Myths, Expectations, and Hurdles: The Importance of Advisor Relationships in Navigating Barriers of Pre-Health Professional Students

Part 1: Setting Expectations

Students in the pre-medical track are very motivated, with lofty aspirations and high expectations of themselves. They are on the cusp of entering a demanding profession that requires them to be competent, empathetic, organized, curious, and collaborative while advocating for their patients. Most students are acutely aware of the challenges of this demanding profession and should ensure they are using the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines to maximize their success. These high expectations can result in a strong application and be beneficial in providing focus for some applicants. However, high expectations that are unrealistic, and out of touch with the student’s existing application, can produce excessive stress and anxiety for these applicants. Sometimes, pre-medical students aim for perfection (Bußenius & Harendza, 2019; Humphris & Kaney, 2002) often setting their sights on schools that exceed their credentials resulting in a qualified applicant being rejected from the schools they chose to apply to. This overreach leads to failure and burnout, which can be costly and damage a student’s mental health and confidence. Pre-medical advisors can identify too high expectations early on in students and guide students in order to avoid this trap by collaboratively setting realistic expectations and creating school lists that align with the harsh realities of a competitive medical school application. This strategy is effective in redirecting energy and ensuring applicants had the greatest opportunity for success.