Q&A with Mandy Everhart '02

1. What year did you graduate Cornell, and what was your major?

2002; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a Psychology Minor

2. What were you involved in at Cornell?

I was one of the founding members and the president for the Health Professions Society. Other memberships included Tri-Beta, Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, The Lunch Buddies Program, KRNL (I had a radio show for several years), tutoring, Blood Drive coordinator, and Speech. I was also very involved in theatre, both as an actress (I was in at least a show a year) and in technical roles (usually publicity). I was a Sponge and was the secretary and bailiff for two years.

3. What do you do now? Where?

I am currently a medical student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. I am just starting my fourth year.

4. In your opinion, what is the most difficult part of medical school?

Currently, I’d say the most difficult part is the fact that I’m in this weird limbo state. I am still a student, still have tests, am still evaluated and still have to pass courses. At the same time, though, I am a young doctor who goes to work every day and treats patients. It’s a weird position to be in. The other difficult part is finding time to have a life outside of medicine and still do well in my rotations.

5. How did Cornell prepare you for medical school?

Cornell is an environment that stresses productivity and efficiency. Both of these are necessary to be a successful medical student and a successful doctor. I am very good at time management thanks in part to Cornell. My BMB major also gave me the scientific foundation to do well my first and second years (the classroom years) and to understand the research papers I read to keep up on the latest treatments today. Cornell also taught me to problem solve.

6. How could Cornell have better prepared you?

I wish there had been more medically oriented classes and more opportunities for job shadowing.

7. What preparation for medical school did you do on your own that helped the most?

I have always been the type to go find an opportunity when one does not readily present itself. I did some job shadowing over summer vacations. I applied for and participated in summer research two summers in a row. I am also very organized, so I kept close track of deadlines etc in relation to med school applications, MCATs, etc. I made some mistakes, but learned from them.

8. Is there anything you wish you had done to help you prepare?

I wish I had started things a little earlier. I wish I had taken a few classes that I didn’t. I wish I had asked (or not asked) certain people for letters of recommendation. It’s all the stuff that you have to learn as you go.

9. How many times did you take the MCAT?

Once

10. What was the most difficult question you received at your interview?

Oh, gosh…that was so long ago I barely remember. I think it had something to do with what I thought of the current state of health care in America. I was not (and am not) that big on current affairs (partially because of my personality and partially because of the Cornell Bubble), so I kind of had to improv my answer on the spot.

11. What did you wear to your interview?

A lovely stone-blue suit that I bought as soon as I got my first interview offer. It had a skirt and a very trim jacket. I still own it and wear it for special functions.

12. How many schools did you apply to?

Applied to 11, got secondaries for all of them, filled out secondaries for 10, interviewed at 7 and got into 5.

13. Did you get admitted to your first choice school?

Yes! And I’ve been attending my first choice school for three years!

14. How many hours a day are you either in class, studying, or working?

Hmm…well, it depends on the rotation. On the easier rotations, I’m probably at work about 10 hours a day and studying another 2-3. On the more difficult rotations, I’m at work anywhere from 10 hours to 36 hours and I’m studying more like 4-5 hours a day (ideally).

15. How many hours of sleep do you get?

On my current rotation (dermatology), about 7 to 8. When I was on OB/GYN, on the nights I wasn’t on call…about 4-5. When I am on call for any rotation, it’s more like 3.

16. What nugget of advice would you pass on to other Cornell students interested in pursuing medicine?

I have a whole “Advice for People Going Into Medical School” that I put together when I graduated from Cornell. In general though…make sure Medicine is truly what you want to do before you go through the expensive, stressful and time consuming process of going to medical school. It’s an amazing profession, but it’s also not for everyone. Make sure you have a passion for medicine. Otherwise you will burn out.

17. Anything else you'd like current students to know?

I really treasure the friends I made at Cornell. They are still some of my closest friends and they help keep me grounded, since most of them are not in medicine. It’s important to have outside friends and outside interests. Also, know that Medical school is really hard, but it’s also really fun. Enjoy it!