Need Assistance For Medical School

Hi, my name is Sainabou Jallow and I am an international student from The Gambia, West Africa. I graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Mathematics last year. I just finished my first year at Georgetown University School of Medicine this fall as a member of the class of 2026. It has always been my dream to serve in the medical field. My interest in medicine is primarily driven by my personal lived experiences with medical issues in The Gambia, a developing country, where quality and affordable healthcare are not easily accessible to the masses. A poor healthcare infrastructure results in the misdiagnoses of individuals and the loss of many lives. Therefore, I want to be able to contribute to positive change in the field of medicine in The Gambia with strong US collaboration. Life-saving medical missions from the United States and other countries have usually been the only chance for sick people to be seen by medical specialists such as cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons, and nephrologists.

 

I came to the U.S. in 2018 to attend college and pursue my dream of becoming a physician through the assistance and generosity of mentors who believed in me. Throughout my undergraduate years, I have dedicated myself to academics, leadership, and volunteerism. In my junior year, I was selected to be a part of a competitive women’s academic and leadership cohort, BOLD Women’s Leadership Network which came with a full tuition scholarship. As a member of the BOLD cohort, I was able to make positive contributions to my campus community alongside other dynamic women leaders. In addition, I supported my fellow peers as a Teaching Assistant (TA) and as a Learning Coach for Ithaca College’s tutoring services. I have also served as a volunteer at the local hospital, Cayuga Medical Center.

 

A medical education will build on my experiences and skills needed to serve others in a capacity that will allow me to be part of the world’s change-makers. I’ve seen too many health disparities amongst marginalized communities in both the U.S and The Gambia, and I want to be an active leader in shaping equitable healthcare systems for all regardless of background.

 

I have been fortunate to be a few steps closer to realizing my dream of being a physician. I was initially excited about my acceptance to Georgetown, but soon realized the extremely difficult financial challenges that international students face. As an international student, I am not eligible for any federal financial aid which made the plan to start medical school in the fall seem unfeasible. Only private loans with higher interest rates are available for international students and most require a co-signer. Tuition and room and board expenses total $100,255 (this excludes federal direct loan fees) for Georgetown. State Universities that accept international students also have similar tuition rates. I plan to apply for some private loans for tuition with a mentor as a co-signer but will still have a shortfall of $30,000 for living expenses.

 

I will be immensely grateful for any help to continue my medical education. I thank everyone who reads this for taking the time out of your day to read through my request. Becoming a physician would make my childhood dreams to help the underserved come true. If you cannot contribute financially, I ask that you please share my story with others who may be willing and able to help.

 

~ Sainabou Jallow

 

Here's a link to Georgetown's Cost of Attendance.