Before we turn to our guest, I want to invite any listeners planning to apply to medical school next summer to our next med webinar Get Accepted to Medical School in 2018, to be presented by Alicia McNease Nimonkar on December 14 at 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET. The medical school admissions process is a marathon, not a sprint. Launch your training for the next application cycle with this webinar so that you are ready to jump out of the gate come June. The webinar is free, but you do need to reserve your seat.

Our guest today is Tulane MD/MPH third year student Ajibike Lapite. She’s originally from NYC. She lived in Louisiana, and then attended Princeton University where she studied Molecular Biology and Global Health and Health Policy. She is now an M3 doing rotations with the USMLE Step 1 exam in her rearview mirror. Welcome, Ajibike!

Can you tell us about yourself? [2:13]

I was born in NYC, and grew up there for a few years until my dad switched residency programs (he’s also a physician) – that’s how my family ended up in Monroe, LA. My family is Nigerian, and like a lot of Nigerian families, stresses science. I considered a PhD, but in college I shadowed physicians and realized medicine was for me.

What other experiences led you to medicine? [3:30]

I was involved with the premed society at Princeton. I was the Social Chair – which gave me access to alumni. I got to see how they used medicine in their careers. I also became interested in public health.

Why are you doing the MD/MPH? How do you plan to combine these interests in your career? [4:28]

I’m not 100% sure how I’ll use both. But I want to get background on health systems and infrastructure, and global health. To make an impact, it has to be systemic. I’m really happy I chose the dual degree.

Why did you choose Tulane? [5:25]

In part, I wanted to be closer to home. I have younger siblings and wanted to be nearby for important events in their lives.

Also, because I was interested in the MD/MPH, there are a limited number of programs. Tulane has a 4-year dual degree program, so I could do the dual program without extra time.

What do you like about Tulane? [6:09]

Tulane prides itself on community service. Being in New Orleans, you see how important that is, especially after Katrina.

Anything you would improve? [6:50]

It’s extremely relaxed. I know that’s a weird thing to complain about! But I’m a little type-A and it took a while to get used to – that emails seemed last minute, etc.

What has surprised you about med school? [8:30]

One thing people say all the time is the volume of information is insane – like drinking from a fire hose. I thought, “Princeton was hard.” But med school is really hard. It’s not just the material or the volume, but the pace – you have to motivate yourself to study, which is different from college. Staying motivated and reminding yourself it’s important can be challenging, but it’s important.

It takes almost all of first year to get used to it.

What do you like about rotations? [11:10]

I’ve really enjoyed them! I’ve done internal med, family med, surgery (which I didn’t like at all), and now I’m doing pediatrics.

You see the source of your motivation every day. The only thing that’s frustrating is that you have a big exam afterward, and keeping up a study schedule on top of the work schedule is tough. M3 year is more satisfying in terms of learning style than ...