Where did you grow up and where were you living immediately prior to medical school?
I grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia until the age of 11 and moved to Aurora, Colorado with my family in middle school. I went to high school in Aurora and went to college at University of Colorado Denver. I moved from there to New Haven to start medical school right after graduation.
Why did you choose Yale School of Medicine?
I chose it for a combination of a few things. I wanted a place that I had family already, and my cousin was then an undergrad at Yale. I also wanted a place with a curriculum that would allow me to have the freedom to explore and have a noncompetitive but collaborative environment for learning. Financial Aid was also important to me and Yale is much better than the other schools I was considering (UCSF, Denver).
Can you briefly describe your schedule on a typical weekday?
- Pre clinical: Classes until noon or most times I watch lectures from home starting around 10 a.m. Then I finish around 2 to 4 p.m. and head to Payne Whitney Gym to play basketball and workout. I come back, have dinner and play video games, and study a bit more.
- Clinicals: 7 a.m.-5 p.m. hospital. Dinner. Workout/hoops and then either hangout with my girlfriend, play games with my friends online, or just read up on some stuff for the hospital.
- ATP: Right now I am studying 7 a.m.-5 p.m. as I am in dedicated study time for board exams, then I take the rest of the day to workout, play games, or hang out with friends and family.
What neighborhood do you live in?
I live by Broadway in the Chapel West neighborhood.
What is your favorite thing to do in/near New Haven?
My favorite thing is to play basketball at the gym or go to Yale’s Cross Campus to hang out with friends on a sunny day. I am a homebody so I spend most of my time on the phone with friends from back home.
Do you have any final thoughts or advice for prospective students?
I would say to pick a school that gives you the freedom to explore the things you want and one that you feel that you can live in. Take the city of your school into account when making decisions. Medical school does not have to be life draining and Yale is a place that allows their students to have a life and hobbies outside of medicine because that is not the only thing in our life.
Surround yourself with people that are kind and that remind you of home. Take care of yourself and do things you love (cook, gym, sports, dance etc.). Medicine is only one part of your life and you have to take care of other parts of you.