Meet Lauren MBA, Sommelier, Second Year Medical School Student

This interview is the latest in an Accepted blog series featuring  interviews with medical school applicants and students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top medical schools and the med school application process. And now, introducing Lauren Accepted: We’d like to get to know you! Where are you from? Where and what did you study as an undergrad? Lauren:  I am from Louisiana and went to college at Louisiana State University. I received my degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Italian and Chemistry. I moved back to Oklahoma and completed my MBA before diving into medical school. Accepted: If you could meet any famous person past or present who would it be and why? Lauren:   This is a hard one, but it would have to be Rosalind Franklin. I would love to discuss with her what it was like to be a female chemist during her time, and I would share with her how much her work has impacted the world and how far women in science have come. Accepted: If you could describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be? Lauren:   Happy:  I wake up everyday choosing to have a good day. I definitely go through hard times just like everyone else, but I always try and find the positive in every situation. Go-getter:  I love challenging myself. Whether it is in my education, professionally, or physically, I am constantly trying new things and giving it my all. Multi-tasker:  I am always doing 20 things at one time. I think this is the only way I get so much done in the day. Sometimes I have to remind myself to slow down and really focus on one thing at a time. I am working on this 🙂 Accepted: Where are you currently going to med school? What year are you? Lauren:  I am a second year medical student at Oklahoma State University Accepted: What motivated you to pursue a career in medicine? Lauren:  I have always been interested in medicine. In elementary school when everyone dressed up as what they wanted to be when they grew up, I was always a doctor. I love that I will be able to help people through some of the hardest times and most exciting times in their lives. Accepted: Looking back at the application process, what are some challenges you faced? How did you overcome them? Lauren:  My application process was not very typical. I knew I wanted to go to a school in a state where I was not a resident, but they preferred in-state students. I made the choice to move to Oklahoma to better my chances and to benefit from in-state tuition. During that time I worked to better my MCAT score and application. Applying to only one school came with its challenges, but I am so happy with my decision. Accepted: You have a website, laurenbessette.com! Why did you start chronicling your med school and at-home life? Lauren:  Yes! I started www.laurenbessette.com with the idea that it would be focused on wine. During my time between undergrad and medical school, I fell in love with learning about wine and became a sommelier. During my first year of medical school, I missed being involved in the wine world, so starting this site, with the section â€Å"The Broke Sommelier’s Guide to Wine,† allowed me to get back in there. It really just evolved into what it is now, involving medical school, travel, food, and everything in between. Accepted: Lastly, what are 3 things you wish you would have known before starting med school that youd like to share with those who are currently applying? Lauren: 1.  Take a gap year. It was hard watching my peers go through medical school and graduate before me, but I was able to grow so much as a person during my time off of school. 2. Don’t lose hope. I didn’t get in my first time. It was hard, but I remembered why I wanted to become a physician and it gave me the strength and motivation to apply again. 3. Learn how to balance life. This is a constant theme on my site. I am a big advocate for finding balance and doing things that make you happy. Yes, medical school is hard and it takes a lot of work and a lot of time, but you only have one life. You have to make an effort to spend time with friends and family, to take care of yourself physically and mentally, and do things that you love. You can follow Laurens story by checking out her website, LaurenBessette.com,   or by following her on Twitter (@LaurenBessette1) and Instagram (@lauren_bessette). Thank you Lauren for sharing your story with us we wish you continued success!   For one-on-one guidance on your med school applications, check out our catalog of med school admissions services. Do you want to be featured in Accepted’s blog? If you want to share your med school journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at bloggers@accepted.com. hbspt.cta.load(58291, '4463eb19-c5fe-4c96-84cb-974e47a00bb0', {}); Related Resources: †¢Ã‚  Put the Med School Application Puzzle Together: Advice from Cyd Foote [Podcast Episode] †¢Ã‚  How to Spend Your â€Å"Gap Year† Between College and Medical School †¢ The Dreaded Med School Rejection: What Now?