 “I was looking for a supportive environment in which to take the necessary pre-med courses, as well as a program that would help me through the application process. I chose to come to Johns Hopkins as I thought it was the best all-around program and had a lot to offer. Aside from its affiliation with the Hospital, I was attracted to the idea of supplementing my premed courses with classes at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and working in a laboratory. The small program size was also a plus, though it was important to me to be in class with other undergraduates, as I wanted to have a diverse learning experience.
Aside from it resulting in my getting into medical school, my favorite part of the program was the laboratory work I did at the hospital. It was an unbeatable way to jump full-force into a science curriculum, and it was great to be able to see how what I was learning in the classroom applied to actual health care. The doctor I worked for made sure that I had a well-rounded clinical and basic-science experience. Johns Hopkins provides an unbeatable program in terms of gain and experience. The program, while only requiring a year of courses, allows students to get the most out of their time and to pursue personal areas of interest. Although challenging at times, the amount of knowledge I gained in a year was enormous, and going through the process with other post-bacs made the workload more manageable. The support during the application process is also exceptional and makes the entire process run more smoothly.”
Emilia DeMarchis graduated from the University of Vermont with a joint degree in political science and European studies. She skied all four years for the UVM ski team and was an active part of campus life and the community. Emilia decided to make the switch to medicine during her senior year of college, realizing she wanted to be able to work to help improve health care in the developing world. She spent time in Ghana helping at an ophthalmology camp, reinforcing her desire to become a doctor. Emilia spent her “glide” year working at a neurology lab at the University of Rome, allowing her to follow up on her experiences at Johns Hopkins, while also getting acquainted with another country's health care system. Emilia is a medical student at Stanford. | 
