Neuroscience

Why did you choose Lake Forest College?

As a first generation college student from a low income family, financial aid was a major deciding factor for me. I thought LFC's initial financial aid package was extremely generous, and I felt assured that my financial aid would continue for all four years. I also appreciated that LFC was a teaching institution with very small class sizes. At other colleges I had applied to, I got the impression that teaching was something that professors invested very little time into and would relegate to TAs if possible. Finally, I was drawn to LFC because there was an opportunity to major in neuroscience, which was not a major offered at many of the other colleges I had applied to.

What attracted you to the Neuroscience major?

During my senior year of high school, I was taking AP Biology and AP Psychology and I loved them both. I was excited to learn that I could major in neuroscience at LFC, since that would be a perfect blend of both of my interests. The first neuroscience class that I took at LFC was Medical Mysteries of the Mind with Dr. D. Every part of the class convinced me that I was in the right major - the expectations were high, we engaged with the material in so many different ways, and I met folks that I'm still friends with today (nearly a decade later!). 

What are your career goals and how did the Lake Forest College help you achieve these goals?

Currently, my career goals are to be a psychologist and researcher. I believe that studying at LFC made me an extremely strong applicant for graduate school. As an undergraduate I had the opportunity to engage in research, present at conferences and symposia, lead organizations, be a tutor and peer teacher, publish in Eukaryon, write a senior thesis, and form close relationships with my professors.

How have the opportunities at the College helped shape your college experience?

I always felt engaged, challenged, connected, and busy, that's for sure! 

What are some standout moments for you as a neuroscience major?

• Holding a human brain for the first time
• The "Our Amazing Brain" outreach
• Designing and running my own experiments in Research Methods & Statistics, Molecular Neuroscience, and Molecular Biology
• Brain Awareness Week 
• Attending the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
• My presentation of Nobel Prize winner Dr. Linda Buck's work for Senior Seminar 

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

Consider your future career path(s) early and often! Based on what you're aiming for, create a four-year individual development plan (IDP) and share it with your advisors/mentors. Whatever skills Future You will need to be successful, LFC and neighboring colleges/universities can help you develop them. 

What is your current position or field of postgraduate study?

I am currently a Ph.D. Student in Counseling Psychology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.