Lucy Lindstrom '22Medicine

Name: Lucy Lindstrom

Graduation Year: 2022

Major: Biology

Your Story: I grew up in a small town which has shaped my path to becoming a
medical student and my desire to become a physician. I have seen the
importance of building and becoming a part of a community, and that is
something that drew me to pursue my undergraduate degree at Gustavus as a
Biology major, where there was an obvious close-knit community when I
toured campus.
Attending a small college ensured that I could build relationships with
my peers, professors, and pre-health advisors, and also become involved on
campus. Having access to knowledgeable pre-health advisors was especially
valuable when it came to selecting my courses, accessing opportunities like
January Career explorations, assistance with application writing, and mock
interviewing during my time at Gustavus and after. Some of the activities that
really solidified my desire to continue on my journey were the Pre-Health
Club and my January Term Career Explorations. I was fortunate enough to

Some of the activities that really solidified my desire to continute on my journey were 

the Pre-Health Club and my January Term Career Explorations. I was forutnate

enough to complete two Career Explorations, one that I created myself where I
shadowed a multitude of health care professionals at my local clinic and
hospital, and the second was an incredible opportunity to travel to Alaska and
shadow primarily rural family practice providers. In participating in these
experiences, I witnessed the strong relationships that providers form with
their community in order to advance both preventative and ongoing health
care needs with their patients and families; this includes the struggles of
accessibility and affordability, and providing holistic care to each and every
individual. I am looking forward to being a physician that serves not only my
patients, but also serves the greater community where I will practice.

In addition to my academics and extracurriculars preparing me and
shaping my desire to become a physician, my work as a Personal Care
Assistant and as a Phlebotomist were opportunities that allowed me to have
first-hand and hands-on exposure to providing healthcare. All of these
experiences combined, shaped me as an individual, as an applicant, and as a
future physician.

Top Five Activities/Experiences: (in no particular order)
1. Alaska Capstone Shadowing Experience - January Term Career Exploration
2. Chemistry Department Teaching Assistant
3. J-term Career Exploration (Created my own at my local hospital.)
4. Laboratory Manager and Research Assistant with HolmLab
5. Working as a Personal Care Assistant and Phlebotomist

Advice:
1. You are more than your numbers. It is not all about the GPA and your MCAT.
It is important to highlight your experiences and your story in your
application. Show the application committee who you are and why you are
passionate about pursuing a career as a physician.

2. Do the things that make you happy and find balance. Don’t just check things
off of a list and do what you think you have to do. Make the time to do the
things that you truly enjoy and are passionate about, and don’t forget to keep
track of all of your activities and accomplishments!

3. Surround yourself with people who support you. From your mentors,
professors, friends, and family. It is not an easy path and you will come
across barriers and challenges, and it is important to have a support team to
lean into to remind you why you chose this path.

Future Plans:
Attending medical school at the University of Minnesota - Duluth Campus, starting
Fall 2023.