For students majoring in health sciences, navigating the path filled with exams and applications to medical school can feel challenging. On March 24, Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) hosted an open meeting to provide students with valuable advice on transitioning from undergraduate studies to professional health programs.
AED is a national premedical honor society dedicated to guiding and encouraging students in their medical careers. This meeting introduced students to necessary actions to take during their early years at ULM to prepare for what comes next.
The meeting primarily focused on application timelines, preparations and the interviewing process for various fields, such as Medical, Dental, Physician Assistant, Veterinary and Optometry schools. Student leaders of AED shared personal advice with attendees to assist them in their pursuit of a spot in medical schools.
AED President Emily Horton emphasized the importance of early preparation. The meeting focused on discussing the different entrance exams students majoring in health sciences may encounter such as the MCAT, NCLEX and others. Horton said students should start learning the material as early as possible to get ahead and gain a better understanding. There are many programs with tutors available, both online and advertised on the boards within the Chemistry and Natural Science building and Kitty Degree hall.
“I think it is really important to learn everything you can, especially early on,” Horton said. “A lot goes into it and a lot of components to learn. I think to set yourself up for success, the more you learn early on, the better.”
AED Vice President Skyler Thomas said that before joining AED, events such as this helped him better prepare for medical school applications and interviews. As a biology pre-med major, Thomas explained that these experiences are more personal and resonate better than gathering online material.
“We want to familiarize students with what the application process looks like so it does not sneak up on them all at once,” Thomas said. “We wanted to give information that is otherwise very difficult to find reliably. You can find these things online, but I know that when I was starting out, I had a lot of difficulties knowing what to do next.
All attendees received the presentation slides to serve as a roadmap for their journey into the health field. For those who missed the meeting, information about AED events can be found on their Instagram at “ulm_aed.”
AED continues to offer guidance, service and professional networking opportunities. Health science students who are interested in joining the honor society are advised to contact Matthew Talbert, Ph.D, at [email protected].
