MCG Admissions

"I chose the Medical College of Georgia for its values of inclusivity, compassion and excellence. The MCG faculty and staff focus on patient-centered care, and teach different medically relevant topics through a lens of cultural competency and high ethical standards."

Fast Facts:

• Graduated from Mercer University
• President of the Internal Medicine-Pediatrics interest group
• Co-President of the Public Health interest group
• Secretary & Treasurer of the Global Health Initiative
• Student Coordinator for the ALAS Free Mental Health Clinic in Augusta, GA

Tell us a little about yourself.

• I was born in a suburban area of Pakistan where I completed my elementary and middle school education. When I was 13, my family and I moved to the United States. I finished high school at Ware County High School in Waycross, GA. After that, I was accepted into the Pre-Med program at Mercer University in Macon, GA. There, I spent my time learning subjects including, but not limited to, biology, biochemistry, organic chemistry and genetics. I majored in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and minored in Chemistry. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I was involved in research at the Mercer School of Medicine. Moreover, I was involved in medical volunteering opportunities which taught me pre-hospital, hospital and clinical skills. My hobbies include reading rom/com and thriller novels, bicycling and watching and re-watching Friends and The Office on Netflix. 

What is a typical day like for you?

• As a medical student, my typical day is composed of getting up early around 8:00 AM. Some days, I physically attend classes and some days I stay at home to review the previous day’s material and Echo the present day’s material in the afternoon. In the afternoons, either I have a PBL session or a PD workshop depending on the day. After these sessions, I head home to cook dinner and interact with my family and friends. My day ends with ensuring that I review the class material from yesterday and attempt to finish lectures from the present day. 

What is something people may be surprised to know about you?

• People are always surprised when I tell them that I was born and raised in Pakistan until the age of 13. 

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to be?

• The greatest accomplishment of my life was getting into medical school! It was my Dad’s dream for me. I am the first future physician in my immediate family, which comes with a lot of pressure, as everyone in the family has high expectations of you.

What advice do you have for students just starting their journey in Medicine?

• For the students starting their journey in Medicine, I want to say you should take every task or assignment one at a time. Life is about balance, and the hardest thing for every medical student to do is find a balance between social and academic life. Therefore, it is important that you are actively thinking about the practices that are important to observe and discarding those that dissuade you from completing your journey of medicine. At the end of the day, your efforts will count and shape your career as a successful future physician.

What motivated you to want to be a physician?

• From childhood, I have been a part of or have observed medically underserved populations. Thus, I was genuinely interested in understanding the disparities in healthcare settings. I was able to observe several patients who were subjected to such conditions and wanted to appeal for a more equal, accessible and hospitable healthcare system. Moreover, based on my experiences, I understand the need for more physicians in the underserved populations throughout the world. Quality physicians need to be accessible to those in dire need, provide their services and hold education programs to spread awareness regarding preventable medical conditions.

What do you hope to do after completing medical school?

• I hope to be trained as an Internal Medicine-Pediatrics physician. Thereafter, I want to pursue a career allowing me to practice medicine in national and global health settings. Along with practicing medicine, I want to be involved in medical education programs where I can teach the community members about preventable medical diseases. 

Who are your role models?

• As a young independent woman, my role models are all the young women out there who are making differences in the face of inhumanity. Despite the harsh conditions, they are thriving in their fields by finding balance in their home and work life. They are strong and innovative and know how to fight for not just their own rights and values, but also the rights and values of other human beings without regard for race, religion, or ethnicity.

Why did you choose the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University?

• I chose the Medical College of Georgia for its values of inclusivity, compassion and excellence. The MCG faculty and staff focus on patient-centered care, and teach different medically relevant topics through a lens of cultural competency and high ethical standards. Moreover, the Medical College of Georgia provides many student-centered opportunities i.e. student-run free clinics to advocate for community outreach and to serve underserved populations in Augusta, GA. 

What has been your favorite or most powerful experience in medical school?

• I was one of the initiators of the ALAS Free Mental Health Clinic at MCG. I got the chance to work intimately with fellow classmates and the faculty advisor to figure out the logistics of the clinic.

What has surprised you the most, or what would you like people to know about MCG?

• Even though there is a large class size at MCG, we are put into several small groups called Houses. This way, I was able to interact with several classmates at once and still feel very comfortable.

What is your favorite thing to do at your campus?

• I love to sit at my academic house occasionally in-between sessions to chat with my fellow classmates. It is a great way to share my feelings not only regarding school related activities but also my hobbies, habits and perspective on life.

"I knew that by coming here, not only would I receive a great education that would prepare me for wherever I choose to go next, I would also have a wonderful experience with amazing people along the way."

Fast Facts:

• Graduated from the University of Georgia

Please tell us a little about yourself.

• I graduated from the University of Georgia in 2018 where I earned a Bachelor’s in Biology. While I was there, I worked in a lab conducting research on male fertility. I was also heavily involved in a variety of leadership roles within my sorority and on campus.

What is a typical day like for you?

• On a typical school day, I attend lecture from 8 to 12. I then give myself about an hour break to relax and eat lunch in House E or outside with several of my friends. From 1 to 5, I usually try to stay on campus and focus on learning the content we were presented with that day. I then go to the gym or walk at the Augusta Canal if the weather is nice enough. After that, I come home and fix dinner and spend some time with my roommates. Sometimes, if I am still unsure about some of the material from that day, I do a little more light studying before I go to sleep.

What is something people may be surprised to know about you?

• I am an extreme couponer! I love hunting for bargains and saving money whenever I can—it gives me a bit of a thrill. I always joke with my friends that couponing is how I am paying my way through medical school.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to be?

• Nothing, so far, compares to the overwhelming sense of accomplishment I felt when I opened my email one Friday morning and saw that I had been accepted to MCG! I just couldn’t believe that all of my hard work had paid off and that my dream of becoming a physician would be coming true!

What advice do you have for students just starting their journey in Medicine?

• While it is important to remember why you’re here, don’t ONLY focus on the future. Medical school is tough, but it can be an amazing journey while you’re here. Invest in friendships with your classmates and live in the moment whenever you can. If you only think about the end goal, you’ll miss out on the best parts of the journey.

What motivated you to want to be a physician?

• I always wanted to work in a field where I would not only be able to help people in a broader sense, but also develop personal relationships with individuals. I felt that medicine would allow me to do this. I chose physician specifically because of the leadership opportunity. I felt it would allow me to truly take in the care of others.

What do you hope to do after completing medical school?

• I hope that whatever field I find myself in, I will be the best doctor I can be.

Who are your role models?

• My biggest role model is my grandfather. Although he is not in the medical field, he is a natural leader, charismatic, compassionate, and an all-around amazing person. He has been one of my biggest supporters in all of my endeavors, and I constantly strive to be like him.

Why did you choose the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University?

• When I interviewed at MCG, I could tell that the environment was welcoming, and the students here were genuinely happy. I knew that by coming here, not only would I receive a great education that would prepare me for wherever I choose to go next, I would also have a wonderful experience with amazing people along the way.

What has been your favorite or most powerful experience in medical school?

• One of the most eye-opening experiences for me was the first time I got to meet my body donor in the anatomy lab. It really put into perspective the importance of our studies right now. Although at times we get bogged down in the books and PowerPoints, the fact that someone gave the ultimate gift of their body for students to use as a resource to learn reminds me of the importance of learning in our pre-clinical years.

What has surprised you the most, or what would you like people to know about MCG?

• The faculty here genuinely care about your success and growth, and they will take the time to really learn who you are not only as a student, but as a person.

What is your favorite thing to do at your campus?

• I love hanging out in my academic house! It’s like having another living room in my home—only on campus.