#RoadToMD

Let perseverance finish its work so that you (and your faith) may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.         

– James 1:4

Prior to college, I developed a 15 year plan: 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, 5 years of surgical residency, a 2 year fellowship, and marriage to the perfect man and children—no more than 4—in between. Yes, I was on my way to becoming a highly successful surgeon. However, when college began, my plans quickly shifted.

My tenure in undergrad marked the first time in my life that I felt I was not in control of my grades. Instead of grade inflation—or grades that are simply left as they are—I experienced a rude awakening about the true meaning of grade deflation. I was not at all accustomed to being graded on a curve. If there were too many high grades in the class, students’ scores could be reduced below what they actually earned. My pre-medical advisors denied that grade deflation was an actual practice at the institution, but the New York Times article I found on the matter as well as my and other students’ experiences conveyed otherwise. Because the university is a non-ivy league school among a sea of ivy league institutions and other prestigious universities, competition and the appearance of an arduous curriculum were the name of the game, and I would have to learn how to play.

I found myself reaching out to tutors—a first for me. There were times when I felt like I might as well live in my pre-medical labs, classrooms, or tutor centers. Despite my efforts, I began to see grades that I did not recognize—grades that were a bit further into the alphabet. During my junior year, I finally accepted that going to medical school right after college would not be an option.

Picking up the pieces of my dream and trying to enjoy the rest of my college experience, I quickly regrouped. I decided to pursue a Master of Public Health Degree. The summer before my senior year in college, I met a medical student who had completed an MPH Program and informed me that the program would help me get into the medical school. “This is it!” I thought to myself. “My plan is back on track!” Or so I thought. I spent the first year of the two-year program focused solely on my MPH courses. However, the second year I not only took on a full MPH course load, but I simultaneously enrolled in science classes at another college. You see, I had to make up for those less than pristine grades that were on my transcript and I had to take Physics I and II which I did not even bother taking in undergrad. In fact, I took Physics I and II concurrently just so I could have both grades in time for the next medical school application cycle. In addition to taking 6, sometimes 7 classes at a time at two different schools 45 minutes apart, I worked 3 jobs and was responsible for developing and defending my Masters thesis. That year I took the phrase “By Any Means Necessary” to a whole new level. I know my ability to make it through that year was nothing short of the grace of God.

Although I graduated from the MPH program #1 in my class, it was still not enough to get me into medical school. I had been misinformed. Not only was my MCAT score too low, but medical schools wanted to see additional improvement in hard science courses. My public health coursework did not help with that feat. So there I was, a summa cum laude graduate from a Masters program rejected from the medical schools and the post-baccalaureate programs to which I had applied. This was the first time that I had ever been without several options of a sparkly new program in which to enroll. I was so disheartened—not because I had acted irresponsibly or had too much fun in college, but because of a grading policy I could not control.

The next fall I again applied for post-baccalaureate programs that would assist in raising my science GPA and ultimately help me to achieve my goal. As the rejection letters poured in, the doctors and medical students who had advised me for years reached a point where they ran out of advice. They said to me “I really don’t know what else to say. It sounds like you’re doing everything right.” Still, rejections letters filled my inbox one after the other until finally I was advised to apply to a Masters of Science Program. Two months later, I received an acceptance letter—my first in quite some time.

At this new school of mine, I studied and worked harder than I ever had in my life. While grade deflation was not an issue, the classes were indeed rigorous. I had never been so proud of a B average! However, that pride was quickly deflated when a second year student in the program and an undergrad pre-medical advisor I kept in touch with informed me that medical school acceptance requires at least a 3.5 GPA. So very tired of being reminded of my transcripts’ shortcomings, I swept those admonitions out of my mind. 3.5 GPA or not, I was applying to medical school. As I prepared for a second round of medical school applications, my undergrad pre-medical advisor also informed me that if I wanted a letter of recommendation from the university, I would have to complete a 10 page application and garner 3 letters of recommendation from the school’s science professors. I wish I was making this up. I thought surely, I don’t have to apply and submit letters of recommendation from professors I had 7 years ago and who may not even work at the school anymore just so I can have one letter from a university from which I earned a degree. By that time, I was on the third draft of my 15-year plan. I decided to throw it and the undergrad application for a recommendation letter in the garbage and rely on God’s plan for me.

Something different began to happen. I started to enjoy my life. I finally listened to my mother’s admonishments about balance and trust in God’s timing. I reconnected with old friends, reestablished my involvement at church, and I even became a member of the Illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. My faith in God continued to grow and I could feel my joy and peace being restored. I finished the first year of my Masters of Science program without making anything lower than a B and it was time to sit for the MCAT. This time I knew it would be different and it was. My score increased by 6 points. “Finally!” I thought to myself. “Real progress!”

The second year of my Masters of Science program began and I was collecting letters of recommendation for my medical school applications. Every grade and every document since my undergrad days had been accounted for. The only outstanding document was a letter from my Masters of Science advisor who had a reputation for his procrastination. However, I needed this letter. I knew that a letter from a graduate school science advisor would make my application stronger. And yes, he is the only faculty member with the advisor title in my program. I began to wonder why every little thing had to be such a struggle for me, but I had come this far and I was not about to let one letter stand in the way of my continued progress. So, after my advisor missed several deadlines we both agreed upon, I did what any sane person would do: I began to stalk him. I showed up at his office day after day for weeks until finally he said, “Anya, are you here to bug me about what I think you’re here to bug me about?” I responded, “Yes. So sorry to keep bothering you, but I just want you to know how serious I am about going to medical school.” His response was, “Anya, I know you’re serious. And that’s why you’re going to get in.” The very next day, he submitted my letter.

Things began to turn around for me. Finally amid more rejection notices, I began to see invitations to interview. Even more, I received medical school acceptances!! It is overwhelming to have the years of literal blood, sweat, and tears yield such a reward. I now know that my decision to tough it out at my undergrad institution was not a mistake. It was definitely by design. Little did I know that God was simply taking the control out of my hands so that I could learn how to trust Him and activate my faith; ultimately preparing me for the career and life for which I asked Him. My 9-year journey towards medical school has been the most difficult and painful, yet thrilling and rewarding experience of my life. One Bachelor’s degree, 2 Masters degrees, multiple MCAT sittings, 1 year of school rejections, additional post-baccalaureate classes, tons of research, hours shadowing, years volunteering, and buckets of tears later, I now stand on the cusp of my most treasured dream becoming a reality. When it was my season, I had not only been accepted into medical school, but I had options on which one to attend. There was once a time when I thought my dream was dead, but I never quit. I pray the same persistence and diligence for anyone reading this. For anyone who has a dream—especially those who may believe that life should fall perfectly into place seconds after walking across the stage with a Bachelor’s degree—I urge you to keep God first in all that you do and allow Him to guide you as you pursue your aspirations fiercely. For my planners, my i-dotters, my t-crossers, my “I did everything right” students, this message is not to discourage you. Rather, I want to encourage you and let you know that life does not always go as planned. However, you are not remembered by your challenges and setbacks, rather, you are remembered by your comeback. Your dream may very well come to pass within the timeline that you have set for yourself, but if it does not, do not be ashamed to regroup, revise, and keep going towards your goal. Remember that the race is not given to the swift or strong, but to those who endure. It is my sincere hope for you all to endure to no end!

So Many Blessings,

Me!