Stephen F. Austin State University

Medical school may seem like an impossible dream for even the brightest of students.

In addition to the rigorous courses, the cost of tuition and fees can be daunting - especially for those who are economically disadvantaged.

Ani Jivani knew she wanted to be a doctor from the time she was a sophomore at Humble High School.

But could she afford it?

Jivani and her family immigrated to the United States when she was a young child. Neither of her parents finished high school, but they dreamed of sending their children to college.

"When I started SFA, there were three children in our family going to college at one time," Jivani said. "My dad could barely afford tuition for one of us."

Thanks to a program initiated by the 77th Texas Legislature in response to a growing need for health professionals, Jivani and others like her have the opportunity to become doctors, pharmacists and dentists.

To qualify for the Joint Admissions Medical Program, students must be Pell grant-eligible and must have completed their freshman year with a minimum 3.25 grade point average. JAMP students who maintain that average through graduation are guaranteed admittance to medical school.

This is significant, according to Dr. Kevin Langford, JAMP program director at SFA. Of the roughly 4,000 students who applied for medical school last year, only 1,200 were admitted, he said.

JAMP students are guaranteed admittance to medical school with a 3.25 GPA and a 23 on the Medical College Admission Test. This is a more attainable goal than the average scores for students entering medical school - a 3.7 GPA and an MCAT of 29, Langford said.

JAMP students receive $1,000 in scholarships each year and a $2,000 paid internship.

Each state university may admit two students to JAMP, per year.

"As a smaller university, SFA has fewer applicants for the program, so the chances of getting in here are better than at some of the larger schools," Langford said.

Jivani became interested in medicine as a high school sophomore through membership in an organization called Health Occupations Students of America.

After speaking to Dr. Robert Stewart, SFA biology professor and former JAMP coordinator, Jivani knew she had found a way to make her dream a reality.

While attending SFA, Jivani has shadowed nearly 20 doctors, visited five medical schools and gained experience through her summer internships.

"My advisers have helped with anything I needed," she said. "I had a medical school mentor who answered my questions all the way through the program, and the cost of my preparation course for the MCAT was paid."

Jivani said her first summer in JAMP she attended a medical "boot camp." She was required to complete nine semester hours, shadowed professionals and worked with cadavers, she said.
"That first summer really helps a student decide whether this is what they want to do with their life," she said. "It's intense, hard work."

When Jivani graduates from SFA in May with a 3.7 GPA, she said she will be prepared for the tough coursework she anticipates at the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio.
Jivani has gotten to know many of the other 60 JAMP students across the state through their internships and e-mail exchanges. Six of these students will begin medical school in San Antonio together in the fall.

The college experience hasn't been "all work and no play" for Jivani. She's involved in the Pre-Health Professionals Club, Alpha Phi Omega and Omicron Delta Kappa, and she works at the Academic Assistance Resource Center.

"Attending SFA has been a life-changing experience for me," she said. "Any time I have concerns, I can contact my professors directly to get the help I need. The JAMP scholarships along with the SFA scholarships I have received have helped me get through school without the added stress of taking on too many loans."

Two SFA juniors, Marriyam Jawad of Nacogdoches and Jose Valdes of Houston, are also succeeding in the JAMP program.

"It's awesome," Valdes said. "We don't have as much stress as other (pre-med) students, because of the support we receive. The internships and experiences have also given us a good feel for the medical profession."

Jawad, who transferred to Nacogdoches High School from California her senior year, said "fate" must have brought her where she is today.

"California doesn't have a program like this," she said. Jawad's family is from Pakistan, and she said it is a relief to them that she was accepted to this program.

"It isn't easy to get into medical school," she said. "The requirements of this program are doable. The guaranteed admittance to medical school is important to me and my family."

To learn more about the eligibility requirements for JAMP, or to apply for the program, visit www2.sfasu.edu/prepro/jamp.htm.