Successful Applicants—SUNY Downstate EME

Success Stories by Year of Matriculation

2022 Matriculants

Name: Yanilka Rodriguez
Major: Human Biology
Overall GPA: 3.66
Graduation Year: 2020
Matriculation Year: 2022

Q: Which school will you be attending?
A: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine.

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A:

• The interest I developed for the biological sciences during college.
• The passion I developed for the humanitarian aspect of medicine; interacting with patients and their families throughout my time as a volunteer
• The aspiration to learn how to better the health of those who are sick via science and medicine I developed through my experiences within my family and can relate to the hardship that overwhelms patients and their families.
• The desire to educate and help my community also drew me to a career in medicine.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: I was a volunteer at Mount Sinai in the emergency department and in several inpatient units for 2 years. I was a research volunteer at Mount Sinai's cardiology department where I assisted the team for about a year while attending Hunter College as a full time student. I also shadowed an internal medicine physician where I learned more about the daily responsibilities of a physician in an outpatient setting.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: I remember studying every day when taking the pre-med courses at Hunter. Approximately 2-3 hours a day, so about 10-14 hours a week.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: Yes for the CARS section. Since I am part of the EME program at SUNY Downstate the program provided us with a Kaplan book set and many Kaplan practice exams. We had our own boot camp month where Downstate students helped us with understanding content in preparation for the MCAT. I personally mostly used Blueprint for practice exams because I felt their exams were more similar to the AAMC material than Kaplan's. They also provided us with a CARS test prep course (Testing Solutions).

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: Yes, I took two gap years, not by choice; nonetheless, I am glad that I had time off before medical school. Besides the fact that it was very difficult to find a study routine and schedule that would yield improvement in my practice exam scores and content retention, my mother was undergoing several procedures due to a health condition at the time I was preparing for my exam. I pushed back my exam because I felt unprepared both emotionally and academically. This pushed me back another year because instead of taking the exam in January 2021 to start classes in August 2021, I took my exam in August 2021, which means I officially start classes in August 2022. I do not regret pushing back my MCAT exam date, as it is best to go into the test feeling as prepared as possible. I also think that these gap years have allowed me to spend more time with family, work on myself, enjoy some of my hobbies, work to save money and also have a mental break from studying, as it can be easy to burnout when studying for the MCAT.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: I think some of my strengths include the extracurricular activities I participated in while being a student and working as a paraprofessional. I believe these distinct settings: the hospital, outpatient clinic, research lab, public schools, have allowed me to develop a more well-rounded background and have enhanced my adaptability and communication skills.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: No, I only applied to SUNY Downstate as per the agreement we sign where we are accepted into their EME program.

Q: How did the Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: The advisors in the pre-health office have helped me greatly in preparation for interviews, advice regarding classes to take and in what order, informing me of volunteering, job and program opportunities. I was able to join the CARE program at Mount Sinai as a volunteer because Ms. Jackson informed me about this program. In addition, Ms. Jackson informed me of the EME program at SUNY Downstate and encouraged me to apply even when I doubted my potential. The advisors at the pre-health advising office have been indispensable throughout my pre-med journey.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A:

• Take your time and don't rush through your undergraduate years and the pre-med process; it is not a competition.
• Take your pre-med classes seriously because if there are inconsistencies in your grades, chances are you will have to explain this in your applications and interviews.
• Seek help from others (including the pre-health advisors), and take part in group study sessions.
• Shadow different health professionals to see which path is best for you or to confirm that the MD path is what you want (MD, nursing, PA, etc.)
• Do not take the MCAT until you've seen consistent improvement in your practice exams. Prioritize practice questions once you've reviewed content for the first 1-2 months (depending on how much time you have to dedicate to MCAT prep).

Name: Favour Ononogbu-Uche
Major: Psychology
Minor: Chemistry
Overall GPA: 3.51
Graduation Year: 2021
Matriculation Year: 2022

Q: Which school will you be attending?
A: SUNY Downstate School of Medicine.

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: I was always interested in medicine from a young age through my interest in science and human biology. My interests in medicine quickly shifted to the healthcare disparities underserved communities face regularly, and how these lead to dismal medical outcomes. As a physician, I want to address these issues from within the healthcare system through direct patient interaction as a caregiver and educator.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: I participated in the typical pre-med extracurriculars such as clinical volunteering, research, and shadowing. Additionally, I was active in Hunter's Black Male Initiative as a Team Leader and Mentor. I was also a Peer Tutor for several science classes such as Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: I only learned how to study effectively after graduating from college. While in college, I put off most of my studying until weekends or days surrounding tests. On those days and depending on the course, I could study anywhere from 2 to 15 hours that week.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: I was fortunate to be accepted to the SUNY Downstate College of Medicine through its Early Medical Education program. This program offered access to test prep courses like Kaplan, Blueprint, and Testing Solutions.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: I took a gap year to participate in SUNY Downstate's EME program and study for the MCAT.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: The strengths of my application include the quality of my experiences. Instead of taking the approach of simply checking boxes when choosing my activities, I was intentional in pursuing experiences that align with my passions. This allowed me to craft an application that showed continuity in who I am now and the physician I want to become in the future.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: I did not apply nationally, only to SUNY Downstate.

Q: How did the Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: The Pre-Health Advising Office was instrumental in my success. Through them, I had access to various opportunities offered through the Pre-Health listserv and to stellar advisors like Ms. Jackson. The office has been a pillar of support for me throughout this process.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: I advise others to believe in themselves and their abilities. It is one thing to know that you are capable of achieving your ambitions, but it is another thing to truly believe it. At that point, the conversation shifts from whether or not someone can succeed to WHEN they will succeed. This perspective changed the way I approach everything I do in life.

2021 Matriculants

Name: Tasmia Promi
Major: Biochemistry and Special Honors
Minor: Sociology
Overall GPA: 3.96
Graduation Year: 2021
Matriculation Year: 2021

Q: Which school are you attending?
A: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine.

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
One of the reasons I chose to study medicine because it is a field that is innovative and continuously changing. As a person who is curious and loves to tackle challenging ideas, I strongly believe that medicine will nurture my desire to understand and critically analyze new scientific and medical information. As physician, I’d also be able to study different advancements and potentially apply them to serve and assist patients, who come from different backgrounds, in battling various illnesses.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: Lab research, clinical volunteering, tutoring students in underserved communities, New York Cares, Organic Chemistry Peer Teaching Assistant, American Medical Student Association, Pre-Health Mentoring Initiative, Hunter College Student Government.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A:25 hours/week.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A:I would recommend studying by yourself to understand what your strengths and weaknesses are. Some resources include AAMC material and Kaplan Review Books.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A:I did not take a gap year.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: I would say the strengths in my application would be my letters of recommendation, personal statements, and leadership qualities.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: No.

Q: How did Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A:From the first day I started my undergraduate career, the Pre-Health Advising Team’s sincerity and dedication to help me navigate the pre-med track was outstanding. From offering time management sessions to creating support groups, the Pre-Health Advising Team did an amazing job in helping me become ready and feel confident about my application process. I am sincerely grateful for their assistance, work ethic, and support.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: I think the most important thing while preparing for and during the application cycle is to be confident in yourself and abilities. You have to always remember why you wanted to become a physician and let that drive you when encountering bumps on your journey. It is imperative to keep a positive outlook and never feel defeated. You have the ability to succeed and you can! It is all about making opportunities for yourself and maintaining a strong work ethic despite hardships, which is what I learned from my undergraduate experience.

Name: Sotirios Drenis
Major: Chemistry (Biochemistry track)
Overall GPA: 3.79
Graduation Year: 2020
Matriculation Year: 2021

Q: Which school are you attending?
A: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine as part of the Early Medical Education (EME) program.

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: It allowed me to be constantly involved in everything I was passionate about: science and learning, being in service to others in need, and working on a team.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: I was a board member and mentor for PHMI. I also enjoyed some of the courses I found interesting during my time at Hunter, which led me to be a peer TA for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. I volunteered at NYU Langone's (Brooklyn) rehabilitation department and then New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center's emergency department. I was also a research co-investigator at Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: Roughly 25-30 hours a week.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: No. I used Kaplan's MCAT books which I found very helpful at the start of my MCAT prep. Along the way I also found UWorld, Blueprint prep, and Testing Solutions as top tier MCAT resources. However, the best prep out there is undoubtedly AAMC's question packs and full length exams.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: Yes, I took that time to study for the MCAT.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: I would say one strength was my volunteering experience in medical centers and disaster relief volunteering in Puerto Rico, which definitely shed some light into how much I valued helping others in need. Another strength in my application was my research experience where I was fortunate to be a co-author in a research paper. Lastly, I was fortunate to have strong recommendation letters from professors.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: No.

Q: How did Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: The Pre-Health Office is such an amazing place to ask for advice and guidance. I remember being that shy freshman pursuing pre-med and not knowing how to navigate through this long and rigorous path. I admire how mujch effort each and every advisor puts into wanting the best for their advisees. I'm extremely grateful to Kemile Jackson. She has been such an extraoridnary advisor who would always push me to do more and was overall extremely supportive. I'm also very thankful to Nina Ledis. She provided me with excellent mock interviews, and was my go-to person for personal statement advice.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: In addition to staying on top of your academics, invest a good amount of time involving yourself in activities that you are passionate about. I also want to stress the importance of doing some kind of research. In regards to the MCAT, make sure you do as many practice questions and passages as you can along with full-length exams (I took 10+). Lastly, I urge you to go to the Pre-Health Office. They played such a significant role throughout my pre-med journey.

Trust yourself. Being a pre-med student is not easy, but with effort and a solid support system, you will get there.

Name: Muhammad Afaq
Major: Human Biology
Overall GPA: 3.70
Graduation Year: 2020
Matriculation Year: 2021

Q: Which school are you attending?
A: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine.

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A:Having the opportunity to serve the underserved as well as to inspire others to persevere and follow their dreams despite facing adversity.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A:
Clubs: Vice President of South Asian Cultural Club (SACC).Senior Senator for the Undergraduate Student Government (USG).
Clinical: Adult Daycare
Volunteer: Islamic Center. Member of the Diverse American Volunteer Association (DAVA)

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A: Around 4 hours on the weekdays and 5-6 on weekends. Almost double before midterms and finals if I had the time but a rough average would be around 28 hours a week.

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A: No.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A: Yes, to study for the MCAT and strengthen my resume.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: I take pride in the fact that my application was well rounded. I have a story that reflects an upward trend regarding my GPA. I also had a strong MCAT score. I have experience in research, clinical volunteering, and community/non-clinical volunteering, including shadowing, scribing, and leadership roles both in and outside of school.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: No.

Q: How did Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A: The Pre-Health advising office helped me plan and manage the monster that is the medical school application process. I was given strict deadlines, which at the time felt like a burden but was a blessing towards the end. I was given a roadmap and all I had to do was buckle up and follow it.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: First and foremost, do what Kemile says, she is the pre-med guardian angel. Do not expect things to be handed to you, get things done on your own but ask for help when you need it. Please take pre-med classes seriously because the MCAT is no joke. Finally, as the great Kemile says “Just keep swimming.”

Name: Juan Carrero Munoz
Major: Human Biology
Overall GPA: 3.69
Graduation Year: 2020
Matriculation Year: 2021

Q: Which school are you attending?
A: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine.

Q: What drew you to this particular health field?
A: A sum of experiences coupled with a desire to help communities and continue learning.

Q: What extracurriculars did you participate in?
A: I did research, plenty of volunteer opportunities within emergency rooms and running youth groups, cycling and teaching youth to bike, and shadowing doctors and veterinarians.

Q: How many hours on average did you spend studying for your courses per week?
A:It would depend on the semester but mostly around 8 - 12 hours

Q: Did you use a test prep course?
A:Yes, I used UWorld and Kaplan.

Q: Did you take a GAP year? If so, why?
A:Yes, I needed to learn more about myself and be sure of my career path and goals.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths in your application?
A: I would say I have a lot of experiences in varying fields and I believe they display my capability in regards to health, bedside manner, cultural awareness and diversity, social integrity, my leadership skills, and my desire to learn and push myself.

Q: Did you apply nationally?
A: No, I applied to an early admissions program at SUNY Downstate and I was lucky to have been admitted before preparing to send out applications to other schools.

Q: How did Pre-Health Advising Office help you achieve your goals?
A:I was provided with a variety of resources to gain experience and to prepare me for applying to medical school. I was also guided as to what steps to take if I wanted to seriously get myself into medical school. I also felt like I was pushed to maintain my GPA and responsibilities every time I talked with an advisor and I felt supported by their response every time I updated them.

Q: What advice do you have for others?
A: Be prepared for a hard but very satisfying road. Make a schedule and adhere to it so that you can make it easier on yourself. Create a social circle that is in the same place as you in regards to applying to medical school, sharing experiences and where you are helps each other out in the long run.

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