give advice to a fellow classmate or anyone in general who is struggling, I would tell them not to be afraid to reach out because you are not alone. Medical school is HARD considering the amount of information we need to learn in such little time. Having some type of social support whether it be a friend, significant other, or family member is essential. From my experience, having someone with whom I can express my wins and losses helps me keep going. Even if medical school has been very strenuous, it has also been worthwhile. It’s so gratifying when you are able to use what you’ve learned to explain a topic to a loved one so that they can better understand. Or when you are able to use the physical exams you just learned on the patients you see with your preceptor (i.e. teacher or instructor). Or when you’re able to connect with the patient you are seeing and help them to not only address their concern, but also to inform them on lifestyle changes that can improve their overall health. It’s the little things that matter and those little things can add up to something bigger. There will always be our wins and losses but it’s important to not get lost in the losses and appreciate the little wins we have each day.

Background

My parents both emigrated from the Philippines to give our family a better life, a life that was better than what they've experienced. They both came from impoverished backgrounds, and they worked hard to raise our family. Since I was young, I've witnessed the long hours and hard work they contributed, working multiple jobs at a time to make ends meet. Their nonstop work gave my sister and I an opportunity to pursue a life that they had envisioned for us. They wanted us to have opportunities, such as a strong education and having the necessities needed to live a comfortable life - something they didn't have while living in the Philippines. Seeing how hard my parents worked inspired me to one day support them, and give back all and more of what they have given me.

Growing up, I had a strong appreciation for the hard work my parents endured. During my childhood, I lived in San Diego and eventually moved to Riverside, where I currently reside. Throughout high school, I had no idea what career I wanted to pursue. Once I started college, I decided to become a nurse since I had distant family members in the same profession. My father also went to college but was unable to finish due to financial hardships. It was challenging having to figure out the college process on my own, but it was doable.

Undergraduate

My initial plan was to attend community college and then transfer to a four-year university. However, my boyfriend told me not to doubt myself and suggested that I should apply to a four-year university. I got accepted to a four-year college but had no idea what major to choose. My parents recommended nursing, so I decided to comply with their suggestion. For two years, I worked on my general education and prerequisite courses for nursing. However, the semester before taking the core classes for pre-nursing, my boyfriend gave me the idea of becoming a physician. When he mentioned this to me, it brought me back to the time I had to go to the emergency room (ER). I was accidentally kneed on my left eyebrow and had a laceration that wouldn’t stop bleeding. I remember being so nervous because I’ve never been to the ER. The provider who helped me was very calm and comforting. The way that this provider comforted me was something I respected. I wanted to be like her and help patients get better. I took a leap and decided to switch my major to biology as preparation for medical school.

Throughout college, I was so focused on trying to get the highest grade that I didn't look for experiences that would support my decision to become a physician. Fast forward to the last semester in college, I started my first clinical experience as an intern at a Palomar Medical Center. There were different departments that we were able to choose from depending on the level (or amount of time) we were an intern. For example, we had the chance to intern in surgery or the birth center but we had a minimum of hours we would have to complete before applying for these departments. We would stay in each department for a minimum of three months. After three months, we were able to move departments or choose to stay in our current department. It was such a rewarding experience being able to provide bedside care for a large array of patients. Some patients enjoyed my presence, but some did not. I especially enjoyed working with grumpy patients, as I embraced the challenge of changing their mood for the better. Whenever I achieved this, it was so gratifying to know that I made a difference for them, even if it was for one day. It was always my goal to make the patient's stay at the hospital a little less dreadful. I wanted to positively impact each patient I interacted with because making them smile was appreciably fulfilling. This experience showed me how much I enjoy working with people.

MCAT

My initial plan was to take one gap year and take the MCAT during that time. I graduated with my Bachelor's in 2016 and scheduled my MCAT for January of the following year. I had a difficult time trying to study for the MCAT due to personal matters. I was unfocused and distracted. When my test day came along, I knew that I wasn't ready, but I decided to take it for the sake of experience. I ended up voiding my first exam. During this time, I also knew that I wanted to get more experience in the hospital, so I went back to school to get my phlebotomy license. Simultaneously, I received the opportunity to work as a scribe in the Emergency Department (ED). I finished phlebotomy school and got my license, but since becoming a scribe felt more valuable than working as a phlebotomist, I took the opportunity to work as a ED scribe. At this time, I was also getting ready to study for the MCAT a second time.

After doing some research, I gave myself three months to study. This was the average time students took to study for the MCAT. I didn't consider that I was out of school for over a year already, so it was difficult for me to grasp the concepts. I also had a trip planned after my test date, so when I realized I might need more time to study, I couldn't reschedule, which was unfortunate. I didn't get the score I wanted, so it was back to the books!

The third time's a charm. From then on, I studied 2-5 hours per day. Once I was three months away from my exam date, I studied more consistently and studied for 6-8 hours per day. I also took a leave of absence from work to really focus on studying for the test. I had an opportunity to travel to attend a wedding, but I knew that I had to prioritize the MCAT. When I was one month away from my test date, I didn't feel ready. I was very anxious, and I couldn't focus or sleep. After talking to a good friend of mine, she reassured me and told me that it was okay to reschedule, especially if I felt that I would benefit from the extra time. It was the best decision I could have made for myself. As much as it was essential to know the exam's content, it was also important to be in a good mental state. Test day came, and I felt confident. It helped that the testing location was the same as the year prior. Since I'd been through it before, I was able to plan ahead and stay on top of my time. After receiving my test score a month later, I was so happy with the result. I was finally able to apply to medical school. From my initial MCAT score (497), I had a 9 point increase to 506. Although it wasn't a high percentile rank, I was still proud.

I didn't take any MCAT courses, but I did have MCAT prep books from Kaplan. Aside from using AAMC material (which I used when I was closer to taking the MCAT), I also used NextStep for their practice tests. For practice questions, I bought UWorld, which was an excellent resource. The explanations were detailed, and the diagrams were descriptive.

Since I took the MCAT three times, I had multiple approaches for studying for the test. There was definitely trial and error throughout the whole process. When I didn’t think that a studying technique was working, I wouldn’t hesitate to change it.

If I were to take the test again, I would limit the notes I took and really focus on the main concepts. I’m the type of student who believes that everything is important so when taking notes, I would catch myself writing everything down. This was very inefficient and I would NOT recommend doing this.

Instead, I would recommend doing practice questions and engaging in active recall. In other words, I would ask myself to explain the concept or I would write down everything I knew about the topic. Lastly, since the AAMC designs the test questions, I used their practice tests and question banks three months prior to taking my test.

Gap Years

I took four gap years to gain experience in the medical field and take my MCAT. I also used this time to travel and do things that I didn't experience while in undergrad. Working as an ED scribe was one of my favorite experiences since it allowed me to work directly with the physician. This allowed me to make the decision that medicine was the route for me. While working with different physicians in the ED, I formed relationships with individuals who would eventually become my mentors. It also gave me exposure to medical terminology, and it gave me opportunities to learn.

Another experience that was meaningful to me was working in an oncology diagnostics laboratory. I worked as an accessioning technician (an individual who handles specimens and inputs the data into the laboratory information system) and although my department mainly focused on data entry, it was still a great experience that exposed me to oncology. My department received the specimen and we would input the data (patient information and testing ordered) into the laboratory system. At the lab, it was just me, my coworkers, and the pathologists. We did not physically see the patients that we were helping. We only worked with the specimen sent to us to do the necessary testing. The pathologist worked quietly in their offices. Their day consisted of looking at the slides using a microscope and making calls to their clients (other doctors who were overlooking the care of the patient).

Working in the lab was a different setting than the ED, but this experience gave me another perspective of medicine. From working in the ED and working in the laboratory, I figured out that I personally like seeing the patients and physically working with them. I didn’t mind working in the laboratory but I couldn’t imagine myself not having any patient interaction.

Application Cycle

I submitted my application in late July 2019, which was later than I was hoping to submit my application. Since I was working two jobs (full-time and part-time), I had limited time to work on my application, which delayed my submission timeline. I applied to 24 MD schools and 12 DO schools. I spent about $4000-$5000 on applications and going to interviews. When doing secondaries, I became selective on which ones I completed, and I asked myself, "Will I enjoy going to this school at this location?" I took into consideration of what was located around the school and considered any places that would offer fun activities outside of school. For example, I enjoyed hiking, snowboarding, and going to the beaches so if a school was closer to these areas, I was more likely to continue with the secondaries. I knew that physically going to the school and seeing the area would give me a better idea of whether or not I would like going to the school. I personally didn’t do this because of the limited time I had but I would recommend visiting the schools and seeing the area. Nonetheless, I still applied to most of the schools, and as a result, I received three interviews.

My first interview was at a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) school. I had a couple friends who were also preparing for interviews so I met with them and practiced my responses. Since I was preparing for my first interview, it was very intimidating, but having friends to practice with helped me feel more comfortable about the interview. The school also provided information about the layout of the interview which was another thing that helped me prepare. This school had a multiple mini interview (MMI) layout, where there were multiple interview stations. I was very excited about this interview and enjoyed the process. At the end of it, I thought it went very well. A couple of weeks later, I was told that I was put on the alternate list. This meant that if other students decided to go to another school, and there was room for me, then I could possibly get a seat in the class. I was bummed with the news and it affected me a lot. I received this news a few days before my second interview.

The day before my second interview, my grandma passed away. I felt so many emotions in such a small amount of time, but I knew that I had to be strong for her and myself. I told the interviewers her story, how she lived until 95 years old, and how I wanted my future patients to live a long healthy life as she did. I was so sad that she had to leave, but I know that she's happy now, with grandpa. Her passing made me stronger, more determined, and ready to take the next step. Two weeks later, on the day of her funeral, I got a call. I was accepted to UCR School of Medicine. So many emotions in one day, it's like the world was trying to balance itself. I wish she were here to see me become a doctor.

I had one more interview in New Mexico. I decided to go to the interview to keep my options open. It was a nice school, but I knew that I wouldn't be happy away from my family and loved ones. In the end, I decided to go to the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine since it was close to home.

Medical School

I would have never thought that I would be starting medical school during a pandemic. My school is practicing a hybrid system of online and in-person. We have most of our classes online with a few classes in-person. My class was split up into different groups for the classes that will be in-person to adhere to the policy and guidelines due to COVID-19. It has been challenging because I couldn't get to know my classmates from the start, but we have progressively built relationships with one another. I appreciate the opportunities I have to meet my classmates during the little time we have on campus. On another note, having most of our classes online has allowed me to spend less time commuting and more time studying. I decided to stay home (with my parents) and commute to school.

My school has been very receptive of our concerns and they continue to make changes with the aim of meeting our needs during the pandemic. Through all the challenges, I'm hoping that this public health crisis will help us become stronger medical students and eventually, better physicians. It has not been easy, and there has been a lot of learning about how to adapt to our fluid situation. All in all, I'm just glad to have started medical school, and I'm determined not to let this pandemic negatively affect my journey.

Looking back at my pre-medical journey, it was very helpful to have at least one friend who also was pre-med. This friend helped me become a ED scribe and at this job, I met more individuals who also had the same goal as me. Being surrounded by other individuals who were also pre-med gave me guidance as to what steps I needed to take to prepare and apply to medical school. Also, since I worked with the physicians, they too help guide me through the process. I know that AAMC.org is another great resource to use during the pre-medical journey. They have tons of resources for pre-medical students.

This journey to medicine has been far from what I expected it to be. But, I appreciate every part of my journey because it made me who I am today. Every moment has shaped me and helped me get to this point and future experiences will continue to shape me to become the physician I envision to be. I've learned to embrace every part of this journey because I wouldn't be at this point if not for those experiences. As they say, everyone has their own journey; thank you for taking the time to read mine.