Pre-Health Alumni Spotlight: Aubrey, DMD
2021 Grad
DMD, Kansas City University, College of Dental Medicine
Health Profession Track: Academic Enhancer
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, California
Undergraduate School: University of San Francisco, Class of 2020
Why did you choose to attend the SFSU Pre-Health Professions Post-Bac Program?
I had just graduated from USF and I knew my GPA was not competitive. I wanted to enhance my GPA to be a stronger dental school applicant and as a first-generation college graduate, I knew I’d also need guidance on the application process to dental school too. I also wanted to stay living in San Francisco, and I’d heard about SFSU’s Post-Bac Program through a few of my coworkers who had just finished this program and had been admitted to dental school. They showed me that this program was successful for them, so it would be successful for me too!
What is/was your favorite spot on the SFSU campus, and why?
I attended SFSU Post-Bac program during the height of COVID and quarantining, so I never got to experience the campus in person.
Which SFSU Post-Bac class was your favorite and why?
Biochemistry with Deepika. It was a pretty challenging class, but Deepika was an awesome professor, and I also met some lifelong friends in this class who I loved to study with. We connected over this class.
What is/was your favorite thing to do in SF?
SF is a beautiful city enriched with culture and diversity. A place where SF really shows this is through its food scene and restaurants. My favorite thing to do was try the newest restaurants with friends.
Tell us something you learned as an SFSU Post-Bac that is important to you.
Honestly, I developed a lot as a student through the post-bac program. It gave me the confidence to know that I could excel in science courses, which I lacked in undergrad. This program also showed me that It was okay to take time for myself, not only to develop academically, but also to develop personally and become more of a well-rounded applicant. Dental school is rigorous not only academically, but emotionally and mentally. I believe the experience I had in my time at SFSU’s Post-Bac, and taking a non-traditional path to dental school, is what is helping me currently in my training to become an empathetic and tenacious provider. Without this time for myself, I don’t think I’d be as successful in dental school.
What advice would you give to incoming post-bac students?
As a post-bac, I remember comparing myself a lot to traditional pre-health students in my undergraduate class. The people that went straight from undergrad to their professional program always made me feel like I was behind or doing something wrong, there was always a negative connotation with taking a gap year or multiple gap years from my peers. So, if I could give any advice to incoming post-bac students, It’d be that you are exactly where you are supposed to be in this moment. Everyone has different life circumstances that can enable them to reach different stages at different times, so do your best to focus on one stage at a time, chip away diligently at each task, stay focused, and your time will come. It isn’t about speed or timing; it’s about grit and believing in yourself!
What resources have you used while a post-bac to help you reach your goals?
DAT Bootcamp, got an IPad to help with studying that I still use now as well.
Did you make meaningful friendships in the program? If so, tell us about them.
This was my favorite part of the program because it was the most unique time with the Covid shutdown, yet I still talk to my post-bac friends regularly. One of my closest friends from the program, Ahson Haider, is now in medical school. I met him via Zoom in Deepika’s course, and eventually we met in person. When I met Ahson in person for the first time, we both brought our friends with us to a dinner in the city. Funny enough, my now-fiancée is actually Ahson’s best friend from childhood that I met at that dinner! :) Mariah is also another friend from post bac who I keep up with, and Mia Espinoza as well. I genuinely made lifelong friends from this program, and it is a small world so community matters.
If you are currently attending your health professions school, which program are you attending and what is your year in school?
Kansas City University, College of Dental Medicine, Class of 2028. Current D2