If you’re looking for a quick witted, intelligent, thought provoking, and talented young woman with a million-dollar smile, look no further. Anyone who knows Seleata McDonald, a 24-year-old graduate of Hampton University, would certainly place a check in each of those boxes and her father would enthusiastically agree.
The daughter of Dwight and Denise McDonald, Seleata grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and attended Lafollette High School where she excelled in academics, dance, and cheerleading. Her father noted that she never had to be pushed to be involved and he always witnessed that internal drive to do whatever she wanted. “She impressed me by doing well on the Lafollette track team. This is MY daughter who used to fall up the stairs quite a bit and has now made it to the state track meet as part of the 4X100 relay team.”
In her spare time, Saleata loves to spend time with family & friends, share her faith & dance skills with youth at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, serve at the food pantry, volunteer as a reading tutor, read fiction and non-fiction books, practice selfcare, and create art.
As a young elementary student, Seleata did quite well on a college aptitude exam. Post test, she started to look ahead to see what title will ultimately be on her name tag. Would it be lawyer, fashion designer, veterinarian, or psychologist? At Hampton University, the light shone bright on the path to physician. A plan began to take shape knowing the MCAT (Medical School Admission Test) is the threshold to start her quest. She took the 7 ½ hour exam twice just to better her score. Now the application procedure begins.
Seleata graduated with a degree in psychology / pre-med and decided to take time off to work and get experience in the medical field. She is currently employed as a clinical research coordinator at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. “I love what I do.” Seleata boasted. She also mentioned that “this position will provide me with a fulfilling experience, giving me a head start in the medical field I will soon be entering.”
When asked where you would like to attend medical school, she ranked her choices but understands that acceptance comes before choice. The ideal scenario is when choice and acceptance are aligned. She submitted 11 applications with Morehouse School of Medicine, UW School of Medicine & Public Health, and Howard University at the top of the wish list. 10 schools honored her with a secondary application letting Seleata know this school wants a deeper review of her character. Her top 3 choices are still in the running. After a 6-8 week review, acceptance offers will be made. This round of applicants is looking to know their status sometime in late November. Upon making a choice, the next leg of Seleata’s journey to becoming a physician will begin in the fall of 2024.
Following her mother’s footsteps, Seleata became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Denise is very proud of her daughter and when asked to share a few words. She stated, “She loves to help people, but I can sum it up by just saying. She is A Nurturer by Nature!”
