<p>Any good books out there written by past pre-med students on their experience as a pre-med student? From academics to extracurriculars, student life, application process, things they would have done if they could redo, etc... Maybe even "To do" books that sort of guide the reader how to take things on as a pre-med (like a mentor in a book)? :P</p>
<p>I am feeling a little anxious about starting my first year of college this fall. Not sure if this is normal but any recommendations on publications could sure ease my mind right now...lol</p>
<p>You should do what suits you personally the best. Everybody is very different. That difference is usually what catches atention of adcoms and creates more interesting, menningful and memorable interview conversations. At least, from D’s experience who said that her Minor and un-usual for pre-med volunteering were discussed the most. However, everybody knows that having minor(s) or combo of majors have no effect on admission. Your personal experience is showing that you are a person with your own interests that you have decided are worthwhile to pursue. There were no publications in D’s case, no plans for them either.</p>
<p>There are so many different paths to med school that I think any such books, if they even exist (and aren’t trying to sell you something), would be totally useless. </p>
<p>Getting into med school isn’t a checklist activity: do A, B, C then R, S, T and finally X,Y, Z.</p>
<p>Getting into med school is more like an cross country journey where you know where you want to end up, but there are almost an infinite variety of ways to get there and you don’t have a road map.</p>
<p>What works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. You truly need to find your own path. It might be a direct, straight-forward path; it might be circuitous with lots of detours. But in the end with preserverance and some luck and a ton of hard work, you’ll end up in the right place.</p>
<p>One bit of free advice–don’t try to be perfect (perfect is boring plus you learn a great deal more by being human and fallible).</p>
<p>Second bit of free advice–be yourself. Adcomms aren’t looking for 3 dozen cookie cutter identical candidates. They want rounded, interesting individuals with different backgrounds and experiences and viewpoints and ideas.</p>
<p>I would strongly suggest, you take this last free summer and do something you enjoy: go the beach; hang out with friends; learn something new–just for the joy of it. Then take that attitude to college with you. Do things because they’re meaningful to YOU, not because someone said that pre-med should do them. In the end it will make a better human being—and a better doctor.</p>