Welcome to the sixteenth episode of The Med School Years Podcast! We interview Cindy Liu, an M2 at the prestigious NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where the median MCAT is 523 and tuition is free. Cindy offers an unfiltered look at what it's like to thrive in this hyper-competitive, yet surprisingly collaborative, environment. She discusses the pressure that comes with free tuition, how her engineering background shaped her approach to problem-solving, and her strategy for landing a competitive specialty like Radiation Oncology. This episode is a must-watch for current medical students struggling with perfectionism, study strategies, and finding their identity beyond grades. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction and the NYU Grossman "Wow Factor" 2:10 Diversity and Composition of the Class 3:30 Pressure from Free Tuition and High Expectations 5:50 The Emotional Moment of Receiving the Acceptance 7:45 Choosing NYU: Location, Hospitals, and School Fit 10:10 Myth-Buster: Elite Undergrad Not Required 12:20 Engineering Thought Process Applied to Medicine 14:50 The Reality of MMI and Interview Preparation 17:55 How Interview Skills Translate to Patient Care 19:20 Leadership and Taking Over Student Organizations (Oncology Club) 22:00 Navigating the Research Pressure and Pass/Fail 25:15 Exploring Radiation Oncology and Specialty Niche 29:05 Flipping the Boards: Taking Step 2 Before Step 1 31:10 Living and Thriving as a New Yorker (City Life and Diversity) 34:15 Final Wisdom: The Shock of Not Always Being Right