The American Medical Women’s Association hosted a Professional Student Panel during its second general body meeting on Sept. 17, giving University of Kansas AMWA members the chance to hear experiences and advice from graduate students pursuing healthcare careers.
The panel featured five students currently enrolled in nursing, medical and physician assistant programs. They shared guidance on topics ranging from preparing for entrance exams and finding volunteer opportunities to maintaining a school-life balance in graduate school.
“For me, I think the most important lesson that I took away from the panelists was how everything is going to work out in its own way,” said junior AMWA member Emma Silliman. “It was inspiring to see your peers, who have gone through your exact situations, to succeed and end up accomplishing what they’ve dreamed of for their entire lives.”
Panelists began by sharing what drew them to their professional tracks. Their responses included patient and personal interaction, formative experiences with doctors growing up and an interest in the intersection between science and advocacy.
When asked what undergraduates should prioritize, the panelists emphasized volunteering, research and taking any opportunity to do lab work.
Haley Mansfield, a nursing student at the University of Missouri, recommended gaining broad volunteer experience across healthcare roles.
“It just gives you a whole bunch of perspective on what tasks you’re going to be delegating and gives you a lot more respect for the role that people are working below you,” she said. “I strongly encourage that, if you are going into medicine, shadow a nurse. Just get all of the perspective so that way you know how your whole team functions.”
The panelists also offered advice on applying to professional schools. They encouraged students to highlight clinical and personal experiences that show a commitment to patient care in entrance interviews and essays, and the importance of standardized exams in the application process.
Emily Stapes, a dental student at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, suggested planning to take standardized exams early enough to retake them if needed. She also recommended studying over winter and summer breaks.
Finally, the panelists were asked about their work-life balance as graduate students in comparison to their undergraduate years. They suggested avoiding procrastination, planning commitments and responsibilities weekly and setting aside time for personal enjoyment.
“I try to find the little wins,” Mansfield said. “Today I had clinical and then after clinical, we were like, ‘let’s just go to Chick-fil-A.’ You’ll find those little moments and always say yes.”
For AMWA member Annaliese Nguyen, the discussion was a reminder to seek balance with enjoyment during a demanding career process.
“I think it’s so important to capitalize on the time you do have with friends and family while still prioritizing school,” she said. “It’s so easy to get caught up in the application process to grad school but it’s important to take in all the fun and exciting things happening now too.”
This article was edited by Head News Editor Elliot Akerstrom. If the information in this article needs to be corrected, please contact elliot.akerstrom@ku.edu