PreHealth Spotlight: Dhanya Kumar

Class year: 2018
Major: Biology

It was difficult for me to decide to take a gap year before applying...However, I highly encourage this experience for any student.

Vitals

• Spending gap year as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of London's Institute of Cardiovascular Research 
• Currently in the application process for medical school (7 interviews and 3 acceptances so far)
• Studied abroad in Cape Town South Africa
• Research experience in the cardiovascular physiology lab of Sarah Witkowski
• Student editor for The New Physician, magazine of the American Medical Student Association
• Volunteered with an assisted living facility in Amherst and a local hospice in Worcester

Finding your narrative

Medicine is truly becoming a holistic process. Your GPA and MCAT score matter to a large baseline degree, but as I am going through this cycle, I am learning that how you portray yourself and how you illuminate what you can specifically bring to a medical school’s community is essential. I strongly advise against creating some sort of formula to mold your college experience to what you think medical schools are looking for. Think about the greater picture of what drives you towards the medical field, whether that is scientific discovery, macro health policy, or individual service opportunities, and get involved in activities that you are passionate about and find fun to pursue. During undergrad, I was a tour guide, a member of the symphony orchestra and various intramural leagues, and spent a semester abroad. Although these aren’t clinical experiences, they provided me with relevant skills, such as public speaking and exposure to diverse communities. Overall, I was happier at UMass and able to fit these in my application and interviews as well.

My mother is a primary care physician, so from my formative years, regularly hearing medical vernacular used around the house, acclimatized me to the possibility of being a healthcare provider. A close relative was then diagnosed with breast cancer October of my freshman year of college and this reinforced my decision to apply to medical school. Since then, I have had a number of clinical experiences through the networks of UMass and the Premedical Office. This includes volunteering at Arbors at Amherst, studying abroad at the University of Cape Town, and conducting an honors thesis in a Kinesiology Lab. Since applying, I have been fortunate to receive multiple interviews and acceptances, and I am grateful for the University and the Premedical Office for their guidance and support.

Gap Year

It was difficult for me to decide to take a year off before applying, especially because I knew that I was interested in applying to medical school since I enrolled at UMass. However, I highly encourage this experience for any student. There were a number of benefits I reaped that I only recognize now. For example, I was able to submit my application early and fully focus on it during the couple of weeks of the summer between graduation and postgrad without having to juggle studying for the MCAT or summer internships. I must emphasize the importance of submitting your application early. I submitted my primary application the second week of June and returned secondaries within 2-3 weeks upon receipt. I know many students who waited until July/August to submit their primary and haven’t yet heard back. A large degree of navigating this application cycle is based on luck, but this is a factor you can control!

For my gap year, I am a Fulbright Scholar at the University of London’s Institute of Cardiovascular Research. It is a perfect opportunity for me, because I am conducting relevant clinical research, increasing my understanding of global cultural competency through volunteering with refugee populations in southwest London, while giving me some time to relax and travel before matriculation into medical school. I cannot thank Madalina Alki at UMass’ ONSA enough for providing constructive feedback throughout this application cycle. I highly encourage any premed students at UMass to apply for a national fellowship for their gap year(s). It’s a great conversation during interviews and a wonderful way to spend time between undergrad and medical school.

Advising

The premedical office at UMass is truly helpful, so take advantage of this unique resource. The personal statement writing workshops keep you on track, the advisors are accessible, and the recommendation letters are given in a timely manner. Definitely make sure to develop a relationship with these advisors as well as other research and classroom mentors at UMass. Lastly, I would like to encourage all applicants to read voraciously on medical current events and relax when it comes to navigating the process. As long as you stay organized and not get too caught up in the factors you cannot control, you will find success. Best of luck with everything!

Published December 2018