Neeti Gandra is a second-year medical student at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, a member of the Class of 2026. She is also one of two social media coordinators for the Warrior M.D. Ambassadors student organization. Ambassadors are the friendly faces who welcome prospective students and community members to the School of Medicine. With their insider knowledge about life as a Wayne State medical student, they are a great resource for questions about classes, living in the city and more. 

Question: Why did you choose Wayne State University for medical school?

Answer: I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, but I went to Vanderbilt University (in Nashville, Tenn.) for undergrad, and one of the reasons I chose Wayne State for medical school was to be able to come back home and explore Detroit. More than that, I love the emphasis that Wayne State places on clinical learning with our Clinical Skills Course that allows students to practice patient interaction skills immediately within the first year, as well as the Clinical Experiential Course that lets students practice and learn from real patient encounters. I was also drawn to Wayne State by the vast number of ways to be involved in the community with various clinics, student organizations and research opportunities.

Q: What extracurricular activities are you involved with?

A: I am the social media coordinator for the Warrior M.D. Ambassadors, the volunteer coordinator for the Pediatric Interest Group, the president of the Disability Health and Initiative organization and the president of the American Medical Women’s Association. Additionally, I am a peer mentor and learning coach, as well as part of a research lab.

Q: What is your favorite part of the Warrior M.D. community?

A: My favorite part is how supportive and collaborative everyone is. Many of our required activities are team-based, allowing you to continuously meet new people, work through problems together, and share resources and notes to help each other out. Additionally, Wayne does an amazing job of helping students enjoy their life outside of academics as well, organizing different adventures to local sporting events, bars, trivia and more.

Q: What are the most rewarding aspects of being a Warrior M.D. Ambassador?

A: We get to directly interact with new and prospective students! I love sharing my excitement about the school with other students to get them interested in coming here. Additionally, we know the application process and transition to medical school can be difficult, and our goal is to make that easier in every way possible, from sharing unique aspects about Wayne and Detroit to offering all of our tips and tricks for succeeding once you are here.

To learn more about applying to the WSU School of Medicine, visit admissions.med.wayne.edu.