Standing out on Med School Applications with Health Coaching
Should you get a master’s degree and become a certified health coach to try standing out on med school applications? We asked an NWHSU grad for all the details. Her short answer? It won’t just enhance your applications but will give you skills that enhance your future practice and your life.
Sophia Robinson-Yari has always wanted to go to medical school. “That’s always been the plan. That’s what I’ve been passionate about, but I felt like there was something missing.” NWHSU’s Master of Health Science in Integrative and Functional Nutrition with a health coaching specialization prepared Sophia to be the future doctor her patients need.
What You Learn in a Functional Nutrition Program
Sophia sought out the functional nutrition program because she knew the knowledge would be important to her future practice. “I knew what a huge role diet and nutrition can play in our health. And I remember hearing from a lot of people that doctors would have like one course on nutrition.”
“That was it. How many carbs do you need and how much protein do you need? And I knew there was just so much more than that. I wanted to be able to become the kind of doctor I want to be one day and have that balance of integrative medicine and holistic care.”
In the functional nutrition program at NWHSU, Sophia dove headfirst into research, and realized how influential diet, lifestyle, and mental health can be for managing chronic conditions.
“I now know there are so many different pieces to the puzzle of health. Often only two pieces really get addressed, but all of them matter.”
“The medications are important, the diet is important, the lifestyle changes are important. Their mental and emotional wellbeing is going to play a role. I was so grateful to have that wealth of knowledge given to me.”
The Impact of Health Coaching
Sophia knew she was interested in nutrition, but an admissions counselor told her she could also become a national board-certified health and wellbeing coach (NBC-HWC) through her master’s program. She didn’t know much about it, but she was intrigued.
It didn’t take more than the first health coaching course to just immediately fall in love with the concept,” she shared. “I didn’t expect it to be like that. I realized this was a skill I wanted and needed going forward for every part of my journey.”
Through practicing with peers online and seeing her own first clients, she saw the profound effect of the skills she was learning. “One was the impact of listening. Beforehand you think, yeah, it’s important to be heard. But I don’t think it really hit me until I was in those sessions seeing it play out in front of me.”
She realized that for some of her clients, she was the first person to really hold space and listen to them in months, or even years. Sometimes just feeling heard was enough to help them finally quit smoking, or make another life change they had been putting off.
She also noticed how small things could make big differences. “Skills like habit building, learning what motivates you, or breathing exercises. It was something so small that you would think maybe it wouldn’t have an impact.”
She recalled a client who was looking for help with anxiety. They brainstormed some small changes for the client to make morning affirmations and breathing exercises. The next week, Sophia was shocked at the change. “They came back, and their demeanor had completely changed.
They said, ‘I feel good. I’m focused. I don’t have those overwhelming moments where I can’t breathe anymore.”
Standing out on Med School Applications & Being a Better Doctor
Beyond gaining valuable skills, Sophia knows that her degree and health coaching certification will help her stand out on med school applications. She reported that doctors she shadowed saw her resume and said “Wow, this is going to make a difference on your application. This is going to stand out because it’s different.”
She knows that the competition is strong. “You’re going to have a pile of applications, and they all have great grades, great scores. But it’s those unique things like being a board-certified health and wellness coach, having your master’s in functional and integrative nutrition. Those things stand out. And it’s going to open doors and be a conversation during interviews as well.”
Beyond the applications, the skills and knowledge she gained will greatly impact how she shows up as a doctor someday. “It really becomes ingrained in how you treat people in every part of your life. I’ll be able to really make the most of my time with patients and make a difference, make sure they feel heard and that they’re not just a number. It definitely prepares you for those moments where you only have 15 minutes with the patient.”
Sophia is going into the medical school application process open to many different paths, but she loves the idea of someday having a private practice with health coaches as well to support patients.
Starting Your Own Business as a Health Coach
Sophia did not anticipate starting a business after becoming a board-certified health coach. “It was a surprise for me. It wasn’t something I expected until at the end of the program I started realizing things that I am capable of,” she shared. “A benefit of this program is that you have to walk the talk. You’re doing these practices, and you leave with this confidence in yourself.”
As she’s applying for medical school, she’s also running Forsythia Health Coaching. She works with clients on stress, anxiety, and building sustainable habits.
Building your network in an Online Master’s Program
Beyond gaining skills and knowledge, Sophia also gained relationships in the health coaching program. Although most of the function and integrative nutrition program is fully asynchronous, some of the health coaching courses require meeting virtually so that you can practice skills with your classmates. “It’s such a safe environment to be honest and to feel encouraged about your learning,” she shared. She’s still in contact with her classmates.
She also felt supported by her professors, who would check in on students’ wellbeing and create a safe space for making mistakes and growing. “You don’t get that support from teachers every place you go to learn, and it makes all the difference.”