Weill Cornell Medical College Qatar hosts Pre College Enrichment Program

But over the past two weeks, WCMC-Q hosted its second annual Pre College Enrichment Program to give 22 high school students a sense of what getting into college is really about.

"I always heard that students at Cornell and other universities spend all of their time studying. Now I see that they are very happy and that they all know how to manage their time and are working hard but having fun—I spent time with WCMC-Q students and understand so much more now,"

said Sarah Abdulaziz Al-Derham, a grade 12 student at Qatar Secondary School for Girls.

Throughout the two weeks, students from high schools around Doha participated in exercises that gave them hands-on experience and first-hand information. From modules on laboratory safety and physics experiments, to essay writing and mock interview sessions, the students gained insights that will prepare them for the next chapter of their lives.

And to help them further, faculty and staff shared tips with students from their many years of interviewing and teaching at the college level.

"Students need to be aware of the various admissions requirements and time lines. They need to be prepared to apply as early as September 1st and complete their application by March 1st, so we wanted to give them a head start by offering them this program," said Noha Saleh, Director of Student Recruitment at WCMC-Q.

While WCMC-Q organized and hosted the program, they incorporated tours of other colleges in Education City— students explored and attended presentations at Virginia Commonwealth University, Georgetown, Texas A&M, Carnegie Melon and Qatar University in addition to attending a session on the Academic Bridge Program.

"We wanted to show the students what Education City has to offer. We want them to go to college and to be successful, and we want them to know that they can do it; it's attainable," said Donney Moroney, WCMC-Q's Student Academic Services Manager.