Major: Psychology | Destination: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Why do you want to be a doctor?
In addition to patient care, I'm also very much interested in conducting research and teaching/mentoring students. During my medical career, I intend on combating health disparities that particularly impact Black and low income communities, and helping underrepresented students enter the field of medicine, through mentoring, giving advice, increasing exposure, etc.
How did you get there?
I knew from the beginning of college that I was premed and didn’t spend much time exploring other options, until my junior year. That year, I dropped the premed track and decided to explore other careers that fit my many interests. I volunteered at a non-profit women and children's shelter, completed a SURP in psychology, and volunteered at a substance use treatment center. I also had many mentoring experiences at Pomona where I worked to ease the college transition for students from backgrounds both similar and different from my own (OBSA Mentor, Posse Foundation Mentor, Resident Advisor, Prehealth Liaison). When finally deciding my career plan, piecing together my experiences at Pomona and my time away from the premed track is actually what lead me back to my pursuit of medicine. I spent my final college semester completing prerequisite courses and studying for the MCAT before applying that same summer. Since being accepted, it has been really important for me to act as a resource to other students who are now entering the same application process.