Welcome to the nineteenth episode of The Med School Years Podcast! We sit down with Kamilla, an M4 at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM), who is gearing up to apply for the incredibly competitive field of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Kamilla shares her unique journey, detailing how she transitioned from a Business and Law background (she realized she "hated tearing down arguments") to medicine. She provides unfiltered insight into what it takes for a DO student to be competitive in surgery, including why she took both COMLEX and USMLE (Step 1 & 2). We also discuss the balancing act of being a Division 1 athlete, becoming a social media influencer, and navigating clinical rotations in diverse environments (Maine vs. New Jersey). This episode is essential for any non-traditional student or competitive DO applicant looking for strategic advice.