WASHINGTON, PA (March 19, 2019)—At Washington & Jefferson College (W&J), Chase McKevitt ’18 learned that not every student follows the same path, and he found his own to a career in medicine.
To make his medical school application more competitive, Chase took a job as a scribe in the emergency department at Washington Hospital last March, while still a student. He has since earned acceptance into five medical schools and will attend Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) this fall.
During his time as a scribe, Chase discovered a passion for emergency medicine.
“I always thought I wanted to be a family doctor, but seeing a different part of medicine changed my mind,” Chase said. “I chose PCOM because they are known for their strong emergency medicine program.”
In addition to on-the-job experience, Chase plans to join a group from Washington Hospital that will travel to the Dominican Republic in May for a medical mission trip.
Because of the valuable experience he’s had, Chase wants to encourage other students to consider joining the scribe program during a gap year. He will present on a gap year panel at W&J on March 20.
“I think a lot of undergrads think if they have to take a gap year, that they’re failing themselves, and that’s not true,” Chase said. “It’s not a big deal to take a year off. It’s actually pretty nice to have some time to plan your next step.”
Chase credits his experience at W&J, including a research lab experience in the Netherlands that W&J supported through the Merck Internships for Excellence in Science award, and the College’s challenging pre-health program, for preparing him for his next steps.
“W&J is not easy. You really have to work to do well, but I felt it prepared me for the MCAT and the interview process for medical school. I didn’t struggle with it,” Chase said. “If I was asked about what made me ready for this step, I would tell people about W&J.”
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.