Neuroscience

What made you choose Lake Forest College?

I liked that LFC was a small liberal arts school. When I met with professors, faculty, and students while I was considering the school, everyone was so welcoming. I definitely found this to be true throughout my time at LFC, which is not an experience you can necessarily have at a large school. 

How did a liberal arts education make a difference for you? 

The education I received in this liberal arts school set me up to apply for graduate studies. I don’t think I would have applied to graduate schools right away if I did not receive the academic foundation that I did at LFC. I felt prepared for a healthcare degree program soon after graduation. 

What experiences outside of the classroom do you think helped prepare you for MSN studies?

I did an internship at Northwestern Medicine on the Oncology Unit which was my first introduction to being in a healthcare setting and I was inspired to gain more experience as a healthcare worker myself. I became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and landed a position as a Patient Care Technician (PCT), which is the title for a CNA in a hospital. I am currently in this position in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) until I begin the entry MSN program at Rosalind Franklin University (RFU). I believe that anyone starting a healthcare degree program should have related prior experiences, as this helps you know beyond the classroom if this is the field you know you are really interested in and will thrive in. 

How did your time at Lake Forest help you prepare to apply to graduate school?

There was a lot of emphasis on getting a well-rounded liberal arts education at LFC. Many students in the STEM majors also took the opportunity to get a second major or minor in a non-STEM or humanities field, which I did as well. The encouragement from professors, my advisors, and other students to explore other classes and areas of study outside of just one program or major ended up being key in how I approached applying to graduate schools. I believe this was also important to graduate schools in my interviews. 

What do you think of the new Health Professions Program between LFC and RFU?

I think this is a great program since it encourages students to take core classes that are not just STEM focused. Students are given the opportunity to focus on ethics, literature, philosophy, religion, etc., as it relates to science and healthcare. This is a unique chance for students to take humanities classes with many other students who are eager to enter the healthcare field, and the professors who teach these courses are truly dedicated and facilitate great discussions. Students also are exposed to a lot of different speakers throughout the program, including RFU professors and faculty, which is great for students who are figuring out which healthcare profession they want to pursue. 

What skills and experiences at Lake Forest do you believe will help you be successful? 

The laboratory components with the courses at LFC are great in developing scientific thinking and problem solving. The time and dedication LFC professors take to grow their students' knowledge is truly special and to the advantage of the students. This is so important when making post-graduate plans, because to feel like you received a good foundation at an undergraduate level promotes success in graduate school or a career. 

What advice would you give a high school student looking to pursue pre-health and is considering Lake Forest College? 

There are so many healthcare pathways and programs that LFC has created, especially recently. If you are considering LFC, look at the specifics of these pathways as well. There are great opportunities to apply early to graduate programs while still working as a student as LFC. Professors work as advisors for students interested in each different healthcare pathway and they are great resources as well. If you come to LFC and are interested in the graduate pathway programs, you will get a lot of support from professors and faculty throughout the process.