First Line | Pre-Med and Medical Student Professional Development and Mental Health

By Dr. Aubrey Ann JacksonScience

First Line | Pre-Med and Medical Student Professional Development and Mental Health episodes

June 12, 2023 The Placenta, the Umbilical Cord, and Pregnancy Body Changes
Episode 100. This episode is for anyone who wants to learn more about the miracle of pregnancy and childbirth! A fascinating part of pregnancy is the function of the placenta and the umbilical cord, so I share in this episode what I think everyone should know about these vital elements of the maternal-fetal connection. Learn more about the complicated array of hormones that work together for a healthy pregnancy and what really causes gestational diabetes. The episode finishes with an overview of the changes that women often experience while they are pregnant (e.g., gastroesophageal reflux, constipation, melasma, back pain) along with the physiologic explanation of these changes.
First Line is created and hosted by Dr. Aubrey Ann Jackson. Visit First Line’s website where you can view blog posts: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com⁠
Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications):⁠ ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠⁠
This episode is sponsored by TrueLearn. For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: ⁠https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/⁠ and code: firstline
First Line is hosted on Spotify and is also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podvine, Castbox, Overcast, Castro, Pocket Casts, PodBean, TuneIn, RadioPublic, and Vurbl.
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and then rate and review the show!
Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.
21 min
June 05, 2023 Medical School Secondary Applications
Episode 99. When applying to medical school, programs will send you a set of about 2-5 prompts for essays after they receive your primary application. It is just as important as the primary app when deciding who to interview! Some schools screen applicants and only send secondaries to selected applicants while other schools send secondaries to everyone. The purpose of secondaries is help schools decide if you are a good fit for their incoming class, so it's important to personalize your responses for each school.
Top 10 tips:
Start working on essays as soon as you are finished with the primary app. You can look up prompts from past years on sites like Medical School HQ.
Keep track of the deadlines for secondaries and prioritize the ones with sooner due dates.
Submit as soon as you can. You don't need to wait for the deadline you are given.
Pay attention to maximum character counts or word counts. This can differ widely between schools.
Be as specific as possible. Schools can tell if you use the same copy-and-paste essay for all the schools you’re applying to.
For prompts that ask about your future goals, show that you have interests while also demonstrating that you are open-minded and willing to learn.
Use skeletons of essays that you can then personalize for each school to save time.
Triple check before submitting that you use the correct school name and location in your essays.
Make sure you are answering the questions that is actually being asked; don’t just use the space to talk about what you want.
Proofread! Send essays to a mentor or invest in a professional service. (see below)
10 common essay prompts on secondaries:
Describe how specific attributes of our mission and core values align with your professional goals and personal attributes.
What influenced your decision to apply to our school?
Describe a significant challenge you have experienced and share what you learned from the experience.
Where do you see yourself in your medical career twenty years from now?
What achievement are you most proud of in your life?
Please explain how you personally would contribute to diversity at our school.
Describe an experience where you interacted with a person from a different background than you.
Please describe if and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your preparation for applying to medical school.
Please share any information you want us to know about you that is not included in your primary application or in this secondary application.
AACOMAS: How did you learn about osteopathic medicine and why is it a good fit for you?
Editing Services and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠
First Line is created and hosted by Dr. Aubrey Ann Jackson. Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com⁠
For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: ⁠https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/⁠ and code: firstline
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and then rate and review the show!
First Line is on Instagram @firstlinepodcast and on Facebook ⁠www.facebook.com/firstlinepodcast⁠ You can also reach First Line via email at [email protected]
Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.
29 min
May 29, 2023 Residency Navigator and How to Organize Your Residency List
Episode 98. This episode covers how to use residency navigator (also see my episode on using other resources like FREIDA and residency explorer). You will find the full list of residency programs on the ACGME website.
I also discuss the most important factors to consider when choosing programs to add to your residency list and the importance of making a short list within your list of programs you'll be applying to.
I then go into detail about how I formatted my own residency program spreadsheet, which included all of the data on programs that I chose to track, how it informed where to apply to, and how I updated the spreadsheet during interview season after ERAS applications were due.
***Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠ ***
First Line is created and hosted by Dr. Aubrey Ann Jackson. Visit First Line’s website where you can view blog posts: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com⁠
This episode is sponsored by TrueLearn. For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: ⁠https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/⁠ and code: firstline
First Line is hosted on Spotify and is also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podvine, Castbox, Overcast, Castro, Pocket Casts, PodBean, TuneIn, RadioPublic, and Vurbl.
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and then rate and review the show!
Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.
30 min
May 22, 2023 How to Decide How Many and Which Medical Schools to Apply to
Episode 97.
MSAR for MD programs (free information and paid version with additional features)- https://students-residents.aamc.org/medical-school-admission-requirements/medical-school-admission-requirements-msar-applicants
Choose DO Explorer for DO programs (free resource)- https://www.aacom.org/explore-med-schools/choose-do-explorer
Factors to consider when choosing schools: public vs. private, rural vs. suburban vs. urban, state/region preference, admission requirements (premed coursework, MCAT and GPA minimums), MCAT and GPA averages, tuition and financial aid, mission statement, quality of the education, match rates, how happy the students are, grading system, lecture attendance requirements, lecture vs. independent learning vs. team-based learning, research opportunities
Factors to consider when deciding number of schools: your competitiveness (MCAT, GPA, clinical experience, research, leadership), how competitive you are for your top programs (adding more if your top programs are reaches)
Include about 1/4 schools that are "safety" (public schools in your state, MCAT and GPA more than average), match/fit (public in state or private out of state, within 5 points on MCAT
For most applicants, aim for 15-25 schools, which is the average. Involve mentors in this process because this is highly individual and depends on numerous factors. For example, you may not need to apply to this many if you are applying to osteopathic medical schools with an application that has a strong osteopathic medicine focus. You also may not need to apply to this many if you are competitive for your top programs.
I also speak on why should consider applying to osteopathic medical schools.
***Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠ ***
First Line is created and hosted by Dr. Aubrey Ann Jackson. Visit First Line’s website where you can view blog posts: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com⁠
This episode is sponsored by TrueLearn. For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: ⁠https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/⁠ and code: firstline
First Line is hosted on Spotify and is also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podvine, Castbox, Overcast, Castro, Pocket Casts, PodBean, TuneIn, RadioPublic, and Vurbl
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and then rate and review the show!
Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.
30 min
May 15, 2023 AMCAS and AACOMAS: Medical School Application Guide and Tips
Episode 96. This episode is based on the 2024 application cycle. Some dates for deadlines may change from year to year; however, many of the details of the application itself will remain the same, so this episode is helpful if you applying during future application years as well!
Pay attention to the date when schools can start reviewing your application. Aim to have your application submitted and verified by that date so that you can be in the first batch of applications. It may take weeks for your application to be verified, so the earlier you can submit, the better. If you don't have everything ready in time for that date, it is still worth applying that cycle, but you are likely not to receive as many invitations for secondaries and interviews. Most schools have rolling deadlines and will continue to review applications after the initial release.
Work on your personal comments essay (personal statement) and the work & activities section ahead of time. You don't have to wait for the application to open before drafting these statements. These essays are one of the most important if not the most important part of your application, so it is very much worth it to invest in professional services to look over this part of your application. See episode 92 for more tips for the personal statement and a timeline of the application season.
Make sure you enter your coursework correctly by referring to your official transcript so that there are no errors that could delay your application's verification.
Works & Activities on AMCAS: 15 experiences, 700 characters each (select 3 as most meaningful with an extra 1325 characters)
Experience types: Clinical Community Service, Non-Clinical Community Service, Extracurricular Activities, Leadership,
Clinical Employment, Non-Clinical Employment, Shadowing, Research, Presentations/Posters, Publications, Advocacy, Teaching/Tutoring, Hobbies,
Artistic Endeavors, Honors/Awards, Athletics, Conferences, Military Service, Other
AACOMAS Experiences section: unlimited experiences, maximum 5 achievements, 600 characters each
Experience types: Healthcare experience, Non-Healthcare Employment, Non-Healthcare Volunteering, Extracurriculars, Research, Teaching
For more info, visit AAMC.org and AACOM.org
Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod
First Line is created and hosted by Dr. Aubrey Ann Jackson. Visit First Line’s website where you can view blog posts: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com⁠
For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/ and code: firstline
Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.
30 min
May 08, 2023 How to Use NRMP Match Data During the Residency App Season
Episode 95. Am I competitive for my specialty? How many programs should I apply to? What is my chance at matching? What programs participate in the SOAP process? Should I dual apply?
ACGME website- full listing of all programs and accreditation status
Advanced Data Tables- match summary by specialty, which specialties are growing (best document to see if your chosen specialty has categorical positions, advanced positions, or a combination)
Match Results by State, Specialty, and Applicant Type- number of positions per specialty by state and how many applicants of each type match in that specialty in that state
Program Results- number of positions and positions filled each year by individual program (best document to see which programs went unfilled in the past)
Average Length of Rank Order- average number of ranks for programs and the average for applicants across all specialties (better to look at data by specialty, see below)
Results and Data: Main Residency Match- in depth explanations about terminology, contains tables from advanced data tables document, percentage of applicants who match at each rank on their rank list, information on SOAP
Applicant Demographics- self-reported applicant gender, race, and ethnicity by specialty
Charting Outcomes in the Match- match rates by specialties, average number of ranks by specialty, chance at matching by number of ranks, average USMLE/COMLEX scores for matched applicants by specialty, chance at matching by USMLE/COMLEX scores (best document to figure out how competitive you are for your specialty and how many interviews to aim for)
Survey Reports- average number of applications received by specialty, factors that influence how applicants rank programs, median number of applications submitted (best document to help figure out how many programs to apply to along with how competitive you are)
First Line is created and hosted by Aubrey Ann Jackson. Visit First Line’s website where you can view blog posts: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com⁠
Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and then rate and review the show!
This episode is sponsored by TrueLearn. For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/ and code: firstline
First Line is hosted on Spotify and is also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Breaker, Castbox, PocketCasts, Castro, Player Fm, Pod Bean, Reason, Vurbl, TuneIn, and more.
Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.
30 min
May 01, 2023 How to Effectively Use Residency Explorer and FREIDA
Episode 94. There are two main applications used by medical students who are exploring residency programs to apply to: Residency Explorer and FREIDA. In this episode, you'll learn about how to use each site and take advantage of the filters and program information. As a fourth year medical student, I share insight into what information to focus on and what information may not be as accurate.
Learn how to use these sites to make your list of residency programs. I share a guideline to help you figure out how many programs you should apply to and how to figure out if an individual program is a safety, fit, or reach.
Visit ACGME.org for the official full list of accredited residency programs, including new programs before they are officially accredited. This site contains the most up-to-date before it shows up on any other site.
Visit individual program websites for accurate program-specific information, especially application requirements.
Use Residency Explorer and FREIDA to gauge your competitiveness for specialties and individual programs that have this data available. Make sure to fact check information, especially pertaining to benefits, salary, call schedules, and visa information.
Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod
First Line is created and hosted by Aubrey Ann Jackson. Visit First Line’s website where you can view blog posts: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com⁠
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and then rate and review the show!
This episode is sponsored by TrueLearn. For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/ and code: firstline
First Line is hosted on Spotify and is also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Breaker, Castbox, PocketCasts, Castro, Player Fm, Pod Bean, Reason, Vurbl, TuneIn, and more.
Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.
30 min
April 24, 2023What to Consider When Choosing Where to Apply for Residency
Episode 93. How should you go about making the list of residency programs you want to apply to through ERAS? Hear from a 4th year medical student who recently matched and just went through this process less than a year ago!
Consider these factors:
Location- regional preference, urban vs. rural

Training opportunities- learn how programs can differ in their training

Fellowship opportunities (if applicable)- see which programs have in-house fellowships

Hours per week and call - a rough metric for work-life balance, preference of call every x days vs. night float, post-call day policy

Prestige (only if you want to have a highly academic career)- academic vs. affiliated, better to focus on connections instead

Rotation locations- same hospital vs. multiple locations, travel

Resident wellness- pay attention to how residents act, look out for red flags, resident run vs. attending run

Salary (should NOT be a main factor)- salaries are very close to each other when you standardize based on the cost of living in the area
Stay tuned for a future episode about how to organize this search process. I'll go into detail about what I included in my residency program spreadsheet!
Editing Service for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod
First Line is created and hosted by Aubrey Ann Jackson. Visit First Line’s website where you can view blog posts: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com⁠
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and then rate and revie the show!
This episode is sponsored by TrueLearn. For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/ and code: firstline
First Line is hosted on Spotify and is also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Breaker, Castbox, PocketCasts, Castro, Player Fm, Pod Bean, Reason, Vurbl, TuneIn, and more.
Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.
28 min
April 17, 2023Medical School App Season: Writing the Personal Statement
Episode 92. What should I be doing each month for my application and preparation for interviews? What topics should I write about in my personal statement? How can I stick out as an applicant?
Medical School Application Personal Statement Editing Service: ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/share/8YmpP4⁠
The Princeton Review has stated that at some schools the personal statement accounts for over 60% of your total admission score.
AMCAS: opens May 2nd for 2024 cycle. Submission begins May 30th. Transmission to medical schools June 30th.
AACOMAS: opens May 4th. Schools start to receive apps June 15th.
Application season calendar:
April- write your personal statement and think about what you want to include in your work and activities section

May- finalize your personal statement and get multiple rounds of editing and proofreading if you haven’t already, work on getting letters of recommendations in and getting a copy of your transcript, finalize the list of schools you’ll be applying to

June- finalize your application (if you haven't already), prepare for secondary essays

July- write secondary essays and submit them as quickly as possible, start preparing for interviews by doing a few mock sessions

August (to as late as April)- interviews
My personal statement tips:
You have 5300 characters. Use them wisely! If you are describing a patient, stick to 2 sentences max. If you are using a quote, it shouldn't take up more than one line of text.

The statement should truly answer the question of why you want to be a physician. Back this up with your qualities and experience while telling your unique story.

Be cautious about reading samples online.

Use stream of consciousness writing. If you’re an external processor, it may help to brainstorm with someone.
Don’t think you need to have a 3-pronged thesis or a 5 paragraph format. It should be in whatever format makes the most sense.

Reflect on your experiences instead of just stating things that you’ve done.

You need a separate statement if you are applying to MD and DO. You may be filtered out from DO schools if you don’t address your interest in osteopathic medicine specifically.

Don’t be content with an average personal statement. Your essay is among thousands that each school is reading through. The editing process is crucial.
Don’t make the mistake of proofreading yourself when you could’ve invested in a professional or asked a mentor to take a look and made your statement that much better to land more interviews.
Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠
First Line is created and hosted by Aubrey Ann Jackson. Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstlinepodcast.com⁠
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and then rate and review the show!
For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/ and code: firstline
Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.
29 min
April 10, 2023Personal Statements for Residency: Top Tips for Writing
Episode 91.
Top 10 tips from this episode:
Talk about your hobbies and extracurriculars during medical school and how they connect to your specialty

Make sure your personal statement can serve as a stand alone document

Consider mentioning a red flag so that you can reclaim it as a positive based on what you learned and how you adapted

Include a personalized paragraph for your top programs

Include your future goals and connect it to the type of residency experience you want to pursue

Fit your statement on one page (Calibri font size 11, 1.15 spacing in a word document, usually 530-560 words)

Start thinking of ideas for your statement with stream of consciousness writing

Be okay with scrapping your first draft if you need to

Pay attention to your tone

Have someone you trust look over your work
Use these 10 guiding questions to help you write your first draft (or start over with a new first draft):
What draws you to your specialty?

When was the aha moment when you realized you wanted to pursue your specialty?

What qualities or skills do you have that will allow you to excel in your specialty and in residency in general?

What about your specialty are you most excited about?

What characteristics do you have that connect with your interest in your specialty?

What previous experiences or interests do you have can connect with your interest in your specialty?

What kind of resident do you see yourself as?

What kind of residency program are you most interested in?

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/10 years/20 years?

Are there any red flags you have to address?
Check out this link to access my listing on fiverr for more information about my personal statement editing service:
https://www.fiverr.com/share/Llqb2p⁠
Use this link to see all services provided to Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod
I even have a special brainstorming add-on service if you are starting from a blank word document. I believe that personal statement editing is so important, and unfortunately most services you find online charge hundreds to thousands of dollars. That’s why I chose to offer help; I have significant professional writing and editing experience, and I am offering the services at a much more affordable price. Many other sites have staff members who are years or even decades removed from the residency application process. I was just in your shoes, so I know what program directors want to see. I received so many compliments on my own personal statement during interviews, and I believe this was because I was intentional with crafting an excellent statement. I’m looking forward to helping you do the same!
First Line is created and hosted by Aubrey Ann Jackson. Website: https://poddcaststudios.wixsite.com/firstlinepodcast
Please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and then rate and review the show!
For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/ and code: firstline
First Line is on Instagram @firstlinepodcast and on Facebook www.facebook.com/firstlinepodcast You can also reach First Line via email at [email protected]
Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.
27 min

About First Line | Pre-Med and Medical Student Professional Development and Mental Health

From the publisher's feed

First Line is a podcast for pre-med and medical students focused on professional development, mental health, and work-life balance. Dr. Aubrey Ann Jackson is a psychiatry resident and professional mentor who covers MCAT preparation, CV writing, resilience for high achievers, and spiritual health during medical training. First Line is here to help the next generation of physicians succeed while maintaining wellbeing and purpose.

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