March 02, 2023
The human body is a perfectly oiled machine made up of over 600 muscles, 100 billion nerves, 206 bones, and much more – all working together in perfect harmony and tranquility.
With the human body being the most complex object in the world, it requires hard-working and dedicated individuals to cure and maintain someone else’s health. Those people are doctors! And because the field can be challenging, many medical students find M.D. mentors to help them on their journey to becoming a doctor. Sometimes, they even become friends for support when feeling defeated. But what about undergraduate student doctors? Who can they look to for guidance?
As an undergraduate pre-med student, I can say that preparing for medical school is similarly challenging. You have to prepare for the medical college admissions test while still dedicating time to coursework. However, having a mentor as an undergraduate is uncommon, which I think is a disservice. Becoming a doctor is a demanding journey; if students have a mentor, their chances of succeeding as undergraduates increase!
I can speak to this personally because of my experience at Oakland University William Beaumont Medical School and its mentorship program for pre-medical undergraduate students. The program brings in student doctors as mentors, and they share their experiences during their medical journeys. This is helpful for students like me who need guidance about balancing responsibilities, MCAT preparation, and clinical opportunities. The mentors also advise students on other information they wished they had known as undergraduates. Pre-med students appreciate resources like mentors because they can ask personalized questions about their needs.
Written by Amber Harris, Spring 2023 Let’s Detroit Ambassador
