During my final week as part of the Laidlaw Scholars Program I began conducting interviews for students who chose to drop out of the pre-med track. I think these interviews highlighted many of the extraneous variables that intersect with individual's decisions to drop out of the track aside from numerical factors like grades and courses. In doing so, I have found out that a web of factors such as family responsibilities, socioeconomic needs, inability to juggle the time commitment of science classes and structural inequities that prevent first generation college students from being able to get involved in research or shadowing experiences play significant roles in helping students decide whether they would like to continue with the pre-med track. While advisors often say that anyone who is truly dedicated to becoming a physician can become one, my research study has indicated that despite an individual's passion for the medical field, certain structural inequities and other family responsibilities can make it virtually impossible for underrepresented students from pursuing the pre-med track. 

Overall, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to interview Georgetown students through the Laidlaw Scholars program and I am excited to finish my interviews and prepare a poster to present at out conference in October!