How has JAMP helped you as you strive to achieve your goal of becoming a doctor? 
JAMP has helped me on my journey to become a doctor in many different ways. The financial and academic assistance, as well as the close-knit group of friends I was able to make at each of the summer internships, has added up to many priceless memories. Whether it's the summer internships at medical schools or whether it's simply the experience of meeting new people with similar goals as you, JAMP has given me the opportunity to participate in many experiences that other medical school bound students may never get. Additionally, they have provided the necessary preparation to make us students comfortable during interview times and during the application process with personal statement help and interview workshops at the summer internships.

What advice would you like to offer current or future JAMP students? 
One piece of advice that I would offer to future JAMP students, or even students in general aspiring to go to medical school, is to always take advantage of even the smallest opportunities that are given to you. Through my journey of trying to get into medical school, I never took opportunities for granted. Being at the two summer JAMP internships, it may be easy for many JAMP students to not realize the amazing experiences that they will be getting. Instead of getting into this situation, I suggest all students to take advantage of the opportunity by networking with other fellow JAMP students, admissions committees, and various physicians at the different medical schools. This is the chance to get to know people that have been through a similar journey as you, and better yet, it can serve as a learning and humbling experience by getting to know the other students on a personal basis. Personally, I'm so excited that I will be going to the same medical school with some of the friends that I made at my summer internships, and I will hopefully be able to cherish many more memories with these friends as we go through medical school all the way to when we become practicing physicians!

What aspect of JAMP has been most beneficial to you? 
Every part of JAMP has definitely been beneficial to me, but the aspect of JAMP that I truly appreciated was the shadowing opportunities that were provided for the students. At my second summer internship, I got to be in an operating room with a plastic surgeon on several occasions, and it was awesome! I mention this because many students that aren't in JAMP would possibly never be able to get such an insightful and thrilling preceptorship. Another fortunate advantage of being in JAMP is the provided prep courses and individual help at the summer internship before the MCAT test date actually came around. Not only are each and every student treated like they are part of a big JAMP family, but all of the student mentors and medical school staff also take care of you during your stay at each medical school. The advice given from medical student mentors will surely always stick with me as I go through the same process as they are going through.

Advice for future JAMPers.
Some other advice that I would give to JAMP students is to always strive to become a better person and to stay humble throughout this invaluable journey. The JAMP internships and opportunities allow you to become a better medical school applicant through many medical experiences such as shadowing doctors and learning from medical school professors on subjects such as anatomy or biochemistry. However, besides these internships, it is important to be able to branch out of your comfort zone, stay eager to learn and improve yourself at all times, and to get involved in other things outside of school. The experiences that you may gain from certain long-term volunteer opportunities or any other personal events are priceless and can help you to become not only a better medical school applicant and future doctor, but also an exceptional person as well.