Pre-Health

What made you choose Lake Forest College?

I initially visited the school because I was interested in the hockey program, after my visit I was able to gain a better perspective of the school. I really enjoyed the small campus environment and tight night community. I was impressed with the campus and facilities as well as the proximity to Chicago and felt it was a good fit for me.

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

The small classroom environment and the ability to obtain guidance from faculty without a doubt helped me to succeed at Lake Forest. Looking back, I feel the level of education I gained in undergrad really helped me to transition into graduate school smoothly.

What experiences outside of the classroom do you think helped prepare you for Dental school?

The opportunities available at Lake Forest is something that sets it apart from other undergraduate programs. Despite there not being a specific pre-dental program when I attended, I was fortunate to work with my advisor, Dr. Lynn Westley, to find internships for credit at local dental practices. These internships were the focal point of my dental school applications but more so my undergraduate career and introduction into the field.

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

I felt very prepared throughout my graduate school career. The core science curriculum I obtained at Lake Forest gave me the tools to pursue laboratory research on top of my course load throughout a masters and dental school. I have nothing but good things to say after achieving a biology degree from Lake Forest, which directly correlated to my success in my biomedical studies the first two years of dental school.

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

Through my internships in local dental practices I was most definitely ahead of the curve as far as my understanding of a modern dental practice. More so, I feel I gained a level of professionalism throughout my undergraduate career. Working with faculty in a tight knit environment helped me to better communicate with my peers and faculty in graduate school. I feel the students at Lake Forest are held to a higher standard that facilitates success after graduation.

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

I had a great experience at Lake Forest College, my younger brother and sister also attended the school and achieved their goals of going onto graduate school. The amount of resources you have at Lake Forest is unparalleled to other major universities. The ability to seek guidance from faculty, on not only course work, but on my future endeavors is something that really helped me in undergrad. I had a lot of fun at Lake Forest and was very prepared for grad school, I would highly recommend the experience for another prospective student.