AMSA Alumni
Karissa Chesky
UT Class of 2021 | Human Biology BS, Business Minor, Pre-Health Professions Certificate, DEI Concentration | 1st year Med Student at Baylor College of Medicine
If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be and why?: Everything happens for a reason – failures and hard situations may seem so difficult to overcome and pointless now, but you’ll come to believe that they will only lead you to become a better person and set you on your true path.
How had AMSA prepared/impacted your pre-medical journey?: AMSA impacted my pre-medical journey so greatly, and I would not be here where I am today without it! AMSA provided me with such a breadth of resources and a community that I am so grateful for. I was exposed to several core extracurricular opportunities through networking with AMSA members, gained valuable MCAT and academic resources, several leadership opportunities, a great exposure to medicine, and a place in the most tight-knit, welcoming pre-medical family that I had never dreamed of finding on campus. The support that I received from my AMSA community, many of which became some of my closet friends in life, was so crucial to my success in undergrad and my journey to medical school.
Any advice for those applying and/or interviewing soon?: Crafting your story onto paper can be difficult but just stay true to yourself! I would not waste time trying to scramble and add things last minute, or things that were not valuable to you, for the sake of “checking off boxes”. There is only one you and the more unique your story proves to the admissions committee, I believe the better. You have worked so hard until this point and you can absolutely do it! I would recommend getting your primary application done ASAP as admissions are rolling. Definitely utilize upperclassman/medical students for examples on how to enter in activities on your app and to read your personal statement. I can not emphasize enough – having people read over your essays is SO great for outside perspectives, and I feel that these extra eyes really improved and drastically changed my essays from their first drafts.
What do you like to do in your free time?: I love to play soccer/pick-up sports, have board game nights with friends, read, play my cello/go to concerts, go to coffee shops/check out the Houston food scene, and catch up with friends and family regularly!
Andy Zhou
UT Class of 2022 | Math BSA | Working as EMT-B
If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be and why?: Don’t feel rushed or compare yourself to others. Take the time you need to prepare and feel ready for medical school.
How had AMSA prepared/impacted your pre-medical journey?: I made a lot of great friends through AMSA. I got great advice from upperclassmen about classes and extracurriculars. AMSA was a great community to be a part of.
Any advice for those applying and/or interviewing soon?: Practice mock interviews. With friends is fine, but med students preferable. When it comes to interview, practice and good feedback are what will help you the most. For the application, look at the prompts ahead of time. You don’t need to pre-write, although doing so will help you later on as things get busier. Just get an idea of the prompts so that you can start compiling and thinking about your experiences. Make a list of all your relevant experiences early. It takes some time to organize them and plan out your narrative for your personal statement. I would recommend doing so before applications open.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Hiking, going to parks, exercise, reading.
Romtin Farsi
UT Class of 2022
If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be and why?: Focus on yourself more than others. At the end of the day, you are the person that will always be there for yourself, so it is important to invest in yourself in terms of emotional and physical support.
How had AMSA prepared/impacted your pre-medical journey?: Having such great role models in the organization both older and younger than me as my close friends has really raised my expectations of myself. Additionally I think one of the greatest things AMSA has provided me is our mentorship program. Getting to be a mentor to some really awesome underclassmen has taught me a lot about compassion and how to help people in unfamiliar situations.
Any advice for those applying and/or interviewing soon?: I would talk to your fellow applicants and run mock interviews with each other. Having them ask from a curated list of questions will help you out with the spontaneity of med school interviews.
What do you like to do in your free time?: I like to go fishing, hiking, play ultimate frisbee, billiards, or valorant in my free time. I also picked up a lot of cooking during my last semester at UT so I really enjoy getting creative with recipes and having friends try them out.
Varsha Mullangi
UT Class of 2021 | Public Health BS, Health Communication Minor | Starting med school in Summer 2022
Hey y’all! I’m a recent public health graduate (lots of experiential learning for me these days) originally from Sugar Land, TX. At UT, I developed a passion for health equity, mental health advocacy, and science communication. I had the opportunity to be the PR officer for AMSA and was also involved with Natural Sciences Council, Texas Tour Guides, Women in Natural Sciences, and the Longhorn Wellness Peer Educators program. During my gap year, I’ve worked for a science marketing firm and traveled a lot visiting family and friends while I have the time. It’s been a delightful breath of fresh air before medical school starts in a few months! In college, AMSA provided me with great opportunities and amazingly kind friends. The resources I got and the friendships I cultivated because of AMSA have definitely helped me in my journey to becoming a physician. In my free time, I’m a proud plant mom and an enthusiast of Trader Joe’s, boba, Spotify playlists, funky earrings, Bollywood dance, and crafting.
Stephanie Kim
UT Class of 2020 | Biochemistry BSA, Pre-Health Professions Certificate | 2nd Year Med Student at UT Medical Branch at Galveston
List of Hobbies/Interests or something new you have tried: tennis, violin, running (I’M TRAINING FOR THE HOUSTON HALF-MARATHON, FEEL FREE TO JOIN ME AND MY FRIENDS :D), watching anime (I’m on the fourth season of Attack on Titan), piano, going to coffee shops.
What have you been up to or what would you like to say to our members?!: I’m currently at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston as a second-year medical student! Anatomy has been very, very tough so far, as there is so much content to learn in a short period of time (you’ll hear the phrase “medical school is like drinking out of a fire hydrant” a lot, and that’s exactly how it feels). However, I realized the key to having an amazing support system of family and friends while inserting self-care (this is a MUST when times are tough). Don’t forget to have some fun, continue your hobbies, travel, hang out with friends/family while studying in medical/professional school too! There is a life outside studying and work 🙂
