Peer advising provides non-academic advice and personal student perspectives about life and learning at MBKU in an informal way to all students in the first academic year. Peer advising is the student complement to academic advising provided by faculty advisors and Student Services. New students will gain informed student perspective that is based on their Peer Advisor’s personal experience within their program, along with formal training.
Peer Advisors are students in the second academic year who are committed to academic excellence and student leadership. They show strong commitment to helping new students make the transition from undergraduates to informed, successful professional students who will be responsible for their academic goals and professional growth.
One of the biggest concerns people have after taking one or more gap years is whether they'll be able to get used to being a student again. After spending time away from lectures, exams,
and studying, it's easy to wonder if you've fallen behind. I felt the same way before starting SCCO. Looking back, though, I realized that I wasn't starting from scratch. I was bringing valuable experiences with me.
You’re Not Starting From Scratch
When I first started PA school, of course I was worried about exams and an endless amount of material to learn, but I was also nervous about losing my social life.
I had convinced myself that graduate school meant saying goodbye to weekends with friends, going out for dinner, working out at the gym, and pretty much anything that wasn't studying. I pictured myself spending every waking hour buried in lecture slides, barely coming up for air. Honestly, I was preparing myself to put life on hold for the next 2 years.
When I first started PA school, I was overwhelmed. Between lectures, exams, and trying to keep up with the constant flow of information, working out became the first thing I let go. Before I knew it, three months had passed without exercising.
Looking back, I didn't realize just how much it affected me. My stress felt heavier, my energy was lower, and I found myself feeling mentally drained almost every day. I convinced myself that every free minute had to be spent studying, but in reality, I wasn't taking care of the person doing the learning.
Even with how lovely our campus is for studying, we all need a coffee shop at some point. Between studying for exams, clinical rotations, and spending long hours on campus each day, finding a good coffee shop can make those busy days a little easier.
When I started grad school, I expected to spend countless hours mastering ocular anatomy, studying for exams, and figuring out the best way to ask a patient if “1 or 2 is better, or the same?” While those experiences have certainly shaped my education, I've come to realize that some of the most meaningful lessons aren't just found in a textbook.
The PA program class schedule is no joke. Spending 9 am to 5 pm in class, followed by a few hours in the library afterwards to beat traffic, can easily make it feel like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Spending hours driving to and from school every day can start to feel more stressful and frustrating because it can feel like such a waste of time, especially when every minute seems to count.
Starting optometry school is exciting, but figuring out what you actually need can be overwhelming. With so many recommendations online, it's easy to overspend on supplies you'll rarely use. This list highlights the essentials that will help you stay organized, prepared, and confident as you begin your first year.
CLOTHES
When I first started pharmacy school, I thought I needed to have everything figured out from day one. I felt like I had to know all the answers, stay on top of every assignment, make friends immediately, and somehow balance school with the rest of my life. It didn't take long for me to realize that graduate school isn't about being perfect, it's about learning, growing, and becoming the person you're working toward.
Part of the journey toward becoming an exceptional healthcare professional is participating in clinical skills labs that challenge you to refine not only your clinical techniques, but also
the way you think and communicate.
When I started my program, I quickly realized that grad school doesn’t just change how you study but also how you live. Between coursework, working as an intern, and keeping some life outside of my career path, I had to rebuild a little bit of myself from undergrad.