With a passion for subjects such as biology, biochemistry, and political science, Michel Sadek has a deep interest in public health and politics, and is keen to pursue a career in medicine to fulfill his interest in neurology. The fervent environmental activist is also an accomplished musician who enjoys playing the guitar. In fact, he has been playing the instrument for the past 12 years. Michel also founded a start-up called NeuroNap, pioneering in the biomedical field, as he nurtures a desire to be heavily involved in medical research.
What led you to choose neurobiology?
I’ve always been interested in the complexity of mental processes – from memory to intelligence – that we take for granted every day.
What do you hope to do in this field?
I plan on becoming a neurologist, practicing medicine as well as contributing to research in the field of human sleep.
You have been accepted into UPenn, an Ivy League college. What made you choose UPenn to continue your studies?
The biology program at UPenn is probably one of the most diverse programs I have come across, offering courses ranging from human sleep to public health policy. Also, the extracurricular opportunities at UPenn, which include start-up accelerators and public health policymaking, are very unique and tailored to my interests.
How did you go about applying for the transfer and what were the requirements?
I felt like I needed a big change in my academic path, so I came to Hale with my aspirations to study at a top US university. Some of the requirements include college and high school transcripts, the SAT, and school-specific essays (aside from extracurricular activities, of course).
What were the challenges, if any, in transferring and how did you overcome them?
The acceptance rates for transfer admissions are generally significantly lower than first-year admissions, but I trusted myself and the process and thankfully things worked out well. It was also quite tough to mould my application in a way that best represented myself and my aspirations. Hale played a huge role in helping me understand how to convey my thoughts and qualities and the counsel helped me tremendously.
What pointers can you offer students who might also want to transfer to an Ivy League school?
Be genuine in your essays. Everyone who applies to Ivy League schools has a high GPA, a solid SAT score and a decent amount of extracurriculars, but the essay is what makes individual applicants stand out. Work hard on your essays, and make sure you don’t try to portray yourself as someone you’re not.
What kind of assistance did Hale offer to make this change?
Hale played a huge role in guiding me throughout this entire process, from the moment I brainstormed my personal statement to the time I was deciding on which financial aid package best suited me. My mentors Peter and Nathan at Hale really helped me better understand who I was and what type of person I wanted to portray, constantly pointing to weaknesses in my work and empowering me to improve. I am really thankful for this entire experience.
Visit https://www.haleeducation.com/ for more information.
Anand Raj OK
