How Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail Made Me a Better Medical School Applicant
Written by Maya Rabow
As a pre-med at Northeastern, I often felt intimidated and overwhelmed by my peers’ accomplishments. It’s easy to feel like there are a million things you need to be doing in order to check all the right boxes and move on to the next step in your career path. And while pursuing activities like clinical experience and research and volunteering are vitally important, I’ve found many opportunities outside of the traditional pre-med path have helped me develop the skills that will make me a great physician. This summer is a great example of that. I spent four months hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. As I begin to prepare my medical school application, I find myself reflecting on how the challenges and lessons of the PCT have uniquely equipped me for this next chapter of my life. I’ve grown in many ways, and the following are just some of the AAMC’s Premed Competencies that the PCT helped me develop.
Resilience and Adaptability
The PCT is notorious for its unpredictable terrain and weather conditions. From scorching deserts to snowy mountain passes, each day presented new challenges. I was often exhausted and in pain, and there were many points at which I wanted to quit. But my time on the PCT taught me to adapt to unforeseen circumstances, to push through physical and mental fatigue, and to embrace the journey, not just the destination. Similarly, medical education demands resilience. The long hours of study, the pressure of exams, and the emotional toll of patient care require a steadfast determination to persevere despite setbacks.
Empathy and Compassion, Interpersonal Skills, Cultural Awareness
On the PCT, I got to know a huge diversity of people, most of whom I would never cross paths with in my usual daily life. I shared food and campsites with hikers from every walk of life from all over the world. I hitched rides with retirees and immigrants and young families. I slept in strangers’ houses in small rural towns. I couldn’t have done this trip without the kindness and generosity of strangers, which I did my best to pay forward. Striking up conversations with all sorts of people and helping others in any way I could, whether it was sparing some valuable water in a very dry section or offering encouragement on a tough day, taught me the value of listening, empathy, and forging meaningful connections. These skills that are invaluable in the medical field.
Commitment to Learning and Growth
My journey on the PCT was driven by one big objective: get to Canada. At the end of each day on trail, I reflected on my progress. There was the obvious marker of how many miles I had walked but I also analyzed everything that goes into those miles. As I got stronger and learned more about the trail and myself as a hiker, I refined the gear I carried, what food I ate, how I planned out my days, the breaks I took, my mindset. The PCT had an excellent way of humbling me every time I started to feel just a bit too comfortable, with unexpected storms or different terrain or new wildfires or horrendous mosquitoes. The pursuit of knowledge and growth is a lifelong journey, both in hiking and in healthcare.
Finally, self care is not an AAMC competency but I think it should be. The pre-med and medical education process is grueling, and working as a doctor is no less exhausting. Developing the skills now to maintain a balance between work and personal life is crucial for sustained well-being and professional fulfillment. On the PCT, neglecting self-care had immediate and painful consequences. Hiking thousands of miles through challenging terrain required careful attention to self-care. From proper nutrition and hydration to managing physical and mental fatigue, prioritizing well-being was crucial for getting to Canada.
So go take that bucket list trip or pursue your unique hobby or whatever it is you’re passionate about! It will all help prepare you to be the best healthcare provider you can be.