Advice from an Alumnus: Meet Levi Franz!

SD Mines has a reputation for excellence that reverberates through our students long after they leave campus with their degrees in hand. Today, we are featuring on of our alumni, Levi Franz, who earned his degree in applied biological sciences in 2014. He was in the first class of students to graduate with an ABS degree from SDSM&T and is now pursuing a degree in medicine from the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. We caught up with Levi to ask him about his pre-health journey at SD Mines and how it helped him prepare for a career in health care.

Hey, Levi! Where are you and what are you doing as an SD Mines graduate? 
I am currently a 3rd year medical student at Sanford School of Medicine, which means that I am currently doing my clinical rotations with Physicians throughout Rapid City. 

What kind of shadowing did you do and what did you learn from those experiences?
I actually did very little actual shadowing before applying to medical school. However, I did work as a tech in the ER. This is a unique position at the hospital which generally requires an EMT, and allows you to work closely with many different Doctors. During my time in the ER, I had the opportunity to assist with Central lines, Spinal taps and many other procedures. I also got to know the physicians, and became friends with them outside of work. This proved very valuable once I was applying for medical school and needed to get letters of recommendation.

Did you do any research while at SD Mines?
I did research during my undergrad at SDSMT with Doctor Sinden, and I have been working on a research project focusing on SIDS that I developed myself. Research is a very important aspect of any career of medicine even if you don’t particularly enjoy it. I avoided research during my undergrad and regretted it, as I had a great deal to learn once I was in Medical School.  

What kinds of volunteering do you do?
While I was completing my undergrad degree, I volunteered as a part of the Pennington and Custer County Search and rescue teams, I was also a YoungLife leader in Rapid city. Since starting medical school, I have volunteered as a member of a student run clinic in Sioux Falls that serves disadvantaged populations. I also spent a week volunteering as a leader at Camp Wapyapi which is a camp that serves Cancer patients and their families in Colorado. This was a great experience that any prospective medical student can do; it’s a great experience and looks great on applications (Link to application: https://www.campwapiyapi.org/how-to-help/volunteer-at-camp/)

How did you prepare for the MCAT or other entrance exam?
I was working as a Wilderness Park Ranger in Washington State while I was preparing for the MCAT. This was a great experience, as I did not have many other distractions, and could focus entirely on studying. After I reviewed my weaknesses, the most valuable thing that I did was practice MCAT questions. I would do a full length test on Saturday, take 2-3 days off, and then review the tests for a few hours in the evening over the next 10 days, then repeat the process over the next two weeks. I did this for 2 months, and was very happy with my score.

What do you do when you aren’t studying?
The First two years of Medical School I usually studied from 8:30-4 and then 6:30-10. While this doesn’t allow a lot of time to do much else, everyone else in your class is going through the exact same thing, so I was able to get to know lots of interesting people and make great friendships. Your life in medical school is what you make it; I would run, bike, play soccer or frisbee, or climb every day, and to be honest really enjoyed my first two years of medical school.

What techniques do you use to manage your time and stress levels?
Organization is something that I struggle with, fortunately every week in medical school is basically the same, with some small changes here and there, so once you get a routine, its very easy to manage your time and get everything done that you need. I found that I could waste hours on my phone, so most of my time management focused on limiting this through apps, or leaving my phone somewhere I couldn’t check it every few minutes.

Exercise is how I managed my stress. I would work out everyday regardless of what was going on, because if I didn’t I would sleep poorly and lose my concentration. 

What advice do you have for pre-health students who are struggling?
Work hard, don’t focus on your grades and consider all your options. It wasn’t until my Senior year of college that I stopped finding my identity in my grades and I definitely saw them improve after I made this mental change, as did my mental health. There’s so much more to life than grades and your profession. If you’ve work hard and your grades still aren’t great, relax and consider all your options. DO schools offer a less competitive option for becoming a physician, and DOs operate in the exact same capacity as MDs. Pre med Masters programs are also a great option that can make up for a poor GPA and prepare you for medical school in a way that few other things can.