How to Talk About Your Life and Experiences as a Nontrad | Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A Ep. 118

How should you talk about your life and experiences as a nontrad? Be honest. Today, I talk about how to “stand out” as a nontrad by simply being true to yourself.
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Our student's question is about how to "stand out" as a nontraditional premed. In regards to this question, I discuss:
• How to stop comparing yourself to other premeds and just tell your story.
• How this question applies to the personal statement and your activities.
• What to really focus on in your application.
We also discuss some other nontraditional premed questions:
• How can you support a family on student loans as a medical student. Will you have enough money for suitable living quarters?
• Should you hide the fact that you have kids when applying to medical school? Or should you show it off? Or neither?
• Should you only apply to one medical school because of having a mortgage in a particular area?
For more episodes of Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A, check out askdrgray.com!

[@tylerj3855]

Perfect timing! I am leaving my field and starting university as a freshman at 27 years old. Extremely excited and so happy I will not have the feeling of “what if” anymore.

[@AJAL9574]

Im 36 yrs old and almost done with my pre med classes, I wasn't concerned, but seem that look at 15:40 made me a little bit worried now !!!

[@ChristenasBlock]

Did you continue to medical school? I’d love to know.

[@BlessednHighlyfavored12]

Did you go to medical school?

[@TheAnatomyGal]

Thank you thank you thank you!

[@lauraflores3278]

How can we get on this thing? :)

[@ChristenasBlock]

I graduated community collage in 2021 with a liberal Arts degree. I’ve been working as an instrument technician and Im 32 and just started my BA in Biology which means I only have two more years. Does that qualify me as a non traditional Med student?

[@kparm23]

Dr. Gray, I wasn't able to do many activities before as I had strict parents that didn't want me to do things outside of college. Should I focus on getting research experience or look for activities to do to talk about on my application since I'm applying next year? I'll most likely only be able to do one of the above since covid made it more difficult to do as much. Any advice you could give would be much appreciated. Thank you!

[@lyssbeth]

👆👆👆

[@RichObiQuan]

Damn that’s tough. The fact that your parents are limiting you like that but i kinda get it. But honestly it’s for something positive in the sense of building your application. How did it go, any updates?

[@danishbukhari6693]

Sir please guide me! I am very passionate to take music as my bachelor... But to become a doctor is also my dream. But the problem is, I can't spend 1-2 years for med school prerequisites. So is it possible to get prepared for med school by taking extra classes while being a music major? Please tell me!

[@ShinySephiroth1]

I'd say use all of your electives for as many Sci courses as possible

[@TheMaxqb]

It's totally possible. Doing an additional thing often means a sacrifice elsewhere - I earned two bachelors while working three jobs. I had to give up a lot of my social life and extracurriculars (not to mention a fair amount of sleep) in exchange for studying what interested me and graduating with little debt.

[@jriccioj]

He’s dressed like a televangelist

[@ShinySephiroth1]

Haven't seen a lot of televangelists wearing pink ties. I think they'd be too scared to LOL

[@mayagriffin2826]

How do you not like someone being a parent??!? Is that even a thing

[@ShinySephiroth1]

I've heard some ad comm members think being a parent is too much of a distraction to succeed in med school :/

[@Peacefull333]

​@@ShinySephiroth1 wow...that's so sad to read. I would imagine parents bring a level of wisdom & perspective that could be incredibly valuable for a cohort.

[@ShinySephiroth1]

@@Peacefull333 Yeah but I don't think they'll admit it until after you're accepted, haha. I feel like ad comms go in looking for excuses to not accept anyone until you prove yourself. Then afterward suddenly everything about you is amazing, LOL.

[@Peacefull333]

@@ShinySephiroth1 LOL ayyeee yi yi

[@BoxOfCurryos]

dont tell the admissions people anything that would make you look bad. The only person you need to be honest to is yourself.

[@jayrollo1352]

How does one stand out as a TRAD? lol

[@mikell.6064]

You just tell your story.. if you have what the school bus looking for, you will stand out.