When RJ Myers left the tight-knit campus of Notre Dame for the vast academic world of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, the transition was more than just geographic. It was cultural, academic, and deeply personal.
“Notre Dame was small—you could walk anywhere without crossing a road,” RJ said. “When I got to Columbus, I was living next to a parking garage on one of the main roads. There was noise everywhere. It definitely took some time to adjust.”
But that adjustment quickly gave way to appreciation. At Ohio State, the medical school is integrated into the larger university ecosystem, giving students access to major hospitals and a diverse campus culture. “It’s huge, but it works,” RJ reflected. “We have undergrads nearby, but the medical students really support one another. It’s a big school with a small community feel.”
RJ entered medical school directly after college—a rare and impressive feat given the limited experiences most students can accumulate in just three undergraduate years. “I’m definitely one of the younger ones,” he said. “There are people in my class who are thirty-three, some who’ve worked in politics or completely different careers before medicine.”
That diversity has been one of the most rewarding surprises of medical school. “It’s like climbing Mount Everest,” RJ said. “There are a lot of routes to the top, but they all lead to the same place.”
While some of his peers bring professional experience, RJ contributes something just as valuable—leadership and perspective. As an undergrad, he sat on the board of a national nonprofit, led a community service organization for underserved children, and served as a camp counselor for children with Type 1 diabetes. “I think those leadership roles helped me stand out,” he said. “They showed that I could bring people together for a greater purpose.”
Unlike many premeds who fill every credit with science, RJ intentionally chose history and Latino studies as his minors at Notre Dame. “Medicine is a mix of science and humanities,” he explained. “The history and Latino studies courses taught me how to read people’s stories, understand their lived experiences, and think about culture in patient care.”
A random dorm placement deepened that understanding. “Everyone around me spoke Spanish,” RJ said. “I wanted to learn more about their cultures and communities. That’s what inspired the Latino studies minor.”
That cultural awareness now carries through his medical education. “As the Latino population continues to grow in the U.S., it’s important to provide care that’s culturally competent,” he said. “I want patients to feel at ease knowing I’ve taken the time to understand their background.”
RJ’s methodical approach to success might make him the most organized student at Ohio State. During his medical school application cycle, he kept color-coded spreadsheets, folders for every school, and pre-written essays ready to paste into the application.
“I didn’t want to type anything directly into AMCAS,” he laughed. “Everything was already polished by the time I submitted.”
That organization carried over into medical school life. “After our last final, I spent two days making a plan for the summer,” he admitted. “Research goals, Step 1 study schedule, shadowing opportunities—it’s all in a Google Sheet.”
His structure extends to his weekly routine, too. “Every Sunday, I take 45 minutes to plan my week,” he said. “If you’re pressed for time, that’s the best investment you can make.”
For students looking to bring the same intentionality to their future residency applications, Medical School HQ offers tools like Residency Essay Editing and Residency Mock Interviews—two services RJ credits as invaluable in his own journey.
RJ’s dedication paid off when it came time for interviews. “Before every interview, I’d spend an hour doing a deep dive into the school—its clinics, clubs, service opportunities. I wanted to make it conversational, not robotic,” he said.
He even enlisted his biggest supporter—his dad. “We did Zoom interviews together. He’d ask questions and give me feedback. Between that and my mock interviews with Deana, I was ready for anything.”
When asked for his best advice for premeds, he doesn’t hesitate: “Be prepared. Be genuine. And practice until you’re confident enough that it feels like a conversation.”
For anyone seeking structured preparation with the same personalized approach RJ used, you can book a 1:1 Residency Advising Session with Carlos Tapia.
Outside of the classroom, RJ’s favorite role is Student Director of La Clínica Latina, Ohio State’s Spanish-speaking free clinic. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s meaningful,” he said. “It reminds me why I’m here. When you’re face-to-face with a patient and you see the difference you’re making, it puts all the studying into perspective.”
He also helps with Ohio State’s alumni events, surgical interest groups, and admissions programming, hoping to mentor future students. “I’ve had so many people invest in me—it’s important to pay that forward.”
And when he’s not in the clinic or classroom? “I work out, and I read Roman history,” he said with a grin. “Everyone says they’re too busy to read, but if something matters to you, you’ll make time.”
That love of reading isn’t just a hobby—it’s part of RJ’s academic strength. “My dentist once told me, ‘Readers are leaders,’ and it stuck with me,” he said. “When you read—whether it’s for fun or reading research papers—you learn how people think, how they present ideas. It makes you a better writer, communicator, and future physician.”
He even jokes about his childhood reading competitions. “I did something called Battle of the Books. They gave us a list of books to read, and I was determined to finish them all. We ended up winning the school competition,” he said with a laugh.
A shoulder injury first introduced RJ to orthopedics. “I tore my labrum playing water polo,” he said. “My surgeon helped me get back to swimming competitively. That’s what made me want to go into medicine.”
Now, as he shadows specialists across Ohio State, he’s keeping an open mind. “I love working with my hands and seeing the immediate impact of surgery,” he said. “But I’ve also enjoyed plastics, ophthalmology, and cardiology. I’m still exploring.”
He’s already planning how to decide. “I’ll sit down this summer and critically analyze—can I see myself doing this every day? I’m shadowing across six specialties to find the best fit.”
RJ credits his Notre Dame education for shaping his moral compass. “At Notre Dame, you take theology and philosophy, and those classes force you to think about who you want to be outside of science,” he said.
That reflection led him to a powerful practice: building a “brand equity” for himself as a future physician. “I identified people whose character I admired—professors, mentors, friends—and thought, how can I be more like them? What traits do I want to carry into my own career?”
Those lessons have stayed with him through medical school: compassion, humility, and purpose.
As RJ looks ahead to his remaining years at Ohio State, his advice for future doctors is grounded in empathy and realism.
“Find great role models,” he said. “Explain your goals to people who will support you. You can’t do this alone.”
He also believes persistence is just as important as passion. “If you apply and get in right away, great. If it takes a few years, that’s fine too. If the desire is still there, it’s worth it.”
His final reflection ties it all together:
“Becoming a doctor is like climbing Mount Everest. There are many routes to the top, but they all lead to the summit. Stay persistent, find your guides, and keep climbing.”
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