AnatomywithJoyce

AnatomywithJoyce Experienced Anatomy & Physiology tutor helping nursing & pre-health students master material and succeed in exams. Incoming med student (2026)

MS in Medical Sciences, anatomy & pathology certifications, clinical experience in hospital & outpatient clinic.

I didn’t have the perfect premed resume when I started college.I actually had 0 clinical hours my first two years.And no...
08/29/2026

I didn’t have the perfect premed resume when I started college.

I actually had 0 clinical hours my first two years.

And now I’m in my first year of medical school at my top-choice school. 🥹

Looking back, my journey was anything but linear.

I started college on a full-ride volleyball scholarship. I volunteered through my church, worked part-time, and focused on being a student-athlete.

Then I transferred universities, started working at a hospital, got involved in research, continued volunteering, and started playing club volleyball.

After undergrad, I did a Master’s in Anatomy while working at the hospital, coaching volleyball, playing club volleyball, and preparing for the MCAT.

Then I took another gap year, worked in both a clinic and hospital, gained even more clinical experience, and took my final MCAT attempt.

None of it happened overnight.

And honestly, there were plenty of moments when I wondered if I was doing enough or if I was too far behind.

But I learned that building a strong application isn’t about checking every box as quickly as possible.

It’s about being intentional with the experiences you choose and being able to explain why they matter to you.

That’s something I wish I understood much earlier in my journey.

So if you’re a freshman with 0 clinical hours, a junior who feels behind, a student considering a gap year, or an applicant wondering what your application is missing:

Your current application is not your final application.

You still have time to grow, adjust, and build a story that is authentically yours.

And if you’re not sure where you stand right now, that’s exactly what I want to help with.

Comment AUDIT and let’s look at your application together. I’ll help you figure out what’s working, what’s missing, and what you should prioritize next. 🤍

Follow Joyce Badillo | Medical Student for more premed advice, medical school applications, and my journey becoming a physician.

If you’re a premed, I need you to hear this:You do not want to wait until medical school to learn how to actively study....
08/27/2026

If you’re a premed, I need you to hear this:

You do not want to wait until medical school to learn how to actively study.

I know because I’m now on the other side of that transition.

Anatomy can be especially tricky because it’s easy to convince yourself you know something simply because you recognize it.

You look at a diagram and think, “Oh yeah, I know that.”

But then someone covers the diagram and asks you to identify the structure, explain its relationship to another structure, or apply it to a question…

…and suddenly you’re like, “Wait a minute.” 😂

That’s why I want you to start practicing retrieval, not just recognition.

Instead of rereading your notes over and over:

→ Cover the diagram and recall the structures
→ Draw what you remember
→ Explain it out loud
→ Test yourself without your notes
→ Go back and review what you missed
→ Repeat

You don’t need beautiful notes.

You don’t need to memorize every tiny detail on your first pass.

You need to train your brain to retrieve and apply information.

And honestly, this is one of the biggest things I wish I had understood earlier.

Because medical school moves FAST.

The sooner you learn how to study actively, the easier that transition can be.

Comment ANATOMY if you’d like more study tips or you’re looking for one-on-one anatomy tutoring from a medical student.

If you’re currently taking anatomy, tell me what topic you’re struggling with: I want to know what you’re learning!

Follow Joyce Badillo | Medical Student for more anatomy, premed advice, medical school, and study tips.

When I graduated from undergrad, I knew I wasn’t ready to jump straight into medical school.My gap years ended up becomi...
08/26/2026

When I graduated from undergrad, I knew I wasn’t ready to jump straight into medical school.

My gap years ended up becoming some of the most important years of my journey to medicine.

I completed my Master’s in Anatomy because I wanted to strengthen my academics, but I also wanted to figure out how I actually learned best.

I knew medical school was going to be demanding, and I didn’t want to walk into it still trying to figure out how to study, manage my time, and perform at a high level.

My master’s became my testing ground.

Then after graduating, I worked in both a clinic and a hospital.

I paid attention to my patients.

Eventually, my ability to connect with patients and communicate bilingually led me into a patient educator role.

And while doing my master’s, I also coached volleyball and played club volleyball.

Looking back, I don’t think there was one specific thing that “got me into medical school.”

It was the intention behind how I used my time.

I was trying to become a stronger student, communicator, teammate, and future physician.

Your gap year doesn’t have to look impressive.

It needs to be meaningful. 🤍

If you’re taking a gap year before medical school, tell me what you’re doing with yours!

Follow Joyce Badillo | Medical Student for more premed, medical school, and future physician content.

This past week, I had two exams: one anatomy exam and one biochemistry exam.And honestly? When you have that much materi...
08/25/2026

This past week, I had two exams: one anatomy exam and one biochemistry exam.

And honestly? When you have that much material to cover, it is VERY tempting to convince yourself that every free minute needs to be spent studying.

There were definitely moments when I thought, “I could be studying right now.”

But I still stuck to my non-negotiables:

→ 1 hour for lunch
→ 1 hour for dinner
→ Gym 4x a week
→ At least 7 hours of sleep

Could I have studied during those hours? Absolutely.

There is always another lecture to review, another pathway to memorize, another practice question to do.

But I’m learning that constantly choosing school over everything else isn’t sustainable.

Taking an hour to eat isn’t wasting time.

Going to the gym isn’t wasting time.

Sleeping isn’t wasting time.

And taking a break doesn’t mean I’m less dedicated to becoming a physician.

I don’t want to just survive medical school by sacrificing my health every time an exam comes around. I want to learn how to take care of myself while doing something incredibly demanding.

Because this is bigger than getting through one anatomy exam or one biochemistry exam.

I’m learning how to build habits that I can carry with me throughout medical school and eventually into my career as a physician.

So if you feel guilty for resting, here’s your reminder:

You do not have to earn your rest. 🤍

What is one non-negotiable you refuse to sacrifice for school?

Follow Joyce Badillo | Medical Student for more med school, premed, and study content.

Many premed students believe their entire application comes down to two numbers:GPA and MCAT.And while those metrics are...
08/19/2026

Many premed students believe their entire application comes down to two numbers:

GPA and MCAT.

And while those metrics are important, medical school admissions committees review applications holistically.

They want to understand who you are as a future physician.

That includes things like:

clinical experience
volunteering
leadership
reflection
letters of recommendation
your motivation for medicine

One of the biggest challenges I faced during the application cycle was keeping track of everything.

Schools.
Deadlines.
Experiences.
Activities.
Secondaries.

That’s exactly why I created my Medical School Application Master Spreadsheet.

It helps you organize:

• your school list
• application deadlines
• extracurricular experiences
• letters of recommendation
• secondary essays

All in one place.

If you want the spreadsheet that helps premed students stay organized throughout the application cycle, comment SPREADSHEET and I’ll send it to you.

Follow Joyce Badillo | Med Student for more premed and medical school application guidance.

Medical school applications have a lot of moving pieces… and trying to keep everything in your head makes the process so...
08/14/2026

Medical school applications have a lot of moving pieces… and trying to keep everything in your head makes the process so much more stressful.

When I was applying, I quickly realized how many things I had to keep track of:

📌 School lists
📌 Deadlines
📌 Activities
📌 Secondaries
📌 Letters of recommendation
📌 Application updates

I didn’t have one organized system from the beginning, and I wish I did.

That’s actually why I created my Med School Application Master Spreadsheet during my own application cycle. I needed one place where I could see everything, track my progress, and know exactly what I needed to do next.

A strong application isn’t just about having great experiences—it’s also about staying organized enough to present them well. 🤍

Whether you’re applying this cycle or preparing for a future cycle, creating a system early can save you so much stress later.

Comment SPREADSHEET and I’ll send you the tracker I created to help organize the medical school application process. 🩺

Follow Joyce Badillo | Med Student for more guidance on getting into—and through—medical school.

One thing I’m learning early in medical school: having a plan is just as important as how much you study.Before starting...
08/14/2026

One thing I’m learning early in medical school: having a plan is just as important as how much you study.

Before starting OMS-I, I knew I needed a schedule that was realistic—not one where every second of the day was filled with studying.

I built in different study blocks depending on what I need that day, used the time between lectures intentionally, and added buffer time at home so I have flexibility if something takes longer than expected.

But the biggest thing that has helped me? Consistency.

Waking up at the same time, eating meals around the same time, and creating a routine has made my days feel much more manageable.

The goal isn’t to study every possible minute. The goal is to create a system that helps you stay on top of your responsibilities while still leaving room to be a person outside of school. 🤍

Still figuring out what works best for me, but I’ll keep sharing the systems, lessons, and routines that help me navigate medical school along the way. 🩺

Follow Joyce Badillo | Med Student for more medical school life, study strategies, and anatomy tips.

When I first started studying anatomy, I thought I had to memorize every single detail all at once.It was overwhelming, ...
08/13/2026

When I first started studying anatomy, I thought I had to memorize every single detail all at once.

It was overwhelming, and honestly... it didn’t stick.

Now, I’ve changed my approach.

Instead of trying to cram everything into one study session, I build my understanding in layers. I start with a simple diagram, then every time I come back to the material, I add more details—origins, insertions, innervation, blood supply, actions, and relationships.

By the end, I’m not just memorizing facts. I’m seeing how everything connects.

This has helped me spend less time rereading and more time actually understanding the material.

If you’re taking anatomy this semester, give it a try. You might be surprised how much easier it is to remember something you’ve built yourself.

Comment ANATOMY if you’d like to receive more study tips or schedule a one-on-one with me!

Follow Joyce Badillo | Med Student for anatomy tips, study strategies, and real medical school life. 🩺🤍

One of the biggest mindset shifts I had while applying to medical school was realizing that admissions committees aren’t...
08/12/2026

One of the biggest mindset shifts I had while applying to medical school was realizing that admissions committees aren’t looking for the most impressive experiences—they’re looking for applicants who can explain why those experiences mattered.

So many students spend their essays describing what they did:

➡️ “I shadowed...”
➡️ “I volunteered...”
➡️ “I researched...”

But that’s only part of the story.

The real question is: How did that experience shape the future physician you want to become?

Whether you’re writing secondaries right now or applying next cycle, start reflecting on your experiences as they happen. Write down what challenged you, what surprised you, what you learned, and how you grew. Trust me, your future self will thank you when it’s time to write your personal statement and secondaries.

Your story isn’t powerful because of what happened.

It’s powerful because of what it changed in you. 🤍

Comment JOURNAL if you’d like the reflection prompts I wish I had while applying to medical school.

Follow Joyce Badillo | Med Student for more tips on getting into—and through—medical school. 🩺

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