Pronouns: she/her

What Was I Doing Before Med: Biology at York University

#1 Piece of Advice: Make every opportunity to try something new! Shadow specialties you don’t think you’ll like (they might surprise you), join an extracurricular that you always wanted to try but never did, and explore all that Toronto has to offer. Good doctors are well-rounded people, so invest in hobbies that bring you joy and enjoy the process of making new friends along the way :) 

Hot take from first year med: You always deserve a little treat!

The **Moment** you got into med: I intentionally put off my spring cleaning until 3am the night before acceptances came out, hoping I would be tired enough to sleep in until all of the emails were released. Alas, I woke up at 8am with way too much energy and one email notification on my phone. I somehow forced myself to stay in bed until 10am when I finally checked and saw the acceptance! I IMMEDIATELY cancelled my MCAT rewrite and then frantically called my friends and family to celebrate. 

Hobbies: Running (slowly), yoga & spin classes, arts & crafts, rating chai lattes. 

Pronouns: She/her

What Was I Doing Before Med: Working as a Research Assistant at SickKids

#1 Piece of Advice: Take advantage of the opportunities that are given to you!! There are endless events, interest group meetings, and social gatherings to attend. Participate in as much or as little as you’d like - Toronto is the best place filled with endless physicians to shadow, clubs to join, and restaurants to try. You’re only in first year once so make the most of it!!!

Hot take from first year med: Go to lecture… seriously (to socialize with your friends <3)!

The **Moment** you got into med: I was sitting at my kitchen table with my family anxiously awaiting invites! My friend who I interview prepped with messaged me that she got into UofT but I had no email in my inbox… so I was pretty sure that was it for me. I finally saw an email pop into my inbox and thought it must be a rejection since it arrived afterwards, but was thrilled to have an offer! My mom took me to the spa after to celebrate! Literally couldn’t imagine a better day!!

Hobbies: Volleyball, trying new restaurants (and logging them on Beli of course), exploring cute cafes and matcha, running (beginner).

Pronouns: She/her

What Was I Doing Before Med: Medical Sciences at Western 

#1 Piece of Advice: Be sure to make time for the people and activities you love! Med school can definitely feel overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to do everything all the time. You will always feel like you could be studying more, shadowing more, doing more research, joining more extracurriculars, etc. However, it’s just as important to keep in touch with your friends and family, and give time to your hobbies. Take first year to meet new people, both in the medical field as well as out, and don’t be afraid to pick up new interests! The people/things that make you feel grounded, joyful, and connected are not distractions, they make up who you are as a person!  

Hot take from first year med: OSCEs are kind of fun! It can feel like there’s a looming cloud of stress during the days leading up to the OSCE, but once you do it, you realize that it’s much less daunting than people make it out to be!

The **Moment** you got into med: I was on the bus heading to work when I got a message from my dad saying that he heard the OMSAS portal was updated. I tried logging in on my phone, only to realize that I didn’t have my password saved there, so I had to frantically pull out my laptop. If you’re from Toronto, you know how packed the bus gets during rush hour, so balancing my laptop in my hand while balancing myself on the rattling bus made me look like a public safety hazard. When I logged in, I saw the offer on OMSAS but, since I still hadn’t received an email, I was convinced the offer was a glitch. 2 hours later, I finally got the email and I told the news to my family and friends!

Hobbies: Baking, finding cute cafes, spin + pilates classes (especially with friends!)

Pronouns: he/him

What Was I Doing Before Med: Health Sciences at McMaster University

#1 Piece of Advice: People will always remember how you first treated them. Be curious and step out of your comfort zone: say hi to the person whose name you forgot, and compliment someone on their first day of school fit. The more people that remember you for being a kind and likable person - the more opportunities come knocking at your door (not that this should be your goal for being kind lol). That being said, you don't have to please everyone. At first you may feel the urge to say yes to everything and everyone. It's okay to say no if it means you get some time to rest and find a little peace.

Hot take from first year med: Studying every day is overrated - you will find your pace and what works for you but please do not let the MEs consume you. Keep in mind that UofT does not want you to fail. It is more than achievable to have a life while meeting the expectations for the program.

The **Moment** you got into med: It was 8:31 a.m. I saw people on r/premedcanada say that UofT offers were out but I was still doing my morning bathroom routine - something I CANNOT skip. Anyways, I went downstairs and my parents were already waiting because they knew that I would find out at this time. I set up my phone to record and my dad, mom, dog, and I shifted into frame as I checked my email. I saw the number go up by one, and the subject title gave me a clue. After that I was ugly crying and so were both my parents. I then called all my best friends who were anxiously waiting to hear from me and then finally took a 2 hour nap as the burnout set in.

Hobbies: Gymming, gaming, singing, music, volleyball, spending time with families + friends.

Pronouns: he/him

What Was I Doing Before Med: Health Sciences at Queen’s

#1 piece of advice for 2t9’s: Take time to figure out what studying strategy works best for you. I initially overlooked this process, but I found my perfect study strategy in mid-March, 8 months into med school. Still, this was one of the best time-saving investments I have done.

Hot take from first year med: When time permits, really take advantage of shadowing. They expect absolutely nothing from you, so if you go in with the intention of learning, you’ll be able to absorb so much more than you would in the classroom.

The **Moment** you got into med: I was in the maritimes visiting family, so I was an hour ahead, and I woke up at 6am ADT (5am EST). I proceeded to lie down on the couch for the next 4 hours refreshing Gmail because I assumed having notifications on would ruin a pleasant surprise. It was a very long 4 hours. 

Hobbies: reading (contemporary and historical fiction), eating, literally anything active (soccer, basketball, volleyball, squash, running), chilling with my mom