Medical Careers
Editor’s Pick: The Top 5 Blogs Every Pre-Med Should Be Reading
About The Atlantis Team
We offer helpful, informative content to the next generation of healthcare professionals, so that they can achieve their goals, avoid common pitfalls, and grow in their passion for healthcare.
We’re pretty plugged into the pre-med world. Here are some of our top picks for awesome pre-med content (aside from our ours, obviously).
Pre-Med bloggers. They’re everywhere.
The life of a pre-med student can be hard, and we’ve all had some embarrassing moments. If you have ever dropped your entire stack of anatomy flashcards in the street, spent your Friday night in the library, or almost slept through that 7:00am chemistry final, you know this first-hand. You probably don’t go on social media to highlight these moments, though, right?
So, why do pre-med bloggers exist? Well, for one, they’re here to help you realize you’re not alone in struggling through any of the aforementioned pre-med mishaps. That being said, our experience with pre-med bloggers, or influencers in some cases, is mixed. It is easy to showcase beautiful notes, designer scrubs, and inspirational quotes about achieving your dreams. It’s not so easy to put real time and energy into helping to improve the pre-med experience for a group of strangers.
Beware of the accounts that seem to be capitalizing on an audience’s almost desperate desire to get into medical school. There is a difference between promoting healthy study habits, sharing exam prep tips, and encouraging you to keep going, and the accounts that simply promote a product, gadget, or ‘foolproof way to get into medical school.’
At the end of the day, you will be the one responsible for the hard work needed to gain acceptance to the school of your dreams.
While no one may be around to rescue you from the MCAT and studying stress, the Atlantis team is here to offer you encouragement and inspiration, and there are a few bloggers out there doing the same.
To remind you that there are other people out there with aspirations as lofty as yours and the dedication to fulfill those goals, we have compiled a list of the most thought-provoking and helpful medical blogs for your enjoyment:
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Aspiring Docs Diaries
This blog is published by the AAMC and features posts from a variety of bloggers. The blog posts are divided into different categories based on their focus: Pre-med, Med School, Residents, Resilience, Motivation and Patient Interaction. If you’re looking for concrete pre-med advice and tips for how to stay focused, as well as inspiring stories and testimonies from doctors and other health professionals, check out this blog.
One of our favorite posts on the site is How Shadowing Pulled Me Into Medicine. Through simple yet effective storytelling, the author uses a personal experience to educate his readers and enlighten them about the benefits of medical shadowing.
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KevinMD
Looking for something a little more substantive? This blog, published by Dr. Kevin Pho, explores topics such as health care policy, patient experiences, and medical ethics. The blog features articles written by the author himself, as well as other doctors and health professionals. The site offers a mosaic of perspectives on issues that are relevant to pre-med and medical students.
An example of this blog’s provocative nature is the first-person Daily Life with Chronic Illness, which narrates a day in the life of a patient suffering from chronic pain.
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A Doctor In the House
Started originally as a medical school blog, this site was created by Andrea Tooley, now a resident physician at Mayo Clinic. Covering topics such as food, fitness, medical school and resident life, Dr. Tooley discusses the health professional life from a highly personal perspective. Her blog’s tagline: “Eat well. Sweat often. Keep learning.”
Dr. Tooley writes with a relatable and conversational tone and often includes photos, recipes, and workout tips in her blog posts. This blog highlights the everyday life of a doctor and offers an uplifting glimpse into the rewarding and sometimes joyful work of being a doctor. It’s full of practical life advice and is accompanied by a video series on YouTube.
One of Dr. Tooley’s most relatable posts is How to Survive a Long Distance Relationship in Medical School.
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PreMed Life:
This blog is specifically catered to pre-med college students and offers valuable advice on how to study in college, prepare for medical school, complete med school applications, and stay organized as a pre-med student. This site also includes a digital magazine and a resources tab with information on post-baccalaureate pre-med programs, writing personal statements, and studying for the MCAT. As an added bonus, this website offers generic advice to undergraduate students (not limited to pre-med students) on how to stay organized and focused during college.
How to Make Your Second Year As Successful As Your First Year is a great post, as it provides practical ways to excel in college as a pre-med student.
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A Little Bit of Lacquer
This blog is one of our personal favorites. Laura documents not only her life in medical school and residency but also her interests outside of medicine and science. As a woman of well-rounded interests, she dedicates a significant portion of her blog to writing about art, travel, food, fashion, and family life. The reason we love this blog? It allows pre-med students to see that it is in fact possible to have a full life while in medical school. Laura also offers helpful practical tips, including her favorite organizing app, her preferred method for scheduling, and ways to multitask effectively.
One of our favorite posts on this blog is A Day In the Life of a Harvard Med Student. In this post, Laura breaks down her daily schedule for readers, helping us understand the logistics of a busy yet organized lifestyle.
The next time you’re feeling in need of a pre-med pick-me-up, check out these blogs and motivate yourself to keep following your medical dreams!
Our Alumni Enter Great Medical Schools
John Daines
- Atlantis '17
- Brigham Young University '19
- Washington U. in St. Louis MD '23
Zoey Petitt
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Arizona '18
- Duke MD '23
Zoey Petitt
Hungary ’17 || University of Arizona (undergraduate) ’18
Completed Atlantis Program Location and Date:
Hungary, Summer 2017
Do you believe your Atlantis experience helped you get into your graduate program?
I believe it was very helpful.
Generally, why do you think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate program?
For me, my Atlantis experience played a key role in confirming my decision to go into medicine. This was important for me to discuss during the admissions process.
Specifically, did you talk about Atlantis in your interviews?
Yes
Yong-hun Kim
- Atlantis '17
- Stanford '19
- Mayo Clinic MD '24
Yong-Hun Kim
Budapest, Hungary ’17 || Stanford University
Program:
Budapest, Hungary – Winter 2017
Undergraduate:
Stanford University class of 2019
Major:
Computer Science
Honors:
Bio-X Grant (award for research)
Undergraduate Activities:
President and Founder of Stanford Undergraduate Hospice and Palliative Care, Volunteer for Pacific Free Clinic, Research Assistant in Wernig Pathology Lab, President of Hong Kong Student Association, violin performance
Describe Atlantis in three words:
Eye-opening. Spontaneous. Exhilarating.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I chose the Atlantis program because it combines opportunities to shadow physicians and travel abroad, both of which I had little prior exposure to.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
My favorite experience as an Atlantis participant came in the stories exchanged over meals or excursions and the breadth of conversation that reflected the diversity of backgrounds within our cohort and site managers.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I appreciated the chance to speak with physicians in Budapest and hear their personal motivations for pursuing medicine because it really helped better contextualize and validate my own interest in medicine. The physicians were also just really welcoming, relatable, and down-to-earth people.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
The Atlantis program has equipped me with a better understanding of what a career in medicine looks like, which I think is an invaluable gift considering the long road ahead of those who aspire to be a physician.
How has Atlantis equipped you for active leadership in the medical field?
The ability to interact and empathize with patients of diverse backgrounds and communities is a necessity to be a leader in the medical field. I think the Atlantis program, through my interactions with mentors and their patients, has helped me take my first steps toward attaining the cultural vocabulary and literacy required of a physician.
Megan Branson
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Montana '19
- U. of Washington MD '24
Sarah Emerick
- Atlantis '19
- Eckerd College '20
- Indiana U. MD '25
Snow Nwankwo
- Atlantis '19
- Catholic U. of America '21
- Georgetown U. MD '26
Tiffany Hu
- Atlantis '16
- U. of Maryland '17
- U. of Michigan MD '22
Tiffany Hu
Tereul, Spain ’16 || U Michigan Medical School
Program:
Teruel, Spain – Summer 2016
Undergraduate:
University of Maryland class of 2017
Admitted medical student at:
University of Michigan Medical School
Major:
Neurobiology
Honors:
Honors Integrated Life Sciences Program, Banneker/Key Scholarship
Extracurricular Activities:
American Medical Student Association Co-President & Advocacy Day Liaison, Alternative Breaks Experience Leader, Health Professions Advising Office Student Advisory Board, Biology Teach Assistant, Health Leads, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, NIH Research Intern, Physicians for Social Responsibility Environment & Health Intern
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Educational. Eye-opening. Exhilarating.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I wanted to expand my horizons and understand a culture of health different from the ones I am accustomed to. I had shadowed doctors in the United States and Taiwan prior to my Atlantis program experience, and being able to see first-hand the healthcare system in Spain allowed me to draw comparisons between the different complex healthcare systems.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
Bonding with the other participants and celebrating our time together along with the doctors we shadowed. We would discuss our interests, passions, and motivation for medicine, and it was an incredible experience to learn from and alongside them.
What was your experience with the doctors you were shadowing?
Because of the pre-established relationships with the hospitals in which we shadowed, all the doctors were very welcoming and accommodating. They were willing to translate for us and explain in detail all of their medical decisions. My doctors and I had wonderful conversations about the differences between life in Spain vs. the United States.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I was excited to scrub in on surgeries and watch as the doctor explained what he was doing throughout the operation. Before and after surgeries, as well as in my other rotations, I observed how the doctors reassured and communicated with their patients. I was able to glean insight into differences between the experience of health in Spain versus the United States through observation as well as conversations with the doctors.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
Besides the wealth of medical knowledge I gained from shadowing the doctors, I challenged myself to step outside of my cultural comfort zone and explore more than I thought I was capable of. Atlantis allowed me to make connections with people from all around the United States and abroad, and the friendships I gained helped me learn so much more than I would have on my own.
Lauren Cox
- Atlantis '18
- Louisiana Tech '20
- U. of Arkansas MD '24
Lauren Cox
Libson, Portugal ’18 || Louisiana Tech
Completed Atlantis Program Location(s):
Lisbon, Portugal
Year of most recent program:
Fall ’17 – Summer ’18
Season of most recent program:
Summer
Do you believe your Atlantis experience helped you get into your graduate program?
Extremely helpful
Generally, why do you think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate program?
It exposed me to shadowing that was hard to come by in the states. It also gave me a chance to see other systems of healthcare.
Specifically, did you talk about Atlantis in your interviews? If so, how much relative to other topics?
Yes – they wanted to know about my experience, and specifically how the healthcare I saw in another country compared to what I had seen in the USA.
Kayla Riegler
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Kentucky '20
- U. of Kentucky MD '24
About Atlantis
Atlantis is the leader in pre-health shadowing and clinical experience, offering short-term programs (1-10 weeks) over academic breaks for U.S. pre-health undergraduates. Medical schools want 3 things: (1)healthcare exposure, (2)GPA/MCAT, and (3)certain competencies. Atlantis gives you a great version of (1), frees you to focus on (2), and cultivates/shows (3) to medical school admissions committees.
Watch Video: The Atlantis Shadowing Experience and How it Helps In Your Med/PA Admissions Future
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