Successful Applicants—Rochester Early Assurance Program (EAP)

2023 Matriculants

Name: David Bulanov
Major: Human Biology
Overall GPA: 4.0
Graduation Year: 2022
Matriculation Year: 2023

Q: Which school will you be attending?
A: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: As someone who has loved school from a young age, medicine fulfils my need for life-long learning and exploring; long after the traditional training of medical school and residency is over, physicians continue to perfect their craft as diagnosticians and surgeons, learn new drug and disease pathways, and harness the power of cutting-edge technology. The opportunity to work in a clinical setting for over 3,000 hours only cemented my passion for medicine and for empowering patients to live happy and healthy lives.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: I worked as a medical assistant at a busy ophthalmology practice in Brooklyn; my duties included recording detailed patient histories, obtaining vitals, completing diagnostic imaging and testing, as well as preparing patients for procedures. Over the three years, I have also taken on more of an administrative role by liaising with industry and pharmaceutical representatives, coordinating care with other providers and payors, and optimizing our EHR and office workflows for greatest efficiency. The shift to remote learning allowed me to maximize this experience as I was able to accrue over 3,000 clinical hours.

In addition, I served as the Secretary of the American Red Cross Club at Hunter College, working to organize volunteer events and leading meetings for our members. I also volunteered with Get Out the Count to encourage people to complete their 2020 census through outreach efforts. I served as a mentor with PHMI during my final year at Hunter as well.

After my acceptance, I joined the Neuroimaging & Visual Science Laboratory at NYU Langone as a volunteer, where I hope to contribute to ongoing research during my gap year.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: I devoted a lot of time to studying weekly, at least 20-25 hours outside of class time during a typical week. As finals approached, I would study for 30-40 hours per week.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: I was fortunate to be accepted to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry through the Early Assurance Program, so I was not required to take the MCAT.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: Despite having an early acceptance to the University of Rochester, I ultimately decided to defer my matriculation for one year. The pandemic limited my opportunity to shadow surgeons in the OR and participate in meaningful research experiences. I decided to take a gap year to pursue a research project while working full-time to help finance my future education.

I am also using the year to build habits to sustain my physical and mental health. Since finishing my undergraduate degree, I have been focused on increasing my physical activity, prioritizing healthy sleep patterns, and eating nutrient-dense foods. I hope this year will allow me to cement these habits as part of a routine that I can sustain throughout the rest of my medical education.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: I had a very thorough and comprehensive clinical experience that was accompanied by a strong letter of recommendation that highlighted my strengths as an applicant. My clinical supervisor was an alumnus of the University of Rochester, so he really emphasized how I could be an asset to their institution by citing specific examples and anecdotes of how my contributions in his clinic aligned with the values and educational mission of UR.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: N/A.

Q: How did the Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: The Pre-Health Advising Office assisted greatly with revising my personal statements and application, allowing me to highlight my experiences and strengths as an applicant despite the limited word counts. More important, however, were the mock interviews that allowed me to anticipate interview questions and craft strong yet concise responses to the prompts.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: Try to build a connection with your professors—come to class early and stick around a few minutes after class as well. Offer to be helpful in cases of computer trouble or to hand out papers and ask thoughtful questions that facilitate discussion. Each little interaction with a professor accumulates such that the instructor is able to make a sound judgment of who you are as a person in addition to your strengths as a student.

Commit to a few, strong extracurriculars to which you will be able to dedicate your time. Don’t join 6 different clubs and attend meetings once a month—join just one or two but attend weekly.

Finally, in whatever clinical or research setting you find yourself, try to make yourself shine. This advice was given to me when I first started my clinical experience: I was told to make myself indispensable to the office.

At the time, I thought it was impossible. How could I, a college student who shadows the doctor once a week, possibly make any difference in this office? Yet, the experience turned into a paid, medical assistant position that grew to be so much more. It was because I committed myself to learning more about the disease processes and office workflow, asked insightful questions, and was not afraid to ask for more responsibility.

I was, and frequently still am, the first one in the door and the last one out of the office. Being great at something requires time, dedication and a desire to learn. I used to think that I was extremely lucky to have had such a meaningful clinical experience, but now I know that luck is where preparation meets opportunity. Throughout your pre-health journey, be prepared for and make the most out of opportunities that may come your way.

Name: Michael Lyashenko
Major: Computer Science - Bioinformatics Concentration
Minor: Mathematics
Overall GPA: 3.97
Graduation Year: 2023
Matriculation Year: 2023

Q: Which school will you be attending?
A: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: My interest in practicing medicine as a physician while also pursuing innovation in the field.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: Pre-health Mentoring Initiative, lab research, hospital volunteering, medical scribing, ultimate frisbee team, tutoring (CS department).

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: 15-20 hours per week.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: I did not take the MCAT as part of the early assurance program to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: No.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: My interest in the intersection between computer science/engineering and medicine, and a desire to pursue innovations in this field.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: No. I applied only to the URSMD through its Early Assurance Program.

Q: How did the Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: Through encouragement to push myself beyond my boundaries and achieve more than I would have otherwise.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: Pursue, study, and do what you are interested in, not just what you think will help you get accepted. It will make your time as an undergraduate more fulfilling and make you a genuinely interesting applicant.

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Name: Edmund Sagastume
Major: Biological Sciences with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience
Minor: Chemistry
Overall GPA: 3.93
Graduation Year: 2023
Matriculation Year: 2023

Q: Which school will you be attending?
A: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (URSMD)

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: I have always known that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine and I applied to URSMD only through its Early Assurance Program. The URSMD’s curriculum was especially appealing to me because it focuses on providing medical students with early clinical exposure (starting second semester of M1) to facilitate the transition of becoming a practicing physician.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: At Hunter College, I tutored General Chemistry I and II at the Skirball Science Learning Center for two (2) years, as well as mentored first-year Pre-Health students through the Pre-Health Program’s PHMI program.

Outside of Hunter College, I participated in clinical volunteering in the EDs of both NYP-Cornell and NYP-Columbia, as well as for Mount Sinai Morningside’s volunteer office. Additionally, I was a member of the Colecraft Lab at Columbia University’s Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics researching LVG and HVG Calcium and Potassium Channels; worked as a NYS Certified EMT, and taught General Chemistry 106 Lab sections after graduating.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: Between 8-12 hours

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: No. I was accepted to URSMD through their Early Assurance Program which requires that you do NOT take the MCAT. This program requires the endorsement of the Pre-Health Office, and the application cycle opens in May of your sophomore year. However, you need to express your interest in the URSMD EAP to the Pre-Health Office as early as the Spring semester of your freshman year.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: I graduated a semester early from Hunter College (Fall 2022), so I had a GAP semester before matriculating, which allowed me to teach and engage in clinical and research experiences.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: I believe the strengths in my application were my personal statement and interview skills.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: No, proceeding with an EAP application cycle means that you can only apply to one school, in this case being URSMD.

Q: How did the Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: I worked closely with Veronica Mitchell, who did an amazing job in preparing me for the application with my essays.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: Establish a relationship with the Pre-Health office early in your Hunter College career, attend all required and elective meetings to expand your interests and gain knowledge in what you are trying to pursue.

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2022 Matriculants

Name: Eric Dayts
Major: Biochemistry with Honors
Overall GPA: 3.97
Graduation Year: 2022
Matriculation Year: 2022

Q: Which school are you attending?
A: The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: As a child, conducting science experiments was my creative outlet. High school and college furthered this by exposing me to the intricacies of medicine, research and biochemistry. Coupled with my father's exposure to radiation from Chernobyl and subsequent treatment for a tumor on his leg, I took inspiration to enter the medical field. Now, I hope to find my specialty in medical school and help better the healthcare system in the United States.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: I was a senior peer mentor at The Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College peer mentoring program, research assistant at The Zeglis Lab at Hunter College/Weill Cornell Medicine/MSKCC, Technlogy Coordinator at the CMMB x Hunter Club at Hunter College, and I was a CARE and pharmaceutical volunteer in my rising sophomore summer at NYU Langone—Brooklyn. My research was also published in journals like Nature Protocols, Scientific Reports, and Molecular Pharmaceuticals.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: In retrospect, too many to count. On lighter weeks, 8-10 hours, but it could be up to 30 hours during midterms and finals.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: No, I did not. I was fortunate to be admitted to the Early Assurance Program at The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, which did not require a MCAT score.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: I did not. Because of my early assurance admission, I decided I want to pursue medical school right away rather than defer for one year.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: My application strengths are my research experience, peer mentoring outreach, and personal statements.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: N/A.

Q: How did Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: Without the Pre-Health Advising Office, I would not be in the position I am in today. Their guidance in personal statement workshops, mock interviews, and how to showcase your strengths on your application propelled me as an applicant. Moreover, after being admitted to medical school, the Pre-Health Advising Office remained in touch and helped me apply to and receive the Jonas E. Salk Award for my research, allowing me to defray the tuition costs of medical school.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: Never sacrifice your ambitions. It's easy to get drowned by schoolwork and internships but always keep your aspirations in sight. They are what keep your passion and motivation from fading away. Building on that, don't forget to give yourself some downtime. Whether enjoying trips to Central Park, heading to the gym, or baking, keep yourself centered even in stressful times.

Likewise, don't ever be too scared to ask for something. The times that I struggled to ask for a recommendation letter or some advice because I feared the other person would reject me are endless. However, you will learn very quickly that the worst thing that can happen is hearing the word “no.” In that case, brush it off, and keep moving forward!

Name: Jason Nagourney
Major: History & Biology
Minor: Political Science
Overall GPA: 3.92
Graduation Year: 2021
Matriculation Year: 2022

Q: Which school are you attending?
A: University of Rochester School of Medicine.

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: I have always know I wanted to work in science. I grew fonder of biology as I grew older but what solidified my decision to go into medicine was my work as an EMT. Volunteering in South Brooklyn, working at sporting events and helping NYC during the COVID-19 pandemic showed me that I was made to practice medicine and it is something that I can enjoy doing for the rest of my life.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: I was involved in many different extracurricular activities while at Hunter, including Hunter Hillel, Macaulay FIT & the Macaulay Quidditch Team. I have been working with EMS for over 4 years now as both an EMT and dispatcher. And I also was able to be a part of the Mellon Public Humanities Scholars Program in which I was able to conduct original research in Labor History.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend study for your courses per week?
A: It obviously depended on how difficult that week was but on average I would study around 10 hours every week.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: I was lucky enough to be accepted to the University of Rochester's Early Acceptance Program at the end of my sophomore year, so I did not have to take the MCAT.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: I will be taking a gap year as i have been given a Fullbright award in Lithuania as both a continuation of my historical research and as an opportunity to better understand a community that I plan to work with when I practice medicine. Even though I was accepted early to medical school, I STIL decided to defer my acceptance as I always knew I wanted to pursue a gap year in order to grow as a person, discover more of the world, and learn more about myself and my life goals.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: I believe my strengths came from my diverse academic background in the humanities and sciences.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: N/A.

Q: How did Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: The mock interviews that the Pre-Health Office conducted were amazing. They were able to help me become more comfortable in the process and showed me how to craft my answers in order to better showcase my academics, extracurriculars and personality. They have also continued to look out for me even past my acceptance to medical school, suggesting different scholarships to apply to and opportunities they believe I could succed at.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: The best advice I have for other students is to lean into their interests. Throughout my undergraduate years, I was frequently told by certain individuals that it was a waste of time to study the humanities, or do historical research, or play on the Quidditch team.

While it might feel like there are a thousand and one things you need to accomplish before you graduate and that there is not enough time in the world to do it, it's important to remember that your college experience is your time to grow as a person, mentally, emotionally and academically.

Do not ever feel like you need to fit into the “perfect” applicant profiles that you see on this page. Medical schools will want you because YOU ARE YOU—your interest in cooking or dance or whatever it is that makes you special. Medicine is not, and never will be, the only thing that defines you.

Name: Md Hoque
Major: Biology (Honors)
Minor: International Relations
Overall GPA: 3.8
Graduation Year: 2022
Matriculation Year: 2022

Q: Which school will you be attending?
A: University of Rochester School of Medicine.

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: I was fortunate enough to discover that I wanted to be a physician during my freshman year of high school through my volunteer experiences at hospitals and clinics. Through that passion, I began to explore the different fields in medicine such as telehealth, global health, public health, and mainly, clinical health as an intern, medical assistant, clerk, and volunteer.

Q: What extracurricular activities did you particpate in?
A: My path with extracurriculars was a little unconventional as I did not take part in many Hunter-based activities such as clubs or college community involvement. Instead, I sought experiences elsewhere; I worked as a U.S. ambassador for a community in Kenya as well as helping with grant proposals for EMT transportation and research at Mozambique, Africa.

Furthermore, my global health work was accompanied by my continued involvement in clinical health as a medical assistant at pediatric urgent care centers, an intern at ICUs, Stroke and Telemetry Units, and Emergency Departments at different hospitals. I also built on my previous science research experience by conducting research at The Rockefeller University and NYU School of Medicine.

Finally, the work that I am most proud of are my entrepreneurial projects; I founded the “Doctor's Inn Podcast” where I continue to interview top-performing, proactive physicians from different specialties in order to deconstruct study strategies, useful habits, constructive failures, and overall life lessons. With my wonderful team members, we continue to provide pre-med and medical students with effective advice from top physicians. I also founded HelloResearch, which aims to connect undergraduate students to research labs.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: Roughly 10 hours.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: No, the University of Rochester EAP program does not require the MCAT. However, I started studying for the MCAT during my sophomore year (just in case) as I did not want to take a gap year.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: No.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: My personal statements and my extracurriculars that showed my dedication to healthcare.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: No. I only applied to two early admissions programs, and I chose to pursue my medical schooling at the University of Rochester.

Q: How did the Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: The two mock interviews I had were incredibly valuable. I am very thankful for Kemile and Veronica. Kemile has continued to keep in touch with me even after my admittance by helping me reach out to different parties in regard to some of my projects. She was one of the major contributors to the success of “Doctor's Inn” as some of the episodes were shared with the Pre-Health Listserv. Kemile, alongside my advisor, Dr. Klein has equipped me with many opportunities that I will forever be thankful for.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: Do not be afraid to craft your own path to medicine! It is easy to follow a “checklist” that ensures success in terms of your GPA, courses, extracurriculars, and other interests. However, to extract the most meaningful stories out of your experiences, you must engage in activities and courses you really enjoy.

Think outside the box and observe how you can make a change in your respective community and interests because the personal statements, supplementary essays, and interviews will gauge the type of person you are.

The best way to demonstrate your character and personality are through the true stories about your life, background, and experiences. Sometimes it does not hurt to be a little unconventional, and with that said, good luck!

2021 Matriculants

Name: Elise Wang
Major: Biology: Concentration in Behavioral Neurobiology
Minor: Public Policy
Overall GPA: 3.87
Graduation Year: 2021
Matriculation Year: 2021

Q: Which school are you attending?
A: University of Rochester School of Medicine (Early Assurance Program)

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: The ability to ask and to answer questions that impact medical care, both in the clinic and in the laboratory, coupled with my desire to care for others in a personal and sincere manner.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: Research: SCORE Program at MSKCC, Policy Intern at Asian American Federation, Canary CREST Program at Stanford.

Clinical: CARE Volunteer at Mount Sinai Hospital, Medical Receptionist at a Primary Care Clinic, Physican Shadowing.

Volunteer: Hunter Has Heart (Fresh Food Box Pilot Project), Group Counselor at Project HAPPY, Undergraduate Student Government, PHMI Peer Mentor, Crisis Counselor at Crisis Text Line.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: I spent around 5-10 hours a week studying for my STEM courses and up to 30 hours when exam dates approached.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: The early assurance program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine does not require the MCAT but I signed up for the Princeton Review Test Prep prior to my acceptance.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: N/A.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: In my application and during my interview, I was able to clearly explain my interest and experience in public policy and health policy. Additionally, my variety of volunteering and research experience allowed me to have a strong application.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: N/A.

Q: How did Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: The Pre-Health Advising Office provided me with so much support and guidance throughout my college experience. During my Sophomore year, I worked closely with Nina to brainstorm and flesh out my personal statement for the EAP program. Veronica helped review my applications, provided mock interviews, and offered stress management tips along with constant reassurance. Finally, I can always count on Kemile for providing helpful advice when it came to extracurriculars and everything Pre-Health related. Kemile’s Listserv emails are filled with opportunities that allowed me to delve into a variety of different research, volunteering, and shadowing experiences.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: If medicine is something you are interested in, start early. Get to know the Pre-Health Office and find mentors/advisors. Look into volunteering and shadowing experiences and see if this is something you are really interested in. While it is important to learn how to prioritize and make sure you have good grades and exam scores, taking time for yourself is just as important. The journey to medicine is a long one. It can be a stressful process, but if this is something you are extremely passionate about, you will get there!

2020 Matriculants

Name: Jenny Ganay Vazquez
Major: Biochemistry/Special Honors Program Major
Overall GPA: 3.82
Graduation Year: 2020
Matriculation Year: 2020

Q: What school will you be attending?
A: University of Rochester School of Medicine (Early Assurance Program).

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: In short, my curiosity is what first sparked my interest in science. As I navigated through high school, opportunities to volunteer or participate in hospital programs became available. My curiosity for science then merged with medicine and it was not long before I not only wanted to be able to explore the human body and all its functions, but also to use that knowledge to treat patients.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: Summer Health Education Program—Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; C.A.R.E. Volunteer—Mount Sinai Emergency Department; Undergraduate Researcher—Dr. Likhtik Biology Lab, Hunter College; Organic Chemistry Tutor—Skirball Science Learning Center; President of Latino Medical Student Association ; Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship—University of Rochester School of Medicine.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: I usually spent between 20-30 hours a week studying. As I progressed through college, I learned to create study plans which would include breaks to avoid feeling burned out. Something as simnple as taking a break to eat a snack can make a difference.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: The early assurance program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine does not require the MCAT.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: This early assurance program lets you matriculate into medical school after graduating from college.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: I consider my personal statement, recommendation letters and extracurricular activites to be strengths in my application.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: N/A.

Q: How did the Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: The Pre-Health Advising Office informed me about the early assurance program. They also provided me with feedback on my personal statement for medical school as well as preparing me for my interviews.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: I would recommend getting involved with the Pre-Health Office early on. All the pre-health advisors are there to help you reach your goals. I would also advise all premed students to do their best to take care of their emotional health. This track can be very stressful but having strong support systems and/or hobbies can help alleviate that stress. Lastly, do not be afraid to ask for help! You will not know everything and that is fine. Look into the various resources Hunter has to offer such as free tutoring, office hours, TAs, advisors, etc. and turn to them for help.

2019 Matriculants

Name: Hamza Sadhra
Major: Bioinformatics
Minor: Public Policy
Overall GPA: 3.89
Graduation Year: 2019
Matriculation Year: 2019

Q: Which school will you be attending?
A: University of Rochester School of Medicine.

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: I was drawn to a career as a doctor as I witnessed a cultural and social disconnect of the healthcare system within my immediate family, but also realized this was a greater problem experienced by many in minority and immigrant communities. Throughout college, I became interested in careers in Public Health, which could have a greater impact on a larger community, but also realized the value of one on one interpersonal communication and how valuable that is for an individual's health. I chose to apply to the Early Assurance Program at the University of Rochester after my sophomore year and I was fortunately accepted.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: Model UN, Peer Health Exchange, Hunter College Men's Tennis.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: The average varied per semester. When I was taking pre-med requisites such as Biology and Organic Chemistry, I was probably studying close to 20 hours a week. As I became an upperclassman, the course load became more manageable and I became better at time management.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: I was not required to take the MCAT as an early assurance student at the University of Rochester School of Medicine.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: As an early applicant to Rochester, I will proceed directly from graduation to medical school.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: I believe my personal statement was a strength. It is important to draw from personal experiences, to not only tell a story, but to show you overcame obstacles, and highlight your experiences, while considering a career in medicine. For an early assurance program, it was important to have good grades in the sciences as they have less information to make a judgment on.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: N/A.

Q: How did the Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: When I told the Pre-Health office I was interested in applying to the EAP program and Rochester, Kemile Jackson immediately urged me to apply without any hesitation, which calmed any doubts I had about myself as an early assurance applicant. The office helped me fine tune my personal statement, and once I was offerred an interview, I was given the opportunity to practice with someone from the office, which gave me more control and confidence over an interview situation. Once I was accepted, I was again urged and encouraged to apply and win the Jonas E. Salk CUNY Research Award, which I might not have applied for otherwise.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: If I were to give advice to myself earlier in college, I would emphasize to put in hard work in the courses you are currently taking, and try to find a volunteer experience that is well aligned with your personal goals. Worrying about applications should not be done earlier in college as those things will fall into place. Focus on classes, and do not forget the little things such as course evals, and recommendations. One of the best things you can do for yourself as a pre-health student is to meet regularly with the Pre-Health Office to discuss your strengths in weaknesses.