Major: Biological Sciences
How did you decide on your major?
I chose my major in Biology since it most closely aligned with my interests and future aspirations to pursue a career in the medical field. My passion for helping others influenced my decision to choose a major that could provide me with a strong foundation in academia for a career in medicine. Exposure to the courses included in the biology major as well as extracurricular activities such as volunteering, and internships helped me solidify my interest in my major and future career choices.
What is it about your chosen field (and the department) that appeals to you?
I have always been fascinated by the human body and the more I learned throughout high school and college, the more interested I got. Once in college, I found myself taking classes that piqued my interest in science in different ways. I enjoyed learning about the human body through the different perspective of physiology, biochemistry, anatomy, physics, etc. I was always drawn to a career in medicine since it allows me to apply my scientific knowledge to real life and make an impactful change in people’s lives. I always appreciated how medicine allows me to integrate scientific advancements with diagnosing and caring for human health.
Do you have favorite class/professor within your major?
My favorite class within my major was Genetics with Dr. Soliman. Dr. Soliman was an amazing professor, and I also took General Microbiology with her. Her explanations were wonderful, and her teaching style was very effective. I enjoyed taking genetics since the class was very involved and I always had a fascination with DNA and heredity due to its potential for real world application. This, along with problem solving and critical thinking skills necessary for genetics problems easily made this one of my favorite classes. To add on, genetics was a very heavy topic on the MCAT, and this class provided me with a solid foundation of genetics as well as problem solving skills that were crucial for tackling genetics problems on the MCAT.
What are your favorite academic experiences outside of your major?
My favorite academic experiences outside of my major were participating as a learning assistant and completing an internship with the Genetic Counseling Master’s Program at Rutgers. I was a learning assistant for General Physics Lab 1 and 2 for 2 semesters at Rutgers, and I enjoyed being able to help students in a way that bridged the gap between students and professors. Additionally, I explored my interests of teaching others and developing communication skills. I also enjoyed the genetic counseling internship experience with Rutgers since on top of exploring my interest in genetics, I was able to expand my knowledge base. I had the opportunity to Shadow Genetic Counselors at Monmouth Medical Center and RWJ University Hospital in numerous different fields such as cancer, pediatrics, and prenatal. I was also able to attend case conferences and seminars and even conduct research on gene therapy for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.
What are your other Rutgers activities?
Within Rutgers, I am involved with Orthodox Christian Campus Ministries (OCCM). Outside of Rutgers, I shadowed and worked alongside numerous doctors in their respective fields to gain knowledge and experience in the medical field. I worked alongside doctors in pain management, anesthesia, and plastic surgery. This helped me to explore different medical specialties, essentially broadening my understanding of medicine and my interests within the field. Additionally, I obtained my real estate license in New Jersey and have been working as a realtor to diversify my experiences outside the medical field.
What are your plans following graduation?
Following graduation, I plan to take a gap year to focus on building up my resume as well as gaining some more experience in the medical field through shadowing, volunteering, and clinical experience. After this, I plan to further my education at medical school.
