Pre-Health

What made you choose Lake Forest College?

When I was applying to college, Lake Forest College stood out because of the small classroom sizes, the sense of community felt on campus, and the proximity to Chicago. Further, I was impressed that students had the opportunity to conduct academic research with faculty as early as the summer after their first year. 

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

I benefited intellectually and personally from the individualized attention I received from my professors and academic advisors. Further, Lake Forest College not only supports but encourages its students to pursue a well-rounded education; I didn't have to sacrifice my love and study of reading and writing to pursue a degree in Neuroscience. What experiences outside of the classroom do you think helped prepare you for MS in Genetic Counseling programs?

After graduating from Lake Forest College, I spent a few years working as a lab technician at Northwestern. I volunteered for a Chicago nonprofit called Resilience (formally Rape Victim Advocates) as a medical advocate, where I supported victims of sexual assault in the emergency department. I also had multiple informational interviews and shadowing experiences with genetic counselors. How did your time at Lake Forest help you prepare to apply for graduate school?

Lake Forest College provided me the academic framework and skill sets I needed to succeed in my rigorous graduate courses

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

The new Health Professions Program is a great way to expose college students to career paths that are an alternative to pursuing an MD. Many college students haven't considered that providing clinical care requires a team of professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, speech language pathologists, genetic counselors, clinical counselors, & more. You don't need to be a physician in order to help patients. 

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

Even though I didn't always love it at the time, many of my courses at Lake Forest College involved working as a team and giving presentations, both skills which have served me well professionally!

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

Enjoy this time in your life--expose yourself to new ideas, experiences, people, places!