With winter break upon us, the most common questions we are getting these days are what to do with winter break. Naturally, as high achievers, your focus is on how to use such time productively. If your focus isn't on getting ready to apply in the next 6 months (hope you're studying for that entrance test or working on your
Composite Letter application if you're applying), here are some ideas from us, your friendly, neighborhood Pre-Health Advisors:
- Rest is productive. Get
plenty of it! We are in for a long spring with continued evolution of the COVID pandemic. We don't often think of rest as productive, but it's very important to see it as a useful, productive activity to help sustain ourselves.
- Reflect on where you
are, and where you want to go. Have you refined your WHY? What’s the
connecting thread between your experiences? What do YOU bring to the table
that’s different? This is not to be confused with competing or comparing
to others – focus on you and how you are growing for yourself. We all make unique contributions in certain spaces, so focus on the qualities, traits, and skills that make you WHO you are.
- Check out the PHA Prepare Lecture Series for advice on any of the following: MCAT Tip & Tricks, the Application Timeline, getting involved in Leadership opportunities, Scribing, planning for the summer, or getting involved in Research at Emory.
- Learn from stories. Check out PHireside Chats, the PHA Podcast!
- Browse through the PHA Blog archive to learn about past opportunities to see how that can provide you ideas for new opportunities in the future. Search by topic to the right of this post.
- Learn a new skill or hobby – it
doesn’t need to be medically / clinically / healthcare related.
- Begin to become aware of
issues relevant to healthcare. Are you informed to discuss current events at
an interview in the future? For example, what are some of the hot button issues? How do you learn best? Do you read articles,
books, digest other media?
- Compile your science
class notes and materials. Begin exploring how to create a MCAT / other
entrance test study plan, if you haven’t already. Even if you are a few years away, at least begin to think about who you might talk about how they studied, or what else you need to know.
- Catch up with friends and mentors. We don't often think of reflection as something that can happen in a catch up conversation, but take advantage of such quality time to critically reflect on yourself and your life.
- Kim, Greg, Hugh, & Anil
