The First Step to Medicine: Mattie’s Full-Ride Journey to Dalhousie

Big Dreams, No Roadmap

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In Grade 12, Mattie knew she wanted to pursue a career in medicine. She had the passion and the drive—but when it came to university applications, she felt lost. How could she stand out? How could she communicate who she was, what she had done, and where she wanted to go?

The pressure was on—not just to get into a top program, but into one that would open the doors to a medicine program.

Stuck at the Starting Line

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At first, the process felt overwhelming.

Unlike school assignments, admissions essays required a different kind of writing. Mattie struggled to know what stories to tell, what experiences to highlight, and how to frame her community involvement in a way that felt meaningful.

She also wasn’t sure how to make a real impact in her community—she wanted to, but didn’t know how to turn her ideas into action. Initiative-building felt intimidating without direction.

Finding Her Voice, One Step at a Time

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That’s when Mattie found AdmissionPrep. With the guidance of our team, she learned how to communicate her values through her story—and how to build a story worth telling.

Our mentors helped her turn passion into purpose by helping her identify initiatives she could build that solved real problems in her community. She started initiatives she truly cared about & built them with true passion.

She discovered what universities value most: authenticity, initiative, and leadership. And she worked with our team to work on building herself into someone universities can't ignore.

With our team by her side, Mattie re-designed her profile, refined her writing and found her mission and voice—powerful, personal, and clear.

Skills For a Lifetime

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Mattie also mastered one of the hardest parts of the application process: consistency.

She began time-blocking moments each week to work on essays, build her initiative, and reflect on her progress. This discipline helped her juggle school, leadership, and applications—without burning out.

She wasn’t just working hard—she was working smart. This was a key skill that Mattie shared she will carry with her for her future careers.

Full-Ride, Full Circle

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Mattie earned offers from top schools across Canada, each recognizing her potential. She chose Dalhousie University, where she’ll begin a science degree on a full-ride as a Schulich Scholar—bringing her one step closer to becoming a doctor.

She was also named a Loran Scholar Finalist—one of just 90 students selected out of over 5,000 applicants nationwide.

Her Story Is Just Beginning

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Mattie enters university not just as a student en route to medical school—but as a future leader.

She knows how to make an impact. She knows how to tell her story. And she knows what it takes to build something that matters.

Her advice to other students?

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“Don’t wait to figure it all out."

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Wise words.

Ask for help. Start building now. And be true to who you are—AdmissionPrep will help you bring that out.

‍Take 3-minutes and apply today to see if we can help.

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