“I chose to pursue an M.A. program to strengthen my academic record for medical school applications. In past application cycles, my GPA was a weaker point. I tried doing online classes and being a part-time student, but I struggled to feel fully immersed.
I wanted a program in the Triangle area that was academically challenging, allowed me to build relationships with faculty, and offered help with applications and the MCAT. Meredith checked all the boxes for me. I loved the idea of a small cohort while taking many classes I hadn’t taken before, such as immunology and medical ethics.
At Meredith, I learned to articulate my thoughts and voice in writing, my strengths and weaknesses. Professional Development was one of the most beneficial classes I took during the program. At first, I didn’t enjoy writing the weekly journals and my goals, but when we got to drafting out personal statements, I realized I had learned how to write in a way that demonstrated my personality.
When going to medical school and being a physician, there will always be team situations. I think because we had so many opportunities to work together, those experiences taught me how to communicate effectively with others, work collaboratively so everyone’s strengths could be highlighted, and talk through conflicts. These projects also emphasized teaching and learning from each other, a skill used in team-based learning in various medical school curricula and throughout a healthcare career, because it is a commitment to lifelong learning.
All of the professors in the MABMS program pushed me to think beyond the initial answers and challenged me to become a better student. They almost always had their office doors open and were willing to answer questions and discuss ideas. Something I wanted in a master’s program was supportive faculty, and I felt like whenever I needed something, whether it was ranting about life events or clarifying how to code in biostatistics, the professors never made me feel dumb or inadequate. Even after I graduated, I have stayed in contact with some of the professors, and they helped me with the medical school application process.
Within my cohort, I felt like we were very supportive and willing to help each other. Despite all of us being pre-healthcare, I did not feel like we were in a competitive environment, and instead, we were there to make sure we all succeeded. We ranted together, studied together, and listened to multiple run-throughs of our presentations with each other. Being at Meredith made it feel like we were a supportive and welcoming family, which is why this program was such a positive experience for me.
Dr. Jason Andrus really worked hard to make us the best applicants we could be. From drafting personal statements during the year to hosting a mock-interview day, I felt like I was prepared for what the application cycle had in store, or at least the tools to think on my feet. He also made sure we were aware of any medical schools coming to Meredith and set up multiple information sessions with schools. I know that without that, I would not have known about many of the schools I applied to.
Academically, I felt like I grew in both the way I think and how I learn. I remember mentally connecting all the points I had learned in general biology to microbiology, and then how aspects I learned in chemistry could tie in. It felt less like a singular class I needed to memorize concepts for, but instead, I felt like I was truly learning and applying. All of my classes at Meredith changed the way I thought about different concepts. By using my brain and knowledge of systems, I was able to critically think through various problems and questions.
Applying to medical school is a chaotic process. It was agonizing to wait and see if I got any interviews, which later came, thankfully. Because we had so many interviews and so much public speaking practice in the program, I felt well prepared going into them. I heard back from the schools shortly after. I still remember the phone call when I was accepted and the joy I felt that I was finally getting closer to my lifelong dream of being a doctor.”