9 months ago, I sat down in front of my laptop and submitted my medical school application. In that moment, as I hit that button, it was the start of my application cycle and the journey to getting into medical school. I don't think there was anyway to prepare myself for the unbelievable journey I was about to embark on and the many tears that I would shed. From getting my first interview to getting my first acceptance, to getting into the number 1 medical school...the last several months have been the most rewarding moments of my life!
Applying to medical school included the 6 months I spent studying for the MCAT exam, the 4 months I spent crafting my personal statement, the month I spent writing my primary application, and then the years of work that went into completing my degree, all my pre-medical course work, shadowing, clinical experiences, and more. I am proud to have shared so much of that journey publicly just as I am sharing my results with you all today.
In that moment, not in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would end up where I am today being offered TWENTY medical school interviews and THIRTEEN acceptances!
Here are my application cycle results:
Offered an interview but I did not interview
Tufts University
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Case Western Reserve
Drexel University College of Medicine
Waitlist Post Interview
New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Post-Interview Awaiting Decision
Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine
Rejected Pre-Interview
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
And drumroll please.....MY ACCEPTANCES:
Harvard Medical School
Duke University School of Medicine
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
Yale School of Medicine
Ohio State University College of Medicine
University of Maryland, School of Medicine
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
University of Chicago The Pritzker School of Medicine
Emory University
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
I also want to share a few of my favorite reactions to these acceptances that I was able to capture:
Duke Acceptance
Columbia Acceptance
Harvard Acceptance
My list of acceptances above are all TOP and most competitive medical schools in the country! Opening my acceptance to Harvard Medical School was a feeling like I had never experiences before. People dream of that moment...for me I didn't even think of Harvard as a dream school because I didn't think it was possible for me. The day I got my interview offer email I was expecting it to be a rejection....little did I know that God has much bigger plans for me than the dreams I had for myself.
From the small island of Saint Martin to being accepted to 13 medical schools, 4 Ivy-League schools, and THE Harvard...this is a moment of celebration for not just me, but for my entire island and family. This is just beyond what I ever dreamed for myself that I struggle to find the words.
I will be the first physician in my family! I was inspired to go into medicine after losing my little cousin to cancer and shortly after losing my great-grandmother. I explain my story in my personal statement and since deciding to pursue medical school I have only aimed to do my best and stay true to myself, eager to use each day I was blessed with to make a difference. Eager to learn and make the most of college because I knew what a privilege it was to get an education. Eager to make the sacrifices that my mother made for us and the difficulties of leaving St. Martin worth it. I have been eager to use my education and opportunities make a positive change, to strengthen the communities I am in, and to spread love and care around me.
I am so proud of myself for all of the work, passion, and dedication that I put in to get to this point. But honestly, more than that I just can't stop thinking about how this is so much bigger than me. This photo...me and all these acceptances...this is a message to my community that we can do this!
In the coming months, I am excited to pour my all into sharing as much as I can about the application cycle in the hopes of helping others on their journey. Check out my mentorship page where I have free personal statement edits and am hosting free workshops on the MCAT, personal statement, primary application, and more. In addition, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the medical school application.
What comes next?
I am done with medical school interviews and now I have to make the ultimate decision of where to receive my medical education. Between now and the end of April, I will be planning trips to visit the schools, like my trip above to Chicago where I visited Northwestern and University of Chicago! It has been so fun connecting with potential classmates, faculty, and learning more about the cities...one of which I will call home for the next several years.
Beyond as I look to my future, I am excited to become the best doctor I can be. I'm making history and am ready to be the trailblazer breaking down barriers and crafting new legacies and opportunities for my community.
As I go off to medical school this fall, I am ready to put my all into a career centered on serving others. My experiences and upbringing inspired me to be a physician who will provide holistic care while addressing the systemic and social issues impacting their health. When I picture myself in the future, I see myself as a compassionate physician, a clinical researcher investigating health disparities, a leader in my institution and in national organizations, a mentor to underrepresented students in the pipeline to medicine, and an advocate for low-income and minority communities.
One of my major goals and dreams is to be able to improve health on Saint Martin. Either through a non-profit, collaborations with government, or free clinics, I want to bring the best health care to my people.
I'm thankful for my acceptances to the top medical schools in this nation because I know that the opportunities that these schools will provide will be the ultimate launching off point for me to achieve all of my biggest dreams and more.
Final Takeaways
I want to thank everyone who helped me get to this point. My teachers, my professors, my mentors, my friends, my peers, my advisors, my co-workers, my friends, and of course my family. Thank you for believing in me, for supporting me, for teaching me, for pouring into me. Thank you to the mentors who told me to apply to these schools even when my imposter syndrome almost made me leave them off my list. Thank you to those who helped me edit my statements, calmed my nerves before interviews, and celebrated every step of this process no matter how small it was. I will never have enough words to express my gratitude! And I thank God for his guidance and favor over me!
Finally, I want to leave you with this....DREAM BIG!
I may be from a small island...but I am doing big things. And this is only the beginning.
