Common Obstacles for Underrepresented Groups

Underrepresented students often face common obstacles as pre-health students.  As pre-health advisors our goal is to ensure all of our students have the resources to be successful wherever they are in their pre-health journey.  Below we discuss some common obstacles and offer resources in working to overcome them.  Have questions or concerns?  Don't hesitate to reach out to your pre-health adviors at prehealth@tufts.edu. 

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome/Phenomenon

Many people, especially those who have been historically underrepresented in certain fields, experience this phenomenon in which they question their suitability or qualifications to be in college, to become a healthcare provider, and so on.  This internal conflict can be helped through conversations with trusted mentors, instructors, advisors, and even therapists.  At one point or another, most of us have experienced this, so know that you are not alone.  Consider reading these articles, How to Overcome the Imposter Phenomenon Links to an external site. and from the AAMC, Imposter Syndrome Links to an external site.. 

Developing a Sense of Belonging

Developing a support network and finding one's place within an institution, like Tufts, can be difficult to do, but in the end, it can be incredibly rewarding.  Not only can this help you to connect with both like-minded people and those who are different from you, it can provide you with a way to explore the tremendous personal growth that can come from being a college student.  There are several student organizations at Tufts, both career-related and social orgs.  Explore an organization at Tufts that speaks to you and your interests.  

Overcoming Financial Hurdles

College is expensive, and professional school can be even more expensive.  Finances should not be a factor that dissuades you from pursuing your dream of becoming a healthcare professional.  Many of the professional school application services and test prep companies offer Fee Assistance Programs for those who qualify.  This can be extremely helpful, but remember, these programs cannot cover all costs associated with applying to professional school.  You'll need to research, plan, and budget along the way.  A health professions advisor can help you to learn more about fee assistance, as well as ways to make the most out of your extracurricular opportunities so that you can both make and save money for these future expenses.

Building A Network

Underrepresented students may not have family members or family friends who work in healthcare who can help them to gain shadowing and other clinical experiences, or who can provide mentorship as they navigate their pre-health path.  However, there are many people on campus, including your peers, who can help you in many of the same ways.  
  • Health Professions Advisors/Academic Advisors:  Advisors tend to be well-connected to the community, and the health professions advisors learn about many good opportunities to gain experiences that will help you to develop into a competitive applicant to professional school.  Take advantage of all the resources created by your advisors, including newsletters, websites, and group and one-on-one advising sessions. 
  • Professors:  Not only are your professors there to teach you and help you to be successful, they are often well-connected to various industries within their fields.  Make the effort to get to know your instructors by going to office hours or even taking additional courses taught by professors whose previous courses you've enjoyed. 
  • Supervisors (Internships, work, volunteer, etc.):  Your supervisors are also great resources for information and connections within your chosen field.  Engage with them and learn about why they chose their profession, what they enjoy about it and what they find challenging.
  • Coaches:  For our student-athletes, your coaches are great sources of information and connection to professionals in the community. 
  • Peers:  Finally, your peers are some of your best resources, particularly those who are further in their undergraduate careers.  These students have often "been there, done that" and can be great sources for opportunities in clinical experience, research, and volunteer experiences in the area.