Accepted: We’d like to get to know you! Where are you from? Where and what are you studying as an undergraduate? When are you graduating?
Heather: I am originally from Los Angeles. I am a Biology major at the University of Texas at Dallas. I am graduating in 2018.
Accepted: With another year left of University do you already have your sights set on a specific med school? What are your biggest considerations when planning your med school future?
Heather: I am looking at many different medical schools. I am looking into UT Southwestern, Boston University, UCLA, and a lot of others.
Accepted: What motivated you to pursue a degree in medicine? Which area(s) of medicine interests you the most?
Heather: Medicine has always been a part of my life. A few of my family members were sick for a better part of my life that required a lot of care. With multiple surgeries and medications, I became very familiar with medical lingo and the life of someone who works in the medical field. So inherently I wanted to become a physician, more specifically a surgeon.
Accepted: Let's talk MCATs. Have you or are you planning on taking an MCAT prep course? Why or why not?
Heather: I am probably going to take an MCAT prep course. I know how I can study and going to a class is the best way for me to retain a good percentage of the information.
Accepted: What has been your most challenging experience as a premed student?
Heather: I think the biggest challenge for me as a premed student is chunking the big goal into little goals. Becoming a doctor is such a big goal and I have to constantly remind myself of the little goals that I have already achieved.
Accepted: Are you involved in any extracurricular activities? How are they contributing to your premed experience?
Heather: I am involved in a few activities such as volunteering at a local ER, shadowing a local chief of surgery, the honor society, a domestic abuse shelter. These help me donate some of my time to things that I am passionate about. Medicine is not my only passion and so the activities are a way for me to expand my horizons while having fun!
Accepted: Any advice you can give to your fellow premed students?
Heather: The best advice that I can give you is to not let anyone talk you out of your dreams. I have had so many people tell me that medicine may not be right for me or that it would be hard for me because I am a woman. So just keep moving forward and be unstoppable and be a force of nature!
Accepted: Are you going to change your Twitter handle after you graduate?
Heather: Hmm I have not thought about it... I really like my username but I might have to be creative in creating something new.
You can follow Heather's experiences by following her on Twitter (@PersianPremed). Thank you Heather for sharing your story with us!
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This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.
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