Week. 2
During this week, I further explored barriers that students face while navigating the pre-med track and the pre-professional realm of college. Specifically, I analyzed a research report based on a survey where students provided feedback on their biggest challenges in acquiring career-oriented opportunities on campus. In response to the survey, students expressed that they found their opportunities through faculty members, friends, or family connections--very randomized ways of attaining on-campus opportunities. Additionally, students emphasized how they lacked mentorship or support throughout this journey as they were unable to find figures that can provide them with advice on navigating the process of emailing Principal Investigators, professors or other on-campus employers. Students also were unable to identify what is the best place to find pre-professional jobs.
Not included in my research data collection itself, I uncovered a study by Harvard about potential models for addressing the disparities in lack of mentorship in attaining undergraduate positions: https://www.pw.hks.harvard.edu/college-to-jobs
Week. 3
To reach the midpoint of my research, I investigated how pre-med students drop out of the track to apply to the Early Assurance program to Georgetown School of Medicine, which is a specialized program at Georgetown, providing unique insight on which factors of the pre-med track prompt students to not apply to certain medical school programs. In sum, I found that the greatest number of students become ineligible for the pre-med program when they withdraw from General Chemistry, and the greatest rate for ineligibility for the program stems from students earning a C or below in Organic Chemistry 1. Furthermore, I found that specific requirements for the program such as requiring students to take 4 out of 5 premed courses by their sophomore year of college, prevents students from applying, which may not be the case for all medical school programs.
Hi! My name is Dua Mobin and I'm a rising junior at Georgetown double majoring in Government and Biology of Global Health and I'm attending Georgetown School of Medicine after I graduate. As a first generation low-income (FGLI) student, I struggled during my freshman year to pursue my interests in research and clinical work because I had to work two part-time jobs to afford living in DC. Therefore, I did not have the time to engage in volunteer research and clinical work that added to my journey as a pre-med but failed to pay the bills. Because of this adversity, I became heavily invested in equity issues that systemically disfavored FGLI students and other underrepresented students.
That is why my Laidlaw project focuses on structural barriers to pre-med students that are underrepresented in medicine, and how that results to pre-med dropout and ineligibility for certain medical school programs.
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