Getting into medical school is often reduced to one thing: the MCAT. But the truth is, that’s not what got me accepted.

In this episode, I break down what actually got me into medical school and why my MCAT score was not the deciding factor. I walk through the real components of a successful medical school application — including GPA, extracurriculars, clinical experience, leadership, research, and personal narrative — and explain how admissions committees evaluate applicants holistically.

I talk honestly about my GPA, my MCAT journey, and the medical school requirements many pre-med students stress about, including whether you need a bachelor’s degree, how much grades really matter, and what schools are actuallylooking for beyond numbers. I also read a paragraph directly from my own medical school application essay, breaking down why storytelling, reflection, and authenticity can matter more than a perfect score.

If you’re a pre-med student, MPH student, career changer, or someone feeling discouraged by MCAT pressure, this episode is for you. Whether your MCAT didn’t go as planned, your GPA isn’t “perfect,” or you’re wondering if medical school is still possible — this conversation is meant to give clarity, reassurance, and real insight into the admissions process.

🎙️ In this episode, we cover:

• What really matters in medical school admissions

• The role of MCAT vs GPA in acceptance decisions

• Whether you need a bachelor’s degree to apply to medical school

• How personal statements and essays influence admissions outcomes

• Why clinical experience, leadership, service, and growth matter

• What I included in my application that strengthened it beyond stats

• Advice for students who feel “behind” or overlooked in the pre-med process

This is a transparent look at how I got into medical school without the MCAT being my strongest stat, and what I wish I knew earlier as a pre-med navigating requirements, expectations, and self-doubt.

notes

medical school admissions, MCAT, GPA, premed, getting into medical school, medical school requirements, personal statement, med school essay, MPH to MD, holistic admissions, premed advice, med school journey

2025 taught me a lot — mostly through the things I didn’t do well.

In this honest and reflective episode, I open up about my biggest failures of 2025 and the lessons I’m carrying into the next season of my life. From not reading as many books as I planned, to struggling with consistency in fitness, finances, faith, friendships, and even language learning — this episode is about accountability, growth, and learning how to reset with intention.

I talk openly about:

• Why I didn’t hit my reading goals and how I’m restructuring my habits in the first quarter of the new year

• The reality of preparing for the MCAT, not getting the score I wanted, and navigating disappointment in medical school applications

• My complicated relationship with faith this year and learning how to spend time with God without turning it into a chore

• Why making and maintaining friendships felt harder than ever — and the role personal initiative really plays

• Lessons on money management, self-control, and what building wealth actually means

• My struggles with working out consistently, motivation vs. systems, and how environment shapes discipline

• Falling off with language practice and what that revealed about priorities and structure

This episode isn’t about shame or perfection — it’s about failing forward, taking responsibility, and building systems that make growth sustainable. If you’re reflecting on your year, feeling behind, or trying to reset with clarity and purpose, this conversation is for you.

✨ Sometimes failure isn’t the end — it’s the feedback.

In this episode, I reflect on my 2025 accomplishments, lessons learned, and the growth that came from choosing consistency over fear. This year stretched me in ways I didn’t expect—but it also reminded me that failure is not the end of the story.

I talk openly about retaking the MCAT after failing the first time and why not giving up on your dreams matters more than getting it right on the first try. If you’re navigating setbacks, exams, or big life goals, this episode is your reminder that it’s okay to fall—as long as you get back up.

I also share personal milestones from 2025, including applying to medical school and receiving an acceptance, running my first 5K in under 40 minutes, and overcoming my fear of content creation on Instagram. Posting consistently taught me that your voice matters—even when it feels uncomfortable at first.

Travel played a huge role in my growth this year. I celebrated my birthday in Amsterdam, explored Groningen and Leeuwarden, took my grandmother to Washington, DC, and went on a solo trip to Nashville, where I experienced my first luxury stay. These moments reminded me how important it is to explore new cultures, create memories with loved ones, and say yes when opportunities arise.

I also reflect on major life decisions, including buying a new car after losing two cars in consecutive years, hitting an important financial savings goal, and learning how to balance discipline with enjoying the life you’re working so hard to build.

Finally, I talk about relaunching my podcast—a goal I had put on pause—and why picking back up what you once loved can be one of the most powerful decisions you make.

If you’re interested in personal growth, resilience, faith, medical school journeys, travel, financial goals, or content creation, this episode is for you. Let this be your reminder to keep going—even when the path isn’t clear yet.

In this episode, I talk about how growth can make people uncomfortable—not because you’re doing something wrong, but because you’re doing something unexpected. Sometimes it’s not enough for others that you’re content; it’s almost as if they want you to stay average, familiar, and non-threatening.

I reflect on moments like buying my car—how some people said it was “out of my league,” while knowing that if it had been older or smaller, the same voices would’ve questioned whether it was good enough. That contradiction reveals a deeper truth: when you grow, the criticism often isn’t about your choices—it’s about other people’s limits.

We talk about:

• Why growth challenges people who are comfortable staying where they are

• How “be humble” can become code for don’t outgrow us

• Why risk-taking is often mislabeled as arrogance

• How to keep moving forward without shrinking yourself to be palatable

This episode is for anyone who’s tired of being told—directly or subtly—to play it safe, dim their light, or stay in a box that no longer fits. Choosing growth isn’t a rejection of where you came from. It’s a commitment to where you’re going.

Follow me:

IG : @abbbennie

In this episode, I take you inside the real and unfiltered journey of building Handi, my tech startup designed to support older adults with daily digital tasks. After speaking with investors, advisors, and founders, I definitely learned things I wasn't expecting - from productmarket fit concerns to messaging mistakes to the harsh realities of scaling a service-based startup.

I share:

• The biggest early challenges I faced as a first-time founder

• What investors really cared about (and what they didn't)

• How talking to advisors reshaped my vision for Handi

• What's working, what's not, and what's next for the product

• The mindset shifts I'm making as I grow through this journey

If you're curious about startups, pitching, failures, pivots, or the behindthe-scenes of building a tech company, this episode is a transparent look into the process.

Connect with me + follow Handi:

Instagram: @handi.us

Website: https://handi-website-main.vercel.app/

My instagram : @abbbennie

• Startup journey

• First-time founder

• Building a tech startup • Startup challenges

• Pitching to investors • Startup mistakes

• Founder storytelling

• Handi app

• Elder tech / aging tech • Founder lessons

It is terrifying to put yourself out there. Whether it's content creation, art, or a new business, the fear of embarrassment is real. But what if we looked at that fear differently?

Join me as I explore the courage it takes to be "seen," using the story of Amarachi (played by Sonia Uche) as our blueprint. despite her mother attempting to crush her spirit, Amarachi sought every avenue to succeed. Let’s talk about how to apply that resilience to our own lives.

Struggling with the fear of judgment or looking "embarrassing" while trying to build a personal brand? Today we are breaking down the mindset needed to put yourself out there in [Year].

To illustrate this, I’m recapping a [Movie Title] featuring Sonia Uche. We analyze how Amarachi navigated a toxic environment and maternal disapproval to chase her dreams. This is your sign to start creating.

Topics:

• Overcoming fear of judgment in 2025.

• Sonia Uche movie recap & review.

• Amarachi’s guide to persistence.

  
  

  
  

  hashtags

  Content Creation Tips, Overcoming Fear of Failure, Fear of Judgment, Creative Mindset, How to be confident on camera. Sonia Uche, Sonia Uche Movie Recap, Nigerian Movie Recap, Nollywood Movies 2025, Amarachi Story, Unsupportive Parents. Motivation, Persistence, Self-Improvement.

  
  

Waiting for medical school decisions can be one of the most stressful parts of the application process. In this episode, I share practical strategies on how to survive long med school wait times, manage anxiety, stay productive, and avoid burnout during the AMCAS/AACOMAS cycle.

Whether you’re waiting for interview invites, post-interview decisions, or navigating silence from schools, this episode breaks down what to do, how to stay sane, and how to protect your mental health during the entire med school admissions timeline.

We’ll talk about:

• How to cope with med school application anxiety

• What long wait times really mean

• Ways to stay grounded and stop overthinking

• How to avoid comparing yourself to other applicants

• What to focus on while you wait for decisions

If you’re refreshing your email every 10 minutes, stalking SDN or Reddit, or feeling discouraged, this episode will help you stay confident and centered throughout the medical school application waiting game.

Feeling overwhelmed by the endless list of MCAT resources? You're not alone. The key isn't to use every book and question bank-it's to study smarter, not harder.

In this episode, I'm giving you a complete breakdown of the exact resources I used to tackle the MCAT. We'll cover:

• My "must-have" resources vs. the "nice-to-have"

• A personal review of popular Q-banks (like UWorld, AAMC, etc.)

• How to use Anki for content review without it taking over your life

• Specific strategies and resources for CARS, B/B, C/P, and P/S

• Resources I tried and skipped-and why

Stop the guesswork and start building an efficient MCAT study plan. If you're a premed student looking for the best MCAT advice, this episode is for you.

THE LINKS TO MENTIONED RESOURCES

• https://jackwestin.com
• kaptest.com
• blueprintprep.com
• altiustestprep.com
• uworld.com
• https://students-residents.aamc.org/prepare-mcat-exam/prepare-mcat-exam

Dive into the viral internet debate that has everyone talking: Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? This isn't just a funny TikTok trend; it’s a cultural shift. We’re breaking down the Vogue article and the real reasons behind the Gen Zand millennial move away from public coupledom.

Is it about independence, the "main character" energy of single life, or a reaction to a toxic dating culture? Hosts [Your Host Name(s)] unpack the phenomenon of soft-launching partners, the fear of the "evil eye," the desire for female autonomy, and why being a "girlfriend" is no longer the ultimate status symbol.

If you've ever felt the "ick" from a couple's vlog, worried about losing your "aura" after a hard launch, or wondered why single girl summer has become year-round, this episode is for you.

Join us as we explore the intersection of relationships, social media trends, feminism, and modern identity. Is the future female and fiercely independent, or is this just another passing internet meme?

Have any Questions?

Email me @ [email protected]

In this episode, I’m sharing what I wish I knew before taking the MCAT — from study strategies that actually worked to mistakes I’d never repeat. Whether you’re just starting or retaking the exam, this is a real and honest breakdown of what helped me stay consistent, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently next time.

Note:

In the episode, I did mention that if you do not take your MCAT in May, you miss the application cycle. I would like to clarify on that. It is not that you will miss it entirely as there are and have been students who take their test in june, july and some, even in september and still succeed in the cycle. The real problem is that you will miss a lot of opportunities with medical schools as almost all of them utilize rolling admissions. So, while you may find success writing your test beyond May, it is recommended and advised you take it before May!

Resources I mentioned:

Anki - https://apps.ankiweb.net

Uworld - https://gradschool.uworld.com/mcat/prep-course/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=13229714366&gbraid=0AAAAAD_gz4fIi7FApjd0_V2MNzh7e6PGm&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgpzIBhCOARIsABZm7vHkGEIK1GhZ1QTLgyLeBTmJeMiqJ0aXARkQsChbsYI_Uqf3qlUzNsgaAk3jEALw_wcB

AAMC prep materials - https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://store.aamc.org/mcat-prep.html&ved=2ahUKEwiuw5qA99OQAxXsvokEHcTCD88QFnoECBUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0camethwf3D3TssNnH7FrB

Other Resources you can use:

Jack Westin(Free) - https://jackwestin.com

Blueprint - https://blueprintprep.com

Kaplan - https://www.kaptest.com/mcat?srsltid=AfmBOoo9Eajg73KMA9l40DvgmtBU-kSaX5iWB6HsX22Vjzx4rqMMCG3q