Summary: Pre-Experience Journal

As I began college, I decided not to choose a major at first. It was not until the beginning of this semester that I declared Biology as my major. I have always been interested in science, and it has always been one of my best subjects. Since I was little, my dream has been to become a doctor. As I have taken more classes, trying to weed out what I do and do not like, I have discovered that sciences are what interest me the most. Currently I have an emphasis in pre-professional studies which means that my major is leading me to attend a medical school after I graduate from Arkansas State University.

This plays into my big dreams and curiosity. Learning is the front-runner on my list of favorites. However, learning about biology has unceasingly had the dearest place in my heart, stemming from my first biology class freshman year. In addition to my passion for biology, I also have a passion for helping people. These two passions go hand-in-hand in my recent discovery of what I really want to do: I want to be a medical scientist. This dream may seem quite far-fetched, but, as it stands, it really is my main goal. This summer, I even worked in the East Tennessee State University biology department, where I even further confirmed my love for biology and working in a laboratory setting. Furthermore, this year, I will step up to become one of the presidents of a club I have held very dear throughout high school due to their dedication to helping the surrounding community, student council. After high school, I have a goal to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In summary, two of my biggest passions are learning and making a

Currently, I am in the process of earning my Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a pre-medical emphasis from Grand Canyon University. Upon graduation, I hope to attend either a medical or physician assistant school. My specific goal in the medical field is still up in the air, however, I am avidly exploring the fields of pathology, oncology, emergency medicine, and surgery. My interest in the medical field was sparked by my human anatomy and physiology class during my senior year of high school. Put simply, my life in high school was rough, and I was completely lost, as far as my career decisions were concerned. I enrolled in a human anatomy course, to fill a hole in my schedule during my senior

After taking AP Chemistry, I knew that I wanted to study chemistry in college. I also have been a very inquisitive person my whole life, wondering why things are and how things worked. My inquisitive nature and love of chemistry is why chemical engineering appeals to me. I am drawn to Biomedical engineering due to its application of both chemistry and biology to solve medical problems. Doing a complete 360, I am interested in art history, because not only do I find art fascinating, but I also find it mesmerizing how artists visually represent and were inspired by the world around them.

As I started my undergraduate journey, I never thought I would end up where I am now. When I entered college, I thought that my degree in chemistry would be a stepping-stone on the way to medical school. My one and only goal, at the start of college, was to work as hard as I could to ensure that I would one day become a doctor. However, along the way I figured out that medical school was not where my passions lie.

I am pursuing the Student Intern Program because I want to challenge myself in a structured scientific environment. I want to prepare for college rigor and potential research opportunities. The variety of studies your program offers intrigues me because this internship would push boundaries for me--would I truly enjoy lab work in a wet lab? Would I be satisfied with my projects? The experience could change my path in the sciences, which is an interesting idea because for years now, I have been interested in pursuing a medical career--specifically, ophthalmology. I am interested in ophthalmology for a few reasons: biology has always held my attention and is my forte; eyes are fascinating to me; and, perhaps most importantly, I have strong stomach in regards to the human body and its operations.To prepare for a science career, I am investigating colleges with internship and study abroad programs. Swarthmore College is my top choice for many reasons, including that nearly twenty percent of its students go on to receive doctoral degrees. With their uniquely challenging Honors Program and financial support of students’ academic interests, Swarthmore would help me attain my science and language goals through accessible internships and encouragement of foreign study. I

Although I excelled in high school biology and health classes, I knew that choosing a major down that route would never be an option for me. I wanted my major to be one that I was passionate about, making learning something I craved to do. At the end of junior year, my school

Since I am interested in medicine, many of the research topics I am excited about tie in human physiology with various scientific disciplines.

A topic that interests me is the field of physical therapy. Ever since I have been playing soccer since of the age of 3, I have always had many different injuries. This has made me want to help people while learning such a unique field. I have had different ankle and knee injuries and having a good physical therapist really makes a big difference in rehab. This also impacted my desire to want to be a physical therapist because being in that environment; it was really fun being in such a good atmosphere while people are usually scared to go to see a doctor. Physical Therapy is a perfect topic I will research in regards to injury and prevention, which is essential part of a PTs job.

I am in awe of how medical advances have helped shaped the future of some people's lives today. Being in charge of making people's health better, and looking for new cures for diseases has interested me in biomedical science. Biology is very fascinating; I love the use of scientific research to help others

I aspire to pursue Biomedical Engineering as my life's pursuit as I desire to follow both of my passions. Biomedical Engineering integrates my passions of science and mechanics which was vastly influenced by my upbringing and education. From a young age, my father instilled in me my gift for mechanics. My father indoctrinated me with skills such as electrical characteristics, how to manipulate tools and how to build and fix items. As I grew up, I applied that knowledge to build various components such as a Lego car and house wired with lights, and a fan.

During my high school years, genetics caught my interest. In genetics, we determined how genes can be passed from parents to offspring and how mutations on specific chromosomes can cause long lasting

My topic of choice is thyroid cancer. Recently my mother was diagnosed with this cancer so doing research can help me better understand what it is, what causes its occurrence, and what lifestyle changes it will bring. Having taken anatomy & physiology I know the importance of this gland. This is a gland that has functions to many other organs including the heart, brain, liver, and more. Going into the DMS program I can learn to identify spots on the thyroid and use the knowledge of this cancer to in my career. Also since this disease can be passed down genetically it can help me stay alert because I do fall in the age range of a potential target.

Ever since I was a toddler, I’ve demonstrated my desire to help others. If there was a fellow toddler crying, I would share my toys in an attempt to calm them down. As I grew up, my desire to help others expanded from sharing toys to tutoring other students or providing service to the surrounding community. By the time college applications rolled around, I had also developed a love of science, in addition to my desire to be helpful. I found myself scanning the list majors that different colleges had to offer, eventually stumbling upon biomedical engineering. Initially, I knew very little about the field, assuming they mostly worked with prosthetics. However, as I did more research into the major, I learned biomedical engineers create devices beyond prosthetics, such as machines to replace a working heart or more efficient medical equipment. This major also allowed for the flexibility of attending medical school, another career aspiration I have had since I was little. So without hesitation, I was able to put biomedical engineering as my intended major on my college applications. It was not until I came to the University of Michigan that my confidence in my major began to waver. I asked myself, “Do I really know what biomedical engineers do? What concentration should I pursue if I also hope to attend medical school?” These were questions that floated in my mind until I interviewed Professor Zhen Xu Ph.D.

Several well-wishers suggested that I choose medicine or engineering and pursue in one of those fields since I had done biology