Rachel Strandmark '18

Name: Rachel Strandmark

Graduation Year: 2018

Major: Biology

Your Story: I came into Gustavus as a committed pre-med student. I had been
interested in medicine from a young age, but I was exposed to limited career options
in the field. After shadowing a variety of careers in healthcare, I realized that I
craved a more balanced and team-based approach to medicine. I set my sights on Physician Assistant
(PA) school, and I haven’t looked back!

After graduation, I took a year off before applying to gain more patient care
experience. I worked at Children’s Hospital of Minnesota for almost two years as a
nursing assistant, where I gained insight into hospital medicine and discovered my
love for pediatric medicine. A year after graduation, I applied to 12 PA schools,
attended multiple interviews, and was accepted into my top program choice at the
University of Colorado, which provides a deeper immersion into pediatrics.

Top Five Activities/Experiences: (in no particular order)
1. January Interim Term in the Dominican Republic (shadowing in public hospitals and volunteering
in free community clinics)

2. Internship through the Gustavus Health Service with the Tobacco Free Generation
Campus Initiative

3. Teaching Assistant for Biology and Anatomy/Physiology courses

4. Leadership role in Pre-Health Club

5. Hammocking in the arb and meeting friends for coffee in the Courtyard Café!
(Relaxation and fun are vital for your mental health!)

Advice:
1. Start planning early so you don’t have to scramble at the end! Plan out your
courses, when you will take the GRE, and when you want to shadow/gain patient
care experience. I’ve seen many juniors/seniors stress about finding time in their
schedules for prerequisites because they didn’t plan ahead properly.

2. Pursue things that interest you. Not every experience has to exist solely to check a
box on the Pre-PA student list.

3. Start building consistent relationships with professors and supervisors early. A
few solid letters of recommendation from a variety of sources will speak volumes to
selections committees. They can also bolster an application that is lacking in other
areas!

Future Plans: I begin my 36-month program in June 2020 at the University of
Colorado in Aurora, CO. This unique program provides a full year of expanded
training in pediatrics and care of medically underserved populations.

Updated 4/28/20 HB