The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State

What are the ethics and implications of Brain-Computer Interfaces? This technology can completely change the way that we think about the treatment of things like nerve damage, loss of limb, neurological conditions, and even mental health disorders. In this episode, we explore what Neuralink is, how it works, and other big questions surrounding the technology. Thanks for joining us!

This is a rebroadcast of a previous episode. What is required to be a competitive applicant starts with your preparation years. In the past, students with great grades and good MCAT scores were shoe-ins for admission. We know that the admissions process now in 2023 is far more complex and competitive for even the most incredible students to navigate. This episode breaks apart some of the common, myths, misconceptions, and barriers to preparing yourself for the health professions and gives some advice on ways to adjust your thinking to improve your approach, and ultimately, your enjoyment in preparing for this journey.AUDIO: INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of Prehealth Advising in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the Prehealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving prehealth students across the university system.

Gun Violence and Mass Shootings, while not unique to the United States, is a uniquely US American problem in how it is viewed and treated. In this week's episode, we are once again joined by Dr. Mekel to discuss this ethical concern, its impact on healthcare, and what future providers should be thinking about and considering to positively influence this issue in their future work - especially for primary care providers. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of Prehealth Advising in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the Prehealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student, at every institution, or for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving prehealth students across the university system.

In this episode, we discuss semaglutides, more commonly referred to by their brand names (Wegovy, Ozempic, etc.) have grown significantly in popularity. Originally designed and intended for managing diabetes in a more efficient and effective manner, they have begun to be prescribed for weight loss and have been heralded as a miracle cure for obesity. As with all miracle cures, the other side isn't as glamorous as we'd like to think. This episode digs into the science, culture, and sociology (and of course the ethics) of this pharmaceutical marvel and what it means for future care providers. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of Prehealth Advising in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the Prehealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student, at every institution, or for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving prehealth students across the university system.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine joined the podcast this week to discuss their school, curriculum, community engagement, longitudinal research project, and more. Clayton Steup, Director of Special Programs & Recruitment, joins us to share his perspective and help all applicants understand how they may find their fit or home at Pitt Med. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of Prehealth Advising in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the Prehealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student, at every institution, or for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving prehealth students across the university system.

In this week's episode, we welcome back Dr. Michele Mekel to discuss CRISPR-Cas9 which enables scientists to edit parts of the genetic material of living organisms. This discussion focuses on the ethical, anthropological, and biological implications of this technology. For future healthcare providers, we talk about things to think about as this technology begins to be used in applications never before thought possible. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

In another entry in our STUDENT STORIES series, we welcome a Penn State student who will be attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. We talk to him about his journey to dentistry, what he has done along the way to prepare, and what he has done to feel ready. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

SHPEP is a free summer enrichment program focused on improving access to information and resources for college students interested in the health professions. SHPEP's goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and those with demonstrated interest in issues affecting underserved populations to prepare them for a successful application and matriculation to health professions schools. Students from backgrounds underrepresented in the sciences are encouraged to apply. This episode shares the stories of two participants from the summer of 2023. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This week, we welcome back a friend of The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State, Michele Mekel to talk with us about the ethical concerns of Long Covid. As future care providers, all prehealth students should be thinking about what these bigger health issues mean for their future patients, practices, and the healthcare industry as a whole.

For students developing their school lists, starting their journey to their future health profession, or wanting to make a personal connection to admissions officers at schools that you may be interested in the Penn State Health Professions Expo can be a useful tool. This episode will talk about what the expo is, how to prepare for it, and make the most out of this exciting opportunity. The 2024 Expo is on Wednesday, February 28th, 2024 from 10 am to 2 pm in Alumni in the HUB. Below are some links to help you prepare: First- and Second-Year Students:Plan to use this event to explore all the possible opportunities in the health professions. Use our foundations guide to help you prepare for before, during, and after the Health Professions Expo.Juniors, Seniors, and Upcoming Applicants:Plan to use this event to learn more about schools in your desired profession. Use our upcoming applicants guide to help you prepare for before, during, and after the Health Professions Expo.AND, you can look at the programs that are attending.AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

Nick DeMario, a current M1 at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University sits down with us to talk about his journey to medicine, the help he received along the way, and how he found the right place for him with Sidney Kimmel. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

For most applicants, their worst case scenario is a cycle that does not result in an acceptance. It is hard to experience a "failed" application. It can feel dehumanizing, like you aren't a good applicant, or that you won't ever get an acceptance. However, there is power in learning what went wrong and taking the steps to improve yourself and what you can offer to a health professions program. This episode overviews what students who haven't not had a positive result in their cycle to consider to improve their overall application. Reapplicants can be some of the strongest applicants in the cycle. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This is a rebroadcast of an earlier episode being re-released because of its timely relevance for the upcoming application cycle.In the admissions cycle for the Health Professions, there is no part of the application that a student has more control over than the personal statement. And, it is essential to get right if you want to move through the admissions process and get an interview invitation. In this episode, we discuss the Personal Statement and how it is used in the application from both the applicant's and admissions officer's viewpoint.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This week's episode is geared toward our students at Penn State. In this episode, we give advice for those working toward completing a comprehensive review this semester in preparation for the upcoming admissions cycle. The Comprehensive Review is a process that Penn State uses to help students feel more ready for their application and to put forth the best possible version of themselves in the competitive application processes for the health professions. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

For applicants in the current application cycle, January can be a difficult time. Some of you may have not heard from schools at all, some of you may be waiting on decisions post-interview, and some of you may be on waitlists possibly even at your dream program. This week's episode talks about reasons students may be communicating with Admissions Offices during this time of the cycle, what the nature of those communications might be, and best practices for applicants considering this option. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This week we are thrilled to welcome back Dave Cassiday to walk you through a guided writing exercise focused on the reflection of your experiences in your pursuit of your intended health profession. How students communicate their thoughts, insights, and ideas through their application can make or break their candidacy regardless of their metrics. This exercise will give students the space and time to explore those thoughts in an organized consistent way which will also give students a bank of content to use in future applications. AUDIO: INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-Media OUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-Media ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

One part of your application process that has the greatest influence on your success, is selecting a great school list. In this week's episode, we talk about the important aspects to consider when crafting your school list and the ways in which this list can impact the success or failure of a cycle. AUDIO: INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSounds OUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSounds ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

Sometimes viewed as the "resume" section, the Work & Activities (or Experiences and Achievements section depending on your application service) couldn't be further from a simple resumer. In this section, we discuss the anatomy and physiology of the work and activities section and how this section is used by Admissions officers to make decisions and better understand an applicant. We also provide some strategies for students to help these entries better tell their story.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

One of the largest changes over the past decade in admissions for health professional training programs has been the widespread adoption of holistic review. In this episode, we dive deeply into the history of admissions, how holistic review became more and more commonplace in admissions over time, and also how holistic review MAY come in to place when reviewing and evaluating a student's application.AUDIO: INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-Media OUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-Media ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This section can be EXTREMELY tedious. But, it is important to do right. This week, we discuss the grade entry and standardized test portions of the application. These items "open the doors" for schools to want to look more deeply at your application and can influence how schools interpret you as an applicant.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

Penn State Research Links: URFM Database for PSU Research: https://urfm.psu.edu/research/undergraduate-research-opportunities-database Searching for Research at Penn State (comprehensive all campuses): https://pure.psu.edu/en/ Life Science Research through the Huck Institute of Life Sciences (go to the faculty pages): https://www.huck.psu.edu/graduate-programs Psychology Research Opportunities: https://psych.la.psu.edu/undergraduate/engaged-scholarship-in-psychology/research/opportunities/ Biomedical Engineering: https://science.psu.edu/chem/research/biological Chemistry Department (Biological Research): https://www.bme.psu.edu/research/index.aspx​ Research funding opportunities at Penn State (for Penn State students): Erickson Discovery Grants: https://urfm.psu.edu/programs/erickson-discovery-grant Student Engagement Network: https://www.engage.psu.edu/sen-grant-program/ ECoS SURE (must be an Eberly College of Science student): https://science.psu.edu/current-students/undergraduate-research/summer-undergraduate-research-program Summer Research Opportunities: Pathways to Science: https://www.pathwaystoscience.org​ AAMC Biomedical Summer Undergraduate Research Programs: https://www.aamc.org/professional-development/affinity-groups/great/summer-undergrad-research-programs BIG 10 SROP (if you are considering grad school): https://btaa.org/docs/default-source/diversity/srop2019flyer.pdf?sfvrsn=6c8acb17_2 and https://btaa.org/resources-for/students/srop/campus-profiles REU Finder: https://reufinder.com/ NSF REUs: https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp NIH Summer Internship: https://www.training.nih.gov/research-training/pb/sip/

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Tiffany Matthews to help students get these influential and impactful experiential learning opportunities. Links mentioned in today's podcast:Penn State Research Links:URFM Database for PSU Research: https://urfm.psu.edu/research/undergraduate-research-opportunities-databaseSearching for Research at Penn State (comprehensive all campuses): https://pure.psu.edu/en/Psychology Research Opportunities: https://psych.la.psu.edu/undergraduate/engaged-scholarship-in-psychology/research/opportunities/Biomedical Engineering: https://science.psu.edu/chem/research/biologicalResearch funding opportunities at Penn State (for Penn State students):Erickson Discovery Grants: https://urfm.psu.edu/programs/erickson-discovery-grantStudent Engagement Network: https://www.engage.psu.edu/sen-grant-program/ECoS SURE (must be an Eberly College of Science student): https://science.psu.edu/current-students/undergraduate-research/summer-undergraduate-research-programSummer Research Opportunities:AAMC Biomedical Summer Undergraduate Research Programs: https://www.aamc.org/professional-development/affinity-groups/great/summer-undergrad-research-programsBIG 10 SROP (if you are considering grad school): https://btaa.org/docs/default-source/diversity/srop2019flyer.pdf?sfvrsn=6c8acb17_2 and https://btaa.org/resources-for/students/srop/campus-profilesREU Finder: https://reufinder.com/NSF REUs: https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jspAUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

YES! The rumor is true. You CAN study abroad as a student tracking toward a health profession. In this week's episode, we are joined by our colleague from the Office of Science Engagement whose focus is on global experiences. We discuss all things study abroad, opportunities for students at Penn State, share some personal stories from our own trips abroad as students, and how you can make this exciting opportunity a reality! This is an episode that you do not want to miss! During this episode, we discussed two important links: ECoS study abroad page: https://science.psu.edu/current-students/education-abroad Self-enroll into the Science Abroad Canvas Group: https://psu.instructure.com/enroll/4HG3YA AUDIO: INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-Media OUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-Media ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

You have recently arrived on campus, you have started your prerequisites, and have started to get adjusted to the college lifestyle. You may be thinking... what in the world should I be doing to be a competitive future applicant? This episode overviews where we feel students should be starting, what they should be prioritizing, and how to use these early experiences to build a strong future application. AUDIO: INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-Media OUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-Media ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

[This is a rebroadcast of a previous episode but is being rereleased since the content is timely for students working toward their Comprehensive Review or working on their portfolio.] Most students barely give the Biographical Section much thought and for most students, it makes a lot of sense. The section is mostly data entry and includes some pretty routine, standard information. But understanding how this information is used in the application process is helpful for students in crafting it with care. Additionally, this section includes questions about a student's legal and institutional history - these questions are essential to get right for students to be fully considered and reviewed by schools. This week, we focus on this important section to help applicants understand its power in their application.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

The Comprehensive Review process is a tool used by PreHealth Advisers at Penn State to help guide their students to success in the application cycle. Even if you aren't a Penn State student who has access to this sort of opportunity, you can still take the details of how we approach this process and use that to support your own process. For Penn State students, please refer to these resources to help you get started with this process: Applicant Guide: https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.psu.edu/dist/d/41191/files/2023/09/2025-Applicant-Guide.pdfComprehensive Review Guide: https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.psu.edu/dist/d/41191/files/2023/09/Comprehensive-Review.pdfAUDIO: INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-Media OUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-Media ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the be ...

This is a rerelease of a past episode. We will routinely rerelease content to assist listeners with content at timely parts of the year. For this week's episode, we are talking about common myths and misconceptions that we hear about during the application cycle. We will have more "mythbusting" episodes in the future but for this one, we start from the very beginning of the application cycle all the way through matriculation. If you are planning to apply this year, this episode is definitely for you.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

The Eberly College of Science at Penn State University has an Early Assurance Program with the Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry. This episode will discuss the ins and outs of the application, who this program is a good fit for, and some strategies for approaching the application to best showcase your readiness and fit for this program. AUDIO: INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-Media OUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-Media ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This will be the first in a series of rebroadcasted episodes to be able to reach new listeners with our back catalog of episodes. Roughly 1 in 4 students at Penn State identify as 1st Generation (this varies by campus). First-generation (first-gen) students tend to have higher satisfaction in their college experience compared to their peers, greater learning gains, and demonstrate a greater ability to overcome setbacks of all kinds. However, they often face psychological, academic, financial, and social challenges that their peers do not experience in the same ways, and about one in three leave college within the first three years. In this week's conversation, we dive deep into a conversation about this population with our colleague, Marc Counterman - a first-generation Penn State graduate and current PreHealth Adviser at Penn State.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

The Eberly College of Science has an Early Assurance Program with the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in NJ. This episode will discuss the ins and outs of the application, who this program is a good fit for, and some strategies for approaching the application to best showcase your readiness and fit for this program. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

In this episode, we are focusing on the myths and common misconceptions about the standardized test for students pursuing medicine as a career. We see a lot of students with counterintuitive thoughts and understandings around the exam. We break down the most common things we see and try to set you up for success. AUDIO: INTRO Song was This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song was Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is BACK! To open up season 2, we invited our advising colleagues to talk about their favorite moments from Season 1, some things we would like to see in Season 2, and what is on the horizon for our episodes of this season, of the Penn State PreHealth Podcast

This week we are thrilled to welcome several professionals from The Western University of Health Sciences College of Podiatric Medicine in Pomona, CA. Unfortunately, we ran into some audio issues with this episode that we were unable to resolve. Please excuse the audio quality for this episode as a result. Our colleagues, however, were incredibly insightful about the opportunities and dynamics of pursuing a career in the diverse and exciting field of podiatry. AUDIO: INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSounds OUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

In the current admissions process, schools are looking for more and more data to evaluate and compare candidates for their programs. Over the past few years, situational judgment tests have risen in prominence and use. This episode discusses the most common situational judgment tests in the health professions (Altus Suite - CASPer and DUET & the AAMC's PREview Exam), their structure, design, intention, and ways in which to prepare yourself for this important part of the admissions process. AUDIO: INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSounds OUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

The Primary Application shows an overview of your preparation and what makes you a broadly attractive candidate. The Secondary Essay/Application phase gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your fit for individual schools and programs. This week's episode features us discussing strategies for doing this well and understanding how a strong approach to these essays can make or break applications to schools. AUDIO: INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSounds OUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This week, our conversation is about the academic major that students choose to prepare for the competitive applications to the health professions, what that means for admissions, and what options are out there. Our guest is Dr. Beth Johnson, Director of the Science Major in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. AUDIO: INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSounds OUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

If you are a Penn State student in the Eberly College of Science, you can pursue an Early Assurance Agreement with the Penn State College of Medicine, which is an early offer of admission to medical school! This episode discusses the requirements to be able to apply, who this program is right for, and some guidance on the application process. EAP Program Website: https://science.psu.edu/interdisciplinary-programs/premedicine/prehealth-advising/early-admission-to-professional-schoolAUDIO: INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

NOTE: A previously released version of this podcast had an audio error. We apologize for that issue but have corrected the audio files for this release.At the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Dr. Bernadette Gilbert is a leader in guiding the selection of the next cohort of healthcare professionals. In this special episode, we were thrilled to be able to learn more about Dr. Gilbert's journey to medicine and more about the Penn State College of Medicine, their selection process, and advice on how to best prepare yourself as a future medical school student.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

Right and wrong is not as black and white as we would like to think. And the big questions of our time will take interdisciplinary approaches, thinking, and problem-solving. In this week's episode, we chat with Dr. Michele Mekel, Associate Director of the Bioethics Program at Penn State about Bioethics, Medical Humanities, and the big questions of our age.Referenced Collaboration:2nd Annual PSETI Symposium: https://sites.psu.edu/setisymposium2023/ Article with guideposts: “Bio-techno-signature Monitoring and Communication for Extraterrestrial Life”: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/acc4b8AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

The term "professionalism" is often a nebulous concept and not always clear to many of our first-generation, academically underprepared, and underresourced students. In this episode, host Kimberly Johnson breaks down this concept to help ALL of our students grow in this essential area as they prepare for careers in the health professions.

This week's episode is a talk-through guide for Penn State students to request their Penn State transcripts and how to send them to Liaison-based common application services such as CASPA, AACOMAS, PTCAS, AADSAS, OptomCAS, AACPMAS, etc. This is a super short episode.

This week's episode is a talk-through guide for Penn State students to request their Penn State transcripts and how to send them to AMCAS. This is a super short episode. Next week, we will have another super short episode walking through this same process but for Liaison-based application systems (CASPA, AACOMAS, PTCAS, AADSAS, OptomCAS, AACPMAS, etc.).AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

As a current student at VCOM and Penn State grad, Brooke Nelson joins us on the podcast today to talk about her journey to medicine but also some of the challenges of making the transition to the next phase of your journey.

PostBac programs are incredibly varied and can benefit some students while not being right for others. In this week's conversation, we sit down with our friend and colleague Dr. Rarig from Temple University about PostBac programs, who they are right for, what they can look like, how they work, and what to consider.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

In the 1980s, there was one topic that was more on the mind of infectious disease specialists than anything else but was rarely talked about at all. This disease would eventually be known as HIV/AIDS. Despite the public health crisis presented by this disease, very few physicians would treat patients with the symptoms, or when testing became available, the disease. In the state of Utah, your only choice was the indomitable Dr. Kristen Ries and her incredible partner and Physician Assistant, Maggie Snyder. A 2023 recipient of the Outstanding Science Alumni Award for the Eberly College of Science at Penn State, Dr. Ries has had an incredible career serving the most vulnerable patients and healing more than just their symptoms - but their hearts as well. This is an incredibly special episode and I am thrilled to have you all listen to our conversation with this incredible professional. Learn more by watching the documentary "Quiet Heroes".AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

What is required to be a competitive applicant starts with your preparation years. In the past, students with great grades and good MCAT scores were shoe-ins for admission. We know that the admissions process now in 2023 is far more complex and competitive for even the most incredible students to navigate. This episode breaks apart some of the common, myths, misconceptions, and barriers to preparing yourself for the health professions and gives some advice on ways to adjust your thinking to improve your approach, and ultimately, your enjoyment in preparing for this journey. AUDIO: INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

In the first episode of our student stories series, we interview first-generation college student, Era Pasha. We discuss her life, journey, passion for healthcare, and the challenges she has overcome along the way. AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

One part of your application process that has the greatest influence on your success, is selecting a great school list. In this week's episode, we talk about the important aspects to consider when crafting your school list and the ways in which this list can impact the success or failure of a cycle. AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This section can be EXTREMELY tedious. But, it is important to do right. This week, we discuss the grade entry and standardized test portions of the application. These items "open the doors" for schools to want to look more deeply at your application and can influence how schools interpret you as an applicant.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

Sometimes viewed as the "resume" section, the Work & Activities (or Experiences and Achievements section depending on your application service) couldn't be further from a simple resumer. In this section, we discuss the anatomy and physiology of the work and activities section and discussing how this section is used by Admissions officers to make decisions and better understand an applicant. We also provide some strategies for students to help these entries better tell their story.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

Most students barely give the Biographical Section much thought and for most students, it makes a lot of sense. The section is mostly data entry and includes some pretty routine, standard information. But understanding how this information is used in the application process is helpful for students in crafting it with care. Additionally, this section includes questions about a student's legal and institutional history - these questions are essential to get right for students to be fully considered and reviewed by schools. This week, we focus on this important section to help applicants understand its power in their application.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.