What I Wish I Knew Between College and Medical School

Watch this video to learn about unique travel experiences you can have before medical school. Working or researching before medical school is relatively standard, but unique opportunities to study and travel before matriculation are also viable options. __________________________________________________________ Relevant Links Mentioned in the Video: 1. Thomas J. Watson Fellowship: https://watson.foundation/fellowships/tj 2. Fulbright Scholarship: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/ 3. Schwarzman Scholars Program: https://www.schwarzmanscholars.org/ 4. Teach for America: https://www.teachforamerica.org/ 5. Peace Corps: https://www.peacecorps.gov/ 6. NIH Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellowship: https://www.training.nih.gov/programs... __________________________________________________________ Time Stamps: 00:00 - Intro Taking the time to complete a unique experience can give you the opportunity to develop both personally and professionally before starting medical school. This is why I advocate for such experiences because of the positive impact taking a "gap" year has had on my development. 01:40 - The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship This fellowship is a year-long experience that enabled me to study different caregiving models in low-resource settings in 4 countries. Applicants can apply for a grant to study any subject they can prove a longstanding interest in. Unfortunately, only a select number of partner colleges can participate. 03:42 - Fulbright Scholarship This highly competitive scholarship offers multiple opportunities, including teaching for a year, a Master's degree (of varying lengths), research projects, and doctoral programs. The breadth of subjects and countries is vast, and the program encourages applicants to design their studies or apply for pre-existing English Teaching Assistantship positions worldwide. 04:38 - NIH Postbaccalaureate Program The Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award is an opportunity that gives recent college graduates 1 to 2 years to work on a research project with an NIH principal investigator. 05:03 - Schwarzman Scholars This is a one-year, fully-funded Master's program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship. Over the course of the year, scholars learn about the geopolitical landscape and how to develop business and leadership acumen to shape the future. For more context, Tsinghua University is one of the best in the Asia-Pacific, with an acceptance rate of less than 2%. 05:40 - Peace Corps Peace Corps volunteers work internationally at the grassroots level with partner countries on ongoing developmental projects in areas like agriculture, education, or health. You can choose to volunteer in one of over 60 countries, and each country has a given number of allocated volunteers. 06:12 - Teach for America Teach for America recruits individuals (which include recent college graduates) to become "corps members." These members commit to 2 years to teach in a low-income community to expand opportunities for the kids. Upon completion of the program, participants become members of the extensive alumni network of individuals who have gone on to do amazing things, including becoming doctors. 06:26 - Conclusion Taking a year to research and study something I am passionate about profoundly impacted my perspective on life. The road to medicine is long, and taking extra time can be a tough sell. Nonetheless, a meaningful experience before matriculation can pay immense dividends. #medschool #residency #anesthesiology __________________________________________________________ Instagram:   / drdarko.md   Twitter:   / kampemdarko