Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) welcomed more than 140 high school seniors and their parents to a special Open House, giving prospective students a chance to learn about studying medicine at WCM-Q and how to prepare for the transition from high school to college.
Organised by the Office of Student Outreach and Educational Development, the one-day event was designed for Grade 12 or Year 13 students and their parents, giving them a chance to learn more about WCM-Q’s admissions process, requirements and application timelines. Participants also learned more about the college’s academic curriculum, outreach programmes, state-of-the-art facilities and student life.
Noha Saleh, director of premedical administration, student outreach and educational development, opened the event with a presentation on admissions requirements, timelines and outreach programmes available for high school students. The event also included two panel discussions, allowing participants to hear directly from WCM-Q students, faculty and staff.
Attendees also had an opportunity to ask questions during the Q&A sessions that followed each panel discussion.
The faculty panel featured Dr Amal Khidir, associate professor of paediatrics, Dr Majda Sebah, assistant professor of chemistry, and Dr Simeon Scott Andrews, lecturer in chemistry and biochemistry. Dr Rachid Bendriss, professor of English as a second language, assistant professor of education in medicine, and associate dean for foundation, student outreach and educational development programmes, moderated the panel.
Dr Bendriss said: “We understand that choosing a career in medicine and a college to attend is not easy. We are happy to host this event to allow graduating students and their parents to ask questions, explore their options, and better understand the opportunities available to them at WCM-Q and in the medical field. I believe the participants benefited greatly from interacting with faculty, staff and students and learning more about the journey to becoming a doctor.”
Farhan Aziz, director of admissions at WCM-Q, moderated the student panel, which featured final-year medical student Reem al-Janahi and second-year pre-medical students Noof AlMalik and Mustafa Shammout. Their participation gave attendees firsthand insight into life at WCM-Q, including the academic experience and the transition into the pre-medical and medical programmes.
While WCM-Q offers weekly small-scale Open Houses throughout the academic year for prospective students from various high school grade levels, this event was organised on a larger scale specifically for final-year high school students and their parents.
