Counselor Profile
Sarika specializes in medical school admissions, including M.D., Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, M.D./Ph.D., and joint M.D. degrees.
As an IvyWise medical school admissions counselor, Sarika’s favorite part of helping medical school applicants is working with them on their personal statements and packaging their accomplishments in a way that helps them put their best foot forward. She is committed to helping prospective medical school students successfully navigate the hyper-competitive admissions process with the ultimate outcome of acceptance to their best-fit schools.
With her direct experience in the medical school admissions field, she knows how daunting the process can be. This experience allows her to provide expert guidance to demystify the application process and lessen the stress involved.
Sarika previously served at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine as director of admissions, medical school admissions reader, and medical school Interviewer. She was also a member of the AMCAS Advisory Board at the AAMC on a national level. Highlights of her work with medical students include advising students on their clinical research projects, serving as the outreach/admissions officer of the UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program, and being an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at UCLA.
Over the course of her career, Sarika has read hundreds of medical school applications, interviewed medical school applicants, attended medical school admissions committee meetings, and advised on the national AMCAS application process. These roles have provided her with unique insight into how the medical school application process works and what medical schools are looking for in applicants.
Sarika holds a dual bachelor’s degree in biology and English from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree in biological sciences from California State University, Fullerton, a Master of Public Health in biostatistics from UCLA, and a doctoral degree in education from Pepperdine University.
In her free time, Sarika loves to swim, play board games, watch anything Marvel-related, and go to Disneyland with her daughter.