Hi! In the common app there's a question that asks you if you took a gap year. I did because of the reasons I explain below. I plan to upload this document when I send my application. Should I take out some things? Leave it like it is? I don't know what I should and should not include.
If your progression through secondary school was or will be delayed or interrupted in any way, please check all that apply. (Checked 'did/will take a gap year')
Provide details on the item(s) checked above.
After graduating, I did not enroll at an university mainly due to financial issues. My family won the Green Card lottery, however part of the process required us to leave the US to prepare for an interview which had to take place in the country where we previously resided. Thus, after I graduated high school in 2010, my family and I moved to Spain. It was a long process (approximately two years) before we received our Green cards (we were legally required to stay in Spain until our Green cards arrived) and this took a big toll on my parents who had to pay a substantial amount of money for the Green card fees and had to quit their jobs to move to Spain. Slowly, they have been bettering their financial state and I have been helping them by tutoring spanish, chemistry and biology to middle school and high school student for work. Out of commitment to my education after I graduated, I continued my education by self-studying for exams. I took the AP Psychology, AP Biology exam, SAT II Biology, SAT II Chemistry and SAT I Reasoning test. I also self-organized work and voluntary experiences:â¨
Work Experience:
2011: Medical Simulation Training Day at The Barts and The London Medical Simulation Centre in London. Under the guidance of experienced professionals we were taught through work stations the different usage of clinical tools and fluids in a hospital setting, the importance and interpretation of X-Rays and the sterilization and the proper wearing of surgical attire in the operating room. Replicating an ER medical scenario, our group diagnosed a life-like manikin while working and communicating in a team.
2011: Attended a suturing event at the RCS Hunterian Museum in London where I learnt how to maneuver the robotic arms used for keyhole surgery. This type of surgery is respectively 'new' in the medical field but, because of its many benefits, it's currently replacing conventional with robotic procedures. This is one of the reasons why medicine attracted me: it's a very innovative and dynamic field, always on the edge of technology.
2012: Shadowed a doctor specialized in Internal Medicine for a week. I was able to see the importance of patient-doctor relationship and the immediate trust patients gave him. I was given the chance to have direct contact with the patients and ask them specific, routine questions to obtain information useful to formulate a diagnosis, strengthening my communication skills.
2012: Shadowed several specialized surgeons at a local hospital for eight weeks (about 200 hours) in the operating room, clinic and intensive care unit. Observing close to 25 surgeries ranging from neurosurgery, OB/GYN, general, plastics, cardiovascular and thoracic, I saw the important of working effectively in a team with synchronization and coordination to enhance the safety of the patient. Following the surgeons around the hospital for a couple of hours per day I gained a realistic understanding of the daily life of a doctor. Besides watching the surgeries, I accompanied them to the intensive care unit where they periodically checked their patients to monitor their recovery process. Doctors need to be quick, clear, logical thinkers, and in various occasions I witnessed these qualities, especially during complications in the operating room and the intensive care unit. Furthermore, I shadowed the physician assistants during their rounds. I closely observed patients' health improve enormously, and noticing the positive effects of their work on people's lives increased my overall passion and pursuit of medicine.
I have also obtained my CPR, AED and First Aid certifications
Volunteering:
2012: Currently, I've been volunteering weekly for the past 13 weeks in the emergency department at a local hospital. I work as a liaison between patients and families. I also help the nurses to distribute food for the patients. Interacting with patients has strengthened my social and communication skills, and has made me more confident. Families of patients can arrive to the emergency room in a very emotional state, and I have learnt to be patient, make quick decisions and be effective, as well as become a better listener and communicator. I understand and care for them and I try my best to make them feel comfortable.
2012: I've been volunteering weekly for the past 6 weeks in the Pediatrics department at a local hospital. I interact with patients and their families, for example by playing with them in the playroom, making rounds and bringing toys to the children as well as keeping them company when their parents aren't able to visit.
If your progression through secondary school was or will be delayed or interrupted in any way, please check all that apply. (Checked 'did/will take a gap year')
Provide details on the item(s) checked above.
After graduating, I did not enroll at an university mainly due to financial issues. My family won the Green Card lottery, however part of the process required us to leave the US to prepare for an interview which had to take place in the country where we previously resided. Thus, after I graduated high school in 2010, my family and I moved to Spain. It was a long process (approximately two years) before we received our Green cards (we were legally required to stay in Spain until our Green cards arrived) and this took a big toll on my parents who had to pay a substantial amount of money for the Green card fees and had to quit their jobs to move to Spain. Slowly, they have been bettering their financial state and I have been helping them by tutoring spanish, chemistry and biology to middle school and high school student for work. Out of commitment to my education after I graduated, I continued my education by self-studying for exams. I took the AP Psychology, AP Biology exam, SAT II Biology, SAT II Chemistry and SAT I Reasoning test. I also self-organized work and voluntary experiences:â¨
Work Experience:
2011: Medical Simulation Training Day at The Barts and The London Medical Simulation Centre in London. Under the guidance of experienced professionals we were taught through work stations the different usage of clinical tools and fluids in a hospital setting, the importance and interpretation of X-Rays and the sterilization and the proper wearing of surgical attire in the operating room. Replicating an ER medical scenario, our group diagnosed a life-like manikin while working and communicating in a team.
2011: Attended a suturing event at the RCS Hunterian Museum in London where I learnt how to maneuver the robotic arms used for keyhole surgery. This type of surgery is respectively 'new' in the medical field but, because of its many benefits, it's currently replacing conventional with robotic procedures. This is one of the reasons why medicine attracted me: it's a very innovative and dynamic field, always on the edge of technology.
2012: Shadowed a doctor specialized in Internal Medicine for a week. I was able to see the importance of patient-doctor relationship and the immediate trust patients gave him. I was given the chance to have direct contact with the patients and ask them specific, routine questions to obtain information useful to formulate a diagnosis, strengthening my communication skills.
2012: Shadowed several specialized surgeons at a local hospital for eight weeks (about 200 hours) in the operating room, clinic and intensive care unit. Observing close to 25 surgeries ranging from neurosurgery, OB/GYN, general, plastics, cardiovascular and thoracic, I saw the important of working effectively in a team with synchronization and coordination to enhance the safety of the patient. Following the surgeons around the hospital for a couple of hours per day I gained a realistic understanding of the daily life of a doctor. Besides watching the surgeries, I accompanied them to the intensive care unit where they periodically checked their patients to monitor their recovery process. Doctors need to be quick, clear, logical thinkers, and in various occasions I witnessed these qualities, especially during complications in the operating room and the intensive care unit. Furthermore, I shadowed the physician assistants during their rounds. I closely observed patients' health improve enormously, and noticing the positive effects of their work on people's lives increased my overall passion and pursuit of medicine.
I have also obtained my CPR, AED and First Aid certifications
Volunteering:
2012: Currently, I've been volunteering weekly for the past 13 weeks in the emergency department at a local hospital. I work as a liaison between patients and families. I also help the nurses to distribute food for the patients. Interacting with patients has strengthened my social and communication skills, and has made me more confident. Families of patients can arrive to the emergency room in a very emotional state, and I have learnt to be patient, make quick decisions and be effective, as well as become a better listener and communicator. I understand and care for them and I try my best to make them feel comfortable.
2012: I've been volunteering weekly for the past 6 weeks in the Pediatrics department at a local hospital. I interact with patients and their families, for example by playing with them in the playroom, making rounds and bringing toys to the children as well as keeping them company when their parents aren't able to visit.
