It’s back-to-school time with the All Access: Med School Admissions Podcast! In this insightful episode, host Christian Essman, Senior Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, sits down with Alexis Catanzerite, a seasoned pre-health advisor and Associate Director of Healthcare Careers at CWRU. Together, they dive into the real-life challenges, anxieties, and excitement that come with starting or returning to college as a pre-med or pre-health student.
Alexis shares practical advice on avoiding the classic “September creep,” managing FOMO, and striking a healthy balance between academics, extracurriculars, and personal well-being. Christian and Alexis break down the myths around perfect GPAs, what makes an experience “meaningful” on med school applications, and the realities of taking gap years. They also tackle the importance of executive functioning, building relationships with advisors and faculty, and making the most of available campus resources—including mental health support.
Later in the episode, Alexis flips the script, asking Christian burning questions that pre-health advisors constantly get from students. The pair’s honest, encouraging dialogue is packed with actionable tips for thriving in college and building a compelling med school application—reminding listeners that self-care, authenticity, and a growth mindset are just as critical as grades and resume-builders.
Whether you’re an incoming first-year, a returning student reassessing priorities, or just curious about medical school admissions, this episode is a must-listen. Get ready to start the year off informed, empowered, and energized!
If you find this podcast to be a helpful resource, RATE, REVIEW, FOLLOW, & SUBSCRIBE please! It helps others find it! Also, please share this with your friends!
Follow Alexis on LinkedIn and read her posts! https://www.linkedin.com/in/acatan/
Send me your recommendations for future medical schools that you'd like to hear featured! Send it to: allaccess@case.edu
Visit our website for more information on this episode and others. https://linktr.ee/allaccessmedschool
This podcast is hosted, edited, and produced by: Christian Essman
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Advisor Insights with Alexis Catanzerite
06:42 Proactive Semester Planning Tips
11:00 Prioritize Meaningful Opportunities
20:51 Freshman Transition Challenges and Advice
25:17 Join Study Groups Early
27:59 Lasting Instructor-Student Connections
37:17 Connecting Students to Resources
38:37 Prioritizing Mental Health in College
44:04 "Importance of Prompt Email Response"
51:04 Pre-Med Advising: Retake Strategy
55:37 Discovering Fencing Through Friendship
59:48 Categorizing Medical Experience Hours
01:05:07 Soul Searching for Career Choices
01:12:58 Subscribe, Review, Share Podcast
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