Anecdotes and advice about preparing for a career in health

Category: Pre-Vet (Page 2 of 4)

Why look for a Mentor?

I started off my freshman year, like many do, eager to get involved on campus. Being premed, Tufts Premedical Society seemed like an obvious group to join. I learned about the Mentorship Program in the initial meetings. To be quite honest, I just joined the program because I saw a lot of other freshmen joining it. I did not have much hope because I am majoring in biomedical engineering and I assumed that most of the mentors would be science majors, so they wouldn’t be helpful in my situation. To my surprise, I was matched with a mentor that was also majoring in biomedical engineering.

My mentor became one of my greatest sources and truly helped me get through my freshman year. I had so many questions on decisions to make, classes to take, extracurricular activities, etc. and who better to ask then someone who had already been through everything that I was experiencing. In my case, I really needed help on how to juggle engineering with premed. In our first few meetings, my mentor and I mapped out when I would take all of my classes. He analyzed what credits I already had coming in and what classes I needed to take for for my premed and engineering requirements. There were so many classes that were sequential or that had to be taken before a certain time, especially if I wanted to take the MCAT my junior or senior year. I was extremely confused and stressed out about how I would make everything work. My mentor made the whole process easier by explaining to me what choices I had and by helping me make the best decisions for me.

Also, many of my rePreHealth Mentorsrequirements could be filled with a myriad of classes. I had no idea which classes would best fit my interests. So I talked to my mentor, the other mentors, and the board members. They told me about some of their favorite classes and gave me an idea about what the workload for the class would be like, as well as the teaching style of the professor. This was such a life saver. Having so many peers with first-hand accounts of classes was a great way for me to understand which classes would best fit my needs.

Additionally, my mentor shared with me a list of possibilities for extracurricular activities, many of which incorporated biomedical engineering. I had become interested in starting to do research and he gave me details about the research track for biomedical engineers, as well as the pros and cons of doing so. I also had considered trying to get involved with research on campus, so I talked to him, as well as some of the other mentors and board members that were doing research at Tufts. They informed me of who I should contact, as well as a little bit about the different research projects going on. (Check out departmental websites such as this).  This way if I was presented with options for a team to work with, I could choose the research project that best encompassed my interests. My mentor also got me thinking that working as a CNA could be an experience that I might enjoy, as well as learn a lot from. This was something that had interested me, but I was still nervous about whether this would be a good fit for me and if it would be a good use of my summer break. His encouragement played a huge part in helping me decide to go through with my decision to work as a CNA, which I can attest to being a great option for someone who is premed.

In addition to all of this, my mentor provided me with someone who I could talk to about what I was going through. There are not many people on the premed track majoring in the same field as I am, so having someone to talk to and to give me advice was very comforting. It was honestly so nice to have someone who I could vent to and who understood how I was feeling, but had already been in my position, to assure me that things would be just fine. Freshman year for a premed student can be difficult and overwhelming, but having my mentor by my side made the experience a lot less stressful!

If you are interested in joining the mentorship program as a mentee you can sign up online at https://goo.gl/forms/5lLygyynKIvG7Hlm2. If you would like to join as a mentor you can sign up online at https://goo.gl/forms/5W1XsQx9A2hlphW33.

 

Sakshi Wadhwa BME ‘19

 

The Pre-Vet Society Goes to the Zoo

Today, we take a break from our senior panelists to hear from the Pre-Veterinary Society, which took a tour of Southwick Zoo over the weekend. Secretary Camille Hironaka tells us what goes on behind the scenes:

Last Saturday, the Tufts Pre-Veterinary Society took a field trip to the Southwick Zoo to meet the animals and Dr. Peter Brewer, the veterinarian who runs the zoo.

Feeding an animal at the Southwick Zoo

We got to see the lions, the tigers (but unfortunately, no bears), take a tour of Dr. Brewer’s clinic, and go behind the scenes at the zoo. Highlights of the zoo include red kangaroos, white rhinos, sloths, and reticulated giraffes. For a full species list and more detailed information on the animals, check out the Southwick Zoo’s website.

Giraffe at Southwick Zoo

Dr. Brewer also gave a full tour of his clinic, where he talked about his experience with animals both big and small; he’s done everything from casting a capuchin monkey’s arm to anesthetizing a lion. He showed us his tranquilizer darts, and even let us shoot his blowgun (tip: trash cans make excellent targets for beginners). Throughout our time with him, Dr. Brewer stressed the importance of practice and attention to detail to minimize mistakes. With so many different species at his zoo, there’s a lot to learn and know!

Clinic tour at Southwick Zoo

The trip was a great experience, and the Pre-Vet Society is grateful to Dr. Brewer for sharing his zoo and expertise with us!

Photos courtesy of Freshmen Representative Asia Acevedo and Vice President Alena Naimark

Animal Opportunities

In our last blog post, we mentioned that some sheep will be visiting campus tomorrow. That event is Cummings Goes East. Cummings veterinary staff will be bringing piglets and sheep to the academic quad tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lamb

You can see examples of animal handling and physical examinations throughout the day. Faculty will be on hand to discuss farm animals, New England agriculture, and the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts on the Grafton campus.

Also, you can learn about different aspects of veterinary medicine at the annual Veterinary School Open House this Sunday, September 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit Tufts Tickets to reserve a spot on the free bus from the campus center to the Cummings School in North Grafton. You can view the schedule and map on the Cumming School website. The activities will be fun and educational for all ages.

You can stay updated about more events like these by getting involved with the Tufts Institute for Human-Animal Interaction and signing up for their newsletter. TIHAI has volunteer opportunities, relevant course offerings, and a Student Scholars Program.

Upcoming Events

While you’re getting settled in your first week of classes, don’t forget about all of the great pre-health events that are coming up, both on and off campus.

SOPHAS Virtual Fair Featuring SOPHAS Public Health Schools & Programs

Join the free SOPHAS Virtual Fair today and tomorrow! SOPHAS schools and programs will participate in a virtual graduate school fair for advisors and prospective students of public health. The fair will be conducted entirely online and participants will have the opportunity to chat live with admissions officers and program chairs, review information about specific degree programs, and upload resumes to share with admissions representatives. The event is free for prospective students and advisors. Register Here.

For questions or more information contact Tucker O’Donnell at Todonnell@aspph.org or 202-296-1099 x.130.

Somerville Dog Fest

Love dogs?? Please see below for a message from the organizers of this event happening on Sunday, September 13:

This year’s festival is right around the corner and we would love to see your smiling faces again 🙂

If you are interested in volunteering please let me know [email Bethany@somdogfest.org] which of the following time slots would work best for you (You can choose more than one if you’d like) and if you have any previous dog training experience:

8:00AM-11:00AM

11:00AM-2:00PM

2:00PM-4:30PM

Thank you in advance for your help! The festival couldn’t happen without you!

Intro Meeting for All Pre-Health Clubs

  • Pre Med, Pre Dent, Pre Vet
  • Public Health at Tufts
  • Local health activism and service
  • Global health initiatives

Monday, September 14

7:00 PM in Dowling 745 

Hosted by the health professions advisors

  •  Meet the club officers
  • Learn about programs and activities
  • Sign up for email newsletters and reminders
  • Get involved

Dental Careers and Application Process Information Session at MIT

  • Who: The event is open not only to MIT students and alumni, but to any interested pre-dental students and alumni in the Boston area.
  • When: Tuesday, September 15, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
  • Where: Room 2-103 (MIT Campus)
  • Description: Dr. Jeff Turchi currently serves as an Assistant Professor, Manager of Admissions and Recruiting, and Continuing Education Coordinator at Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine. He will be discussing the path to dental school and the application process, how to find the best school for you, the dental profession in general, and the unique qualities of Western University College of Dental Medicine. There will be a brief presentation and unlimited Q and A.
  • To Register: If possible, please email Jennifer Earls if you plan to attend: jearls@mit.edu

Sheep on the Hill (Baaaa!)

On Wednesday, September 16, Dr. John Pollock and Dr. David Lee-Parritz will be bringing some sheep to Tufts to talk about agriculture, sheep physiology and biology, sheep handling and restraint, and the veterinary school process. **More details to come!

Sheep

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