My name is Priyal Shah. I am a second-year student double majoring in Biology and Psychology at Rutgers Camden. I am in the 7-year BS/DO program at Rutgers University – Camden in conjunction with Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine. Currently, I am the Treasurer for South Asian Appreciation for Tradition and Heritage (SAATH) and Public Relations Representative for the Student Wellness Advisory Board (SWAB), and a member of AMSA, ACCESS, Raptor Ambassadors, and Rutgers Camden Biology Club. I chose Rutgers Camden because of the following reasons:
- Location: The location of Rutgers Camden is a prime location for access to the city of Philadelphia while also being close to home. Although I live closer to Rutgers New Brunswick, I realized the Camden Campus is a better fit for me in terms of opportunities and hospital access where I would like to gain first-hand experiences.
- Campus/Class Size: Unlike other Rutgers campuses and colleges in general, Rutgers Camden provides a small campus, and class sizes allow me to attain the one-on-one focus and a small-knit community that I was looking for. As I went to a high school with a graduating class of 61 students, I realized the importance and benefits of a smaller campus, which I found at Rutgers Camden.
- Program: Coming from a specialized health sciences school, I knew I wanted to apply and attend a direct 7 or 8-year medical program to have a medical school in my pocket before leaving high school. Rutgers Camden has a 7-year BS/DO program that allows me to complete my requirements and have a medical school acceptance ready for me in an expedited process.
- Research Opportunities: As a science-based student who focuses on any first-hand opportunities in medicine, Rutgers Camden allows me to apply and shadow processors in research experiences that I strive to attain. As Rutgers Camden is a research-focus institution, I can get these experiences and contribute to a higher science. I feel that Rutgers Camden is an ideal place that will provide me with educational excellence, opportunities for cutting-edge research, community service, internships, and volunteering with diverse populations. Additionally, Rutgers-Camden’s Diversity and Inclusion values where differences are valued, accepted, and treated with fairness, civility, and respect are the life lessons that will shape my character and make me a compassionate leader. Rutgers-Camden enables my growth in areas of my career, academic, social, and emotional aspects to develop my overall personality. When this holistic development coupled with my generous heart has demonstrated readiness to serve, I will transform as a purposeful physician, critical thinker, responsible citizen, emotionally-intelligent leader, and a great human being.