Gabrielle Sudilovsky '22

Education

AB in Chemistry, 2022

Pursuing an MD at Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago, entering class of 2023

Bio/Description

Pursuing an MD at Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago, entering class of 2023

Major: Chemistry

Significant college activities: Clinical Research Coordinator at CHOP Leukodystrophy Center (Gap Year), Muir lab member (JP/Thesis Lab), J-Lats CoPresident, Judaism through a Queer Lens Head Intern, Jewish Biomedical Ethics Intern, Penn Medicine Princeton Health Volunteer, Child and Family Health International Oaxaca Internship (IIP, virtual), IsraAID Humanitarian Fellowship in Puerto Rico (CJL, Service Focus), Students vs. Pandemics Engagement Chair and Treasurer, PACE COVID-Response Grant Summer Project (Racial Equity Literacy Training in my hometown), Service Focus, CONTACT, Murray Dodge Cafe, Organic Chemistry Undergraduate Preceptor, Princeton University Synchronized Skating Team, Princeton University Figure Skating Club Marketing Chair and Alumni Outreach Chair.

Words of wisdom about being prehealth at Princeton: First off, being premed at Princeton is hard. Staying afloat with classes and research alone is difficult, not to mention volunteering, finding clinical opportunities, and doing other extracurriculars. Give yourself grace—Princeton, and the application cycle is a marathon, not a sprint.

My biggest advice is to take everything one step at a time. When you first come to Princeton, focus on settling into classes, making friends, and finding community. The extracurriculars and leadership opportunities will come, I promise.

Once you feel settled, start doing what you are interested in! If you like something that isn’t particularly “premed” you should still pursue it! (Whether it is a major/certificate, club, or non-Princeton affiliated activity). Odds are, it will: 1) Make you happier and do better overall but 2) Make you a more interesting applicant! My most talked about activities for med school interviews were J-Lats and Judaism Through a Queer Lens— two clubs that don’t really have a direct correlation into medicine.

At the same time, once you have the bandwidth, start getting some of the prerequisites of applying out the way. You will need some (key word some not an overwhelming amount) shadowing/clinical experience and research under your belt to be seriously considered, regardless of your grades/activities. I waited, and didn’t really shadow until senior year. While it ended up being okay, it was stressful to shadow 85 hours in one year on top of thesis, classes, extracurriculars etc. If you can get a few hours of clinical experience a month early on, senior/post grad you will thank you. But don’t overdo it! Once you get >=100 hours (in my opinion) of shadowing, it all blends together and isn’t going to be as interesting as say, starting your own club or completing an impactful project. Bottom line, get the shadowing, research, and clinical volunteering that you need, but don’t focus on it too much unless you really enjoy it.

Take classes in different departments and give yourself the opportunity to find new interests. I decided to take a few classes in as many departments as I could instead of doing a certificate and I do not regret it one bit. For example, I took a health equity class senior spring that truly defined how I see myself practicing medicine. It influenced my personal statement, secondaries, and even the qualities I looked for in a medical school and is what made me choose Prtizker over other institutions. If I did not take that class, I can only guess how this application cycle would have gone, so I really encourage you to take random classes and explore.

When it comes to application season, start early! Think about who will write you good letters and what your story is as soon as you know you are applying in the upcoming cycle. The more time you give yourself to reflect on your journey, the more time you will have to find your story.

And have fun with it! The application cycle actually helped me learn more about myself and define my values as I decided what I did/did not like at certain schools and learned more life outside the orange bubble. Apply when you feel ready—if you need to take a gap year, or two or ten…take the time now to find your passions. Not only will you be a better applicant, but you will be a better doctor because of it. I am always happy to answer any questions or chat about the path to medical school!

Feel free to email me at [email protected] :)