Zachary Kyros kept refreshing his email. At 3 a.m., the big news finally landed in his inbox: the sophomore exercise science major was accepted into the Boston University Early Medical School Selection program.
“It was the best day of my life,” says Kyros, an exercise science, clinical concentration major from Holden, Massachusetts. “I was so excited that I screamed and woke up my roommates, and then I called my parents.”
Designed to increase diversity in the physician workforce, the program grants provisional acceptance into Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Boston University (BU) partners with more than a dozen schools across the country on the program, but this is the first time it has been offered to a school in New England.
Accepted students take summer classes at BU before their junior and senior years. During his senior year at UMass Lowell (UML), Kyros will take graduate-level courses at BU that will count toward his undergraduate degree.
“The BU program is life-changing and should be a reason high school pre-med students apply to UMass Lowell,” says Kyros, who must keep up his grades and pass the Medical College Admission Test before continuing at BU’s School of Medicine.
Initially interested in becoming a physical therapist, Kyros was accepted into the B.S. in Exercise Science to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UML.
He first got curious about medical school when he met UML pre-med students during orientation. Then, in his Anatomy and Physiology lab, a teaching assistant encouraged Kyros to think about medical school because of how well he grasped the material.
As Kyros considered the career change, he decided to shadow an orthopedic surgeon from Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For four days, he participated in patient visits and observed five operating procedures. The experience sealed the deal.
“I really liked the fast-paced environment and how [the doctor] gave patients the time and helped them get better,” says Kyros.
With medical school as his goal, Kyros started to build a competitive application. Teaching Professor Carol Myers, director of pre-health programs, advised Kyros to take courses such as Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. He joined the Pre-Med Club, the Exercise Science Club and the Biology Research Club and became chair of the Health and Wellness committee in the Student Government Association.
For work experience, he got a job as a certified nursing assistant at UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital. He also volunteered at Lowell General Hospital in the CT scan department.
So, when Myers told Kyros about the BU Early Medical School Selection opportunity, he was ready to apply. He was selected for an interview, which he prepared for with help from the Career & Co-op Center.
“We did mock interviews that helped me make eye contact, calm my nerves and prepare me for surprise questions,” says Kyros, who was interviewed by three admissions officers from BU’s School of Medicine.
“I think what set me apart was my desire to address health disparities and care for a diverse population,” says Kyros. “I’m so grateful for all of the support I received from UMass Lowell faculty, staff and pre-med advising that guided me along this path to medical school.”
“I’m so grateful for all of the support I received from UMass Lowell faculty, staff and pre-med advising that guided me along this path to medical school.”