Twenty envelopes held the fate of medical students on “match day,” at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles on Friday, March 29.
Soon-to-be doctors, along with their family and friends, gathered in the quad to open their envelopes simultaneously at 9 a.m. The letters revealed where they will do their residency and fellowship training positions going forward.
Students said they didn’t sleep much Thursday night as they anticipated the letter that would change their lives. After the sound of papers unfolding the crowd was filled with happy faces, fists-pumping, tears of joy streaming and hugs all around.
Taylor Cole applied to 15 programs and was matched to Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Before the reveal, Cole said, “I’m nervous but mainly excited and happy that my family and friends are here from Atlanta and Detroit to share this with me.” She added, “This is a bigger deal than graduation, this is my career.”
Dr. Daphney Calmes of CDU expressed pride that 100% of the students in the class were matched to programs.
It’s the first time the school has been able to host the ceremony since the pandemic arrived in Southern California in 2019. Similar ceremonies are taking place at other schools around Southern California, with students discover where they’ll live and work during the next stage of their careers, such as a hospital residency or advanced training in a clinical specialty.
Meanwhile, across town at UCLA, approximately 150 students tore open their acceptance letters in front of a crowd of about 400 friends and family members.
City News Service contributed to this report