Q&A with Rohail
"After doing a project in the history of medicine, I got an opportunity to shadow an emergency physician during undergrad, and that is when I decided that medicine was the perfect blend of science and humanities for me, which is why I ended up applying to medical school."
Rohail
MD Class of 2026
What was your academic or life journey to applying to medical school?
I always had an inkling that I wanted a career in science, which is why I did my undergraduate degree in the sciences. However, after taking a few humanities courses (specifically history), I became fascinated with learning about human culture and how global changes such as war and disease impacts human culture. After doing a project in the history of medicine, I got an opportunity to shadow an emergency physician during undergrad, and that is when I decided that medicine was the perfect blend of science and humanities for me, which is why I ended up applying to medical school.
What has your experiential learning been like thus far?
My first experiential learning was shadowing a city family doctor. After shadowing a bit, she allowed me to take patient histories on my own. Soon, she started to involve me more in the patient care process; I went from observer to active participant in delivering healthcare.
I continued my experiential learning throughout the summer after first year in a rural emergency department, where I practised skills such as suturing! I always felt that my learning was in my control, and I could tell my preceptors if I wanted less or more involvement in a case based on my own comfort level.
Why did you become a Student Ambassador?
One of my passions throughout undergrad and medical school has been mentoring. I spearheaded the mentorship program for interview applicants during my first year and am actively involved in tutoring London high school students in maths and sciences. I really enjoy mentorship because it keeps me well-informed of the learning processes that got me to where I am, and it is also very rewarding to see the success of those that I mentor, knowing that I played a small role in that success. The Student Ambassador program gives me a perfect outlet to extend my mentorship to prospective Schulich applicants.
Where is your favourite campus study location?
I enjoy studying in Med Journal and the VERC, both of which are study areas reserved for Schulich students. Med Journal is a quiet study area with cubicles, while VERC is more of an open conversational area; both rooms also get plenty of natural lighting. I will also occasionally study in the Classical department library as well, as its rustic aesthetic is quite charming and conducive to reading-heavy study sessions. Finally, there are many cute cafes throughout London that make great study spots if you don’t mind a little background noise and the smell of coffee.
What is your advice for prospective applicants?
Participate in things you enjoy before applying to medical school. Don’t do things just because you think that they will look good on your resumé, but rather seek out experiences you enjoy (or are interested in), and then reflect on the skills you gained from those experiences, and how they make you a good applicant. For example, I love theatre, and I participated in a lot of leadership and team activities in theatre, which I was able to talk about in my resumé and my interview as experiences that helped prepare me for medical school.
