What led to your interest in medicine?
I was always very interested in anatomy after participating in the Governor's School for Agriculture in high school, which allowed me to dissect cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens. After that program my interest in anatomy and the sciences snowballed into an interest in medicine because I began volunteering in the UVA Health System and also became certified as an EMT.
I was always very interested in anatomy after participating in the Governor's School for Agriculture in high school, which allowed me to dissect cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens. After that program my interest in anatomy and the sciences snowballed into an interest in medicine because I began volunteering in the UVA Health System and also became certified as an EMT.
When did you graduate from UVa and what did you study? What inspired you to choose this area of study?
I graduated in May 2014 with a degree in Biology. I choose biology
because I wanted to major in the sciences as a way to easily obtain medical
school pre-requisites and because I have always loved studying the large range
of biological sciences, particularly genetics, evolution & ecology, and
microbiology.
What have you been doing during your bridge year before matriculation to medical school?
I am currently working as a Scientific Program Analyst in the Office of Genomics and Advanced Technologies within the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIAID).
What made you decide to engage in a bridge year?
I chose to take a bridge year to give myself plenty of time to study for the MCAT with minimal distractions. I studied for the MCAT for nine months, and the semester that I took the test (my last semester of college), I was a part-time student and only taking 3 credits. Taking a bridge year allowed me to focus on one aspect of my application at a time, without worrying about outside factors.
What distinguished your opportunity at the NIH/NIAID from other options you might have pursued?
This
opportunity is located in Maryland, which allows me to live at home and save
money during my bridge year. That, and the reputation of the NIH, distinguished
this option from others that I pursued. I have learned so much from this
experience, which introduced me to the world of biomedical research and taught
me a lot about the process behind administering and obtaining grants and
contracts. I would definitely recommend this experience to other UVa grads!
I volunteered at the UVA Health System through Madison House for two years, was a peer teacher for the introductory biology laboratory (BIOL 2040), and was a member of Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity. Additional (non-clinical) volunteering that I performed involved Habitat for Humanity, teaching interview workshops at the Charlottesville Regional Jail, and participating in Cavaliers Care.
Have you been accepted to medical school thus far?
Yes, I have been accepted to several medical schools. I will make my final decision on where to matriculate based on the outcome from a later interviews.
What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career in medicine?
Even if you are not 100% sure that you want to apply to medical
school, start early. Take the pre-requisite classes as soon as possible and
begin thinking about letters of recommendation and extracurricular activities
on the first day of college. Figuring out your application early in your
undergraduate career will save you a lot of stress later on.
In what ways did Health Professions Advising support you in your journey? What was most helpful?
Participating in the Mock Interview program was by far the most
beneficial aspect of Health Professions Advising - not only did it identify my
interviewing weaknesses but also gave me insight into what questions would be
asked on the interview trail. In addition, the mock interview was much longer
than the actual interviews (maybe one hour compared to thirty minutes) which
prepared me well for sustaining a conversation and answering questions for the
full time period.
