Maggie Waters’ journey from confused pre-med applicant to fourth-year medical student and six-figure side hustle is a testament to how anyone can turn an everyday problem into a money-making solution with a little creativity and determination.
Initially overwhelmed by the complexity of the medical school application process and faced with multiple rejections, Water’s determination led her to seek out helpful resources, prompting a second, more informed attempt. The effort resulted in 15 interview invitations and 10 acceptances, a stark contrast to previous years.
Waters channeled her lessons from the rejection experience into “Road to Acceptance,” a digital course aimed at demystifying the medical school application process for others.
Now in her final year of medical school at the University of Colorado, Waters has managed to find a balance that allows her to indulge her passions, bolstered by the confidence that her side income will allow her to graduate debt-free.
Her journey shows that with the right approach, it is possible to turn challenges into opportunities—not only for personal achievement but also to help others along their path.
A spark that ignited
Navigating the complex maze of the medical school application process with little guidance, Waters initially found herself adrift. “When I first applied to medical school, I had no idea about the whole process and made countless mistakes,” Waters regretted.
After applying late to a few schools and securing an interview at Case Western, he ended up on the waitlist and ultimately was not accepted.
That initial stumble not only didn’t discourage her, it fueled her determination to not only re-apply with a strong strategy but also to ensure that others don’t have to face the same obstacles themselves.
“After my initial failures, I discovered Dr. Gray,” a former US Air Force flight surgeon turned podcaster talks about the application process. “His advice was a game-changer for me,” Waters said. The newly discovered resource changed her approach to reapplying to medical school, despite her lower-than-average GPA.
This time, her efforts paid off: 28 applications led to 15 interview invitations and, ultimately, 10 acceptances.
It was this transformation that inspired Road to Acceptancea comprehensive digital course aimed at demystifying the medical school application for other pre-med students.
Waters’ mission was to create a resource that was both accessible and affordable, particularly for non-traditional and first-generation applicants.
“I wanted to offer the kind of help I desperately needed when I applied,” she said. Through her course, Waters draws on her experiences to provide a pathway for pre-med students, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to more smoothly navigate their application process.
“Creating Road to Acceptance was about turning my struggles into a road map for others. It is incredibly rewarding to see how he helps students achieve their dream of getting into medical school,” shared Waters.
It’s Life, By Maggie
Waters’ journey into his world side hustles it began with a moment of inspiration that came just as he was preparing for a second attempt at medical school applications.
“Before Road to Acceptance, there was ‘It’s Life, by Maggie.’ My journey began when I came across a post on Sophia Lee’s blog,” Waters recalls.
Lee’s post, which detailed how she earned $12,000 in just one month from her blog as a student, opened Waters’ eyes to the possibilities. starting a blog.
“I was surprised. I had never heard of anyone making money blogging before this. And she was just a student!”
This revelation was the catalyst Waters needed to enter the digital world herself. “That day, I thought, ‘If he can do it, I can do it,'” he shared.
Driven by this new conviction, Waters set out her blog and the Instagram account centered around the medical school application process, the MCAT, and pre-admission counseling, setting the stage for what would eventually grow into a major side hustle.
Balancing this effort with the school’s demanding medical program required a strategic approach. Waters adopted a variety of productivity strategies and time management techniques to keep her studies and her business thriving without compromising on either.
“Learning about productivity strategies early on helped me build routines and habits that make it possible to balance both worlds for me,” Waters explained.
Her discipline and ability to delegate allowed her to effectively manage her growing business while ensuring her academic responsibilities.
“Medical school and my business could easily take up a lot of my free time, but I want to be intentional and create balance in the process. Throughout medical school I continued to find time for many of the things I love: CrossFit, getting back into riding, lots of traveling, camping and outdoor adventures, and of course my wonderful husband, George, sweet puppy Oakley, and our cat Maroon.”
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Course creation, marketing skill and financial impact
While the success of her blog “It’s Life, by Maggie” laid the groundwork, it was the development and marketing of “Road to Acceptance” where things began to take off for Waters.
Launched in April 2021, the course quickly became a lucrative endeavor. By 2022, her business had earned $81,000 and by 2023 revenue had jumped to $190,000, demonstrating the rapid success and widespread impact of her iconic run in just a few years.
“Creating an engaging and effective online course was uncharted territory for me,” admitted Waters. Her appetite for learning and customization led her to explore various platforms and tools necessary for creating courses. “I handle everything from content strategies to technical setup, with the goal of creating courses that not only inform but also engage.”
Waters attributed much of her success to Amy Porterfield Digital Course Academy, especially when it came time to create free live webinars, which he later turned into free evergreen webinars. Here he also learned about different platforms often associated with creating and selling knowledge courses: Teachable, EasyWebinar, and Thrivecart.
Waters’ approach to marketing her courses was equally strategic. Harnessing the power of social media, especially Instagram, she leveraged her growing fan base to promote ‘Road to Acceptance’.
“I found that offering free value up front through workshops and webinars was key. It helped build confidence and demonstrated the quality of my courses,” he explained.
Her marketing strategies were not only about promoting her courses but also about building a community of like-minded people. “Engagement on Instagram, driven by genuine content and interaction, was vital. This is about more than selling a course. it’s about creating a network of support and guidance for preschool students,” said Waters.
“The journey from those first few sales to crossing the six-figure mark has been exciting and humbling. Every thank you note from a student who made it reminds me that this is about more than just income. It’s about impact, making a scary process a little easier for someone else.”
Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs
Waters’ journey from initial failures to entrepreneurial success is littered with valuable lessons and insights, especially for those who aspire to creating and selling digital products.
Discussing her “Road to Acceptance” approach to marketing, Waters emphasized the effectiveness of combining genuine value with strategic promotion.
Her most successful tactic was to offer a free workshop topped off with a special course offer. “The key to attracting students to my courses was to initially provide them with actionable, free content that demonstrated immediate value,” he explained.
Using Instagram, she used Manychat to automate comment responses, simplifying the process of directing interested followers to her workshops. “Engagement on social media platforms was vital. It’s not just about selling. it’s about building a relationship with your audience,” Waters added.
A major hurdle she encountered was aligning her marketing strategies with her values. Investing $20,000 in a course that advocated hiding free advice didn’t fit her ethos.
“I once followed advice that didn’t align with my vision and felt disingenuous. I quickly learned that my approach had to resonate with my values,” reflected Waters.
He ultimately advises aspiring education entrepreneurs to stay true to their principles and focus on delivering real value.
“Find your niche, share authentically, and don’t be afraid to start small. It’s about impact, not just income,” Waters suggested.
Her experience underscores the importance of authenticity and value-based content in building a brand that truly makes a difference in students’ lives.
For the future
Looking ahead, Waters is excited about expanding her influence and support in the pre-treatment community.
Despite the looming, often grueling work associated with residency, he has plans to launch a new online course for those 2 to 4 years left before applying to medical school, aiming to fill a critical gap in pre-medical preparation .
Additionally, a digital planner specifically designed for pre-meds is in the works, which promises to help students manage their demanding schedules more effectively.
“These projects are close to my heart as they expand the support I can offer preschool students at various stages of their journey,” Waters said in parting.
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