Major: psychology
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Destination: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, MD Program
Why did you choose to be an MD?
I chose to pursue an MD because it simultaneously places a strong emphasis on clinical care, while also allowing me to engage in other activities throughout my career. This degree will enable me to tackle the issues that matter to me through the lenses of patient care, research, education and community service. Moreover, I believe that this involvement in a variety of activities will help to fuel my passion for improving outcomes in medicine even decades from now.
How did you get there? And how did Pomona prepare you?
I believe that one of the most important keys to me successfully applying to medical school was having meaningful clinical experiences in a variety of contexts. Having this not only helped admissions officers be confident that I was certain in my decision about medicine, it was also crucial in me developing traits like perseverance and adaptability specifically within a medical context. Pomona helped me obtain these experiences both directly and indirectly. Whether it was opportunities offered through the Draper Center or the fact that Pomona’s small size meant I could more easily foster relationships with professors, leading to strong letters of recommendation, Pomona was absolutely instrumental in this process.
Any advice for current or prospective Pomona students?
My biggest advice is to take gap years! These years will give you more opportunity to ensure that medicine is truly the right path for you. More than that though, gap years are a chance to fully understand the value of having balance between your career and other aspects of your life. Understanding this will help sustain you through the grueling moments that can happen during training.