By Milan Sheth
Our undergrad and graduate years are one of the most stressful and uncertain phases of our lives. We enter with a mindset that maintaining a high GPA and doing well in prerequisite courses are the only priority. Although this should be every student’s main focus, it is equally important to immerse yourself in extra curricular activities, gain clinical experience, and do things that will aid in your quest to obtain an acceptance to the health professional program of your choice.
The missing link is “networking.” Unfortunately, because of our busy schedules, many students ignore or tend to forget that this is a vital aspect of our professional lives. I’ve been told numerous times, “you’re only as strong as your network, and that your success will be somewhat dependent on the relationships you build.” If you’re self-driven and have confidence in your abilities that can you take a long way, but this alone will not help you reach your true potential or help you earn the highest accolades of your profession.
Strategically grow your network with people who bring diversity and unique values to the table. Seek out mentors and leaders within your community who are generous about sharing their journey and who want to help guide pre-professional health students. Below are some tips to help you build strong connections and help you achieve success.
1. Overcome the fear of approaching and meeting someone new. As an aspiring health professional, you will need to develop interpersonal skills and step out of your comfort zone. Make sure you diversify your network or circle by including people who have different experiences, careers, and are from varied backgrounds. You want to learn from professionals who express their perspectives and can communicate effectively.
2. Make sure that you give back to others and help guide other students. At the heart of what we want to accomplish is to help benefit others and this should be your primary motivation. If you extend your hand to someone, they will reciprocate in your time of need. I’ve learned this on many occasions throughout the biomedicine program. Upperclassmen took the time to help guide me by having short pep talks, study sessions, encouraging one another, and most importantly we held each other accountable. Please keep this trend up by sharing tips and sharing your success with the next cohort!
3. First listen, then respond. Intelligent and devoted individuals who actively listen to their peers, colleagues, mentors, etc. and then respond are the ones who truly stand out. Take the time to listen to somebody else, collect your thoughts and digest the information. Consider this, do you think you can treat a patient without them describing their symptoms or story? You can’t know what people need without listening to them, and you cannot solve their problems. Mastering this craft will take time, but be patient, and I assure you it will payoff as you progress through your career.
4. Attend conferences, recruitment events, grad fairs, webinars, etc. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of attending free events hosted by the AAMC, Student National Medical Association, PreMed StAR, Pre-Student Osteopathic Medical Association (Pre-SOMA), and the American Medical Student Association (AMSA). Each of these organizations holds events throughout the year, and it is a great way to meet admissions recruiters, potential employers, and a great way to find valuable information about the application process. Attending conferences and webinars will give you the exposure that is necessary to piece together a successful application/portfolio for health professional school, and it shows your dedication to the healthcare field. Some organizations charge a small fee but the benefits you’ll receive far surpass the dent it will put in your wallet. I’ve had opportunities to publish journal articles, communicate with admissions advisors, and present my research at national conferences. If you put in the work and seek out opportunities, this will greatly enhance your application and put you in prime position to excel within your respective field. Additionally, if you plan to take a gap year, attending an event may land you an internship or a unique volunteer position. Be sure to ask for a business card and connect a few weeks after a conference or an event!
5. Be sure to connect with the people you meet at events via Facebook, PreMed StAR, Twitter, E-mail, or LinkedIn. In today’s world, if we aren’t friends on some social media platform, then we must not be friends at all. Although this is not true, many people generate these types of thoughts. So take the time to create a profile on social media and send a request. Use properly netiquette when communicating with professional colleagues, peers, mentors, etc. Sending a request and being active in a professional way will help you stand out.
Take home message: Be proactive and embrace this journey. Establishing a core network is worth the time, and you can lean on these people for support, advice, and encouragement. Remember, your network is not just about you, but rather leveraging each other to help serve and advance the wellness of others. As you progress through this new academic year, keep these things in mind. Best wishes!