Zoe Walts '21
Class Year
2021
Area(s) of Study
Major in Neuroscience
Minor in French
Hometown
Naperville, IL
Co-curricular
Leadership roles in the chamber orchestra, Alpha Phi Omega, Tri-Delta, Women’s Rugby Club, Synapse; Peer-Tutoring and Peer-Mentoring in Psychology and Biology courses.
Achievements
Graduated Summa Cum Laude. Membership in Omicron Delta Kappa, Nu Rho Psi, and Phi Beta Kappa honors societies. Presentation at a national conference and a publication as a member of the Kelley Lab; publication as a summer intern at Rush University; several social studies publications in Inter-Text.
Graduate Study
Project assistant and Elliot Dick Fellow PhD Student in Epidemiology at UW-Madison
Why did you choose Lake Forest College?
I chose Lake Forest College partially to be close to family but, mostly, I chose it for the small class sizes and the personal attention I would get from faculty in a small campus environment. I also greatly valued the liberal arts curriculum and the encouragement to pursue interdisciplinary interests.
What attracted you to the Neuroscience major?
The interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience was appealing. I had to apply both biological knowledge and psychology theory, which I believed would equip me with a very wide range of unique and applicable skills.
What are your career goals and how did Lake Forest College help you arrive at and achieve these goals?
My ultimate goal is to complete my PhD and find a research position in a government organization, in which I will be able to fight existing health disparities. Lake Forest College helped prepare me for success in my PhD program with both in depth statistical training and hands-on research experience as well as skills in time management and independence that I gained from being in a challenging major like neuroscience while balancing multiple co-curriculars.
How did the opportunities in college help shape your college experience?
The research opportunities I got at Lake Forest College helped to foster a love for research and helped me to discover the type of research that I wanted to pursue after graduation. I felt that the projects we did, such as writing multiple full journal-formatted papers for courses, gave me great research practice outside of my membership in K-lab.
hat are one or more distinctive experiences in your major that make it stand out?
The most distinctive experience in this major is the K-6 day where we got to engage with young students and teach them in a unique and hands-on way. This was a great opportunity to think about complex issues in a simplified and accessible manner – and accessibility is a key asset of effective science communication. They say that you don’t truly understand a topic until you can teach it, so this was a great practical opportunity to put this to the test and have fun while doing it!
What advice would you give to a high school student looking to pursue neuroscience and is considering Lake Forest College?
The neuroscience major at Lake Forest College is a very special learning environment in that it is simultaneously collaborative and independent, challenging and supportive, as well as developing specific skills while covering a broad spectrum of topics. It will not be easy, but it will be worth every late night study session and every project! You will make great friends and be set up to succeed in your future through this academic program.