On my way to becoming a physician

From the very first day I decided to dedicate myself to the pre-medical path to submitting my deposit for medical school, I have been challenged, encouraged, and genuinely supported by the faculty and my peers.

Bloomsburg University's chemistry program provides an experience that is unlike any other for its students. I have been required to practice critical thinking and problem solving not only in the classroom, but also in the laboratory and on exams. From the laboratory assignments to the rigorous course load, I have learned how rewarding hard work and persistence can be for a chemistry major.

The small student-to-faculty ratio allows students to develop relationships that promote learning outside of the classroom setting. In addition, the research opportunities within the chemistry department have been so valuable to me as a pre-medical student.

Participating in a research project has developed a sense of pride, responsibility, and independence that I could not achieve in the classroom alone.

Being a chemistry/biochemistry major has instilled in me efficient study habits, laboratory skills, but most of all it has provided me with the confidence to pursue a career in medicine at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

— ​Brooke Shannon is a chemistry major with a pre-medical studies concentration.

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No longer a newbie

Classes are well underway for my second semester here at Bloomsburg. The atmosphere arriving back at campus was slightly different for the spring semester as opposed to the fall.

In the fall I was a new student trying to make friends and find my place on campus, but now coming back for the second semester feels a little different. There were people on campus that I missed not seeing over break and moving back into the dorm was a family reunion opposed to the awkward few days of the fall semester.

Personally, the new spring semester has raised the difficulty in my classes. For the spring semester I scheduled my own classes, in contrast with my fall semester being scheduled for me. I am nearly done with my general education requirements due to AP classes in high school, which allowed me to take more advanced classes for my major.

The AP classes are a blessing and a curse. They are a blessing because I have more flexibility in my schedule, but they have the drawback of placing me in more difficult classes more quickly. Other than class difficulty, not much has changed for the spring semester. As stated previously, the initial transition back to campus is smoother but nearly the same people surround me and my same support system remains. I quickly immersed myself back into the clubs and organizations that I was involved with last semester.

The fall semester was the transition time. The time to learn how to balance friends, clubs, classwork and importantly, sleep. The routine was more or less established over last semester and the spring semester was like getting back on a bike after not riding for a while. After about a week, I was back in the same routine just this time needed to add a little more study time to succeed in more difficult classes.

This semester I am volunteering at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. I wanted to volunteer last semester, as I am on a pre-medical track, but I needed time to get used to college. I am glad that I waited a semester to try to volunteer, for the days that I volunteer are a little more hectic than I am used to.

The gradual transition period is in my opinion the best way to ensure success. As incoming freshman for the Fall 2014 semester at Bloomsburg, I would begin prepare first for the entrance exams. Review topics in math and English. The placement exams determine if you need to take review classes once you arrive on campus. The review classes will take us credits that could be used for general education or even classes in your major. They may not seem like they have much effect at first, but they may decrease the flexibility of your schedule.

Additionally I know being a science major, the math sequence is important and a person wants to place as high in math as they possibly can in order to stay on track with the math sequence. Another thing to consider is the foreign language placement exam.

If you took a foreign language in high school and are not interested in pursuing the language further, take the language exam. It will give a sense of accomplishment coming into college with part of your general education fulfilled! Even if you want to continue studying a language, still take the placement exam so that you are not placed in class that is below your current language level. Other than that enjoy the time before you arrive on campus!

Do not stress about meeting people or searching the website for the clubs that you want to join, all of that will fall into place once you arrive on campus.

— Morgan Lewis is a biochemistry major with a pre-medical studies concentration.

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A New Beginning: Freshman Year

Hello!

I come from a medium sized high school of about 300 students. Small enough to have a personalized education but large enough that I did not know some of the students walking at graduation. Bloomsburg in many ways reminds me of my high school. The people are friendly enough that I feel as though I know many people, than I walk into my Concepts of Biology 1 lecture and the 200 students in the auditorium remind me that I do not know all that many people.

The town of Bloomsburg is so very different from the postal code that I called home. That is right postal code. I come from Etters, Pennsylvania. It is not a city, not a town and not even on the map. In Bloomsburg it seems as though there is always something to do and pretty much anything is available just by walking down the hill into town (though walking back up can be a struggle).

I love the availability of food and shopping, which is a sharp contrast to my hometown. About a year ago, a walmart was opened in my hometown. It is the only shopping available besides a dollar store and it was one of the events to ever happen in Etters.

Why Bloomsburg? Why Biology and Finance?

Bloomsburg was the last school that I visited. It was a day in October and I had already applied and been accepted. I applied to Bloomsburg primarily because of the price. I had applied to some expensive schools and I knew that I needed to consider a school that was a little more affordable.

My aunt is a Bloomsburg alumni and she convinced me to give the university a chance. With my trusted aunt as my guide, I made the two hour drive up to campus and was given the grand tour.

Everywhere from the dining hall, to the classrooms, to navigating the library and of course the best places in town. Though I was reluctant at first, I quickly realized that Bloomsburg was everything that I had been searching for in a school. It was a school that had school spirit, lively athletics, a decent size, enthusiastic professors and a walkable campus and town.

So here I am!

Since I was young, I have always dreamed of attending medical school. The pre-medical sciences track was a no brainer. The bigger debate was should I major in Biology or Chemistry? I decided on Biology after comparing the requirements to earn each degree, but i still questioned the decision when I arrived on campus. I thought that I would most likely change my major before the end of the semester. That was until I attended my seminar class and I realized that Biology is where I belong.

Now I am guessing you are thinking “Finance? That is a strange pairing with Biology.” It is, but I want to explore a major outside of the typical science pre-medical studies route. I decided on Finance because of its practical application as a doctor. Many doctors own practices and I will need to know how to manage the financial aspects. Even if I do not own a practice and I work in a hospital, I will still need to manage personal finances.

A Summary of My First Week

When I arrived on campus, college became real. I was on my own. My parents left and I was stuck in a room alone staring at blank, white walls. Half of my room was empty for two days until my roommate arrived and I was at a loss on how to handle my free time. The time was quickly filled with honors orientation and than with the university orientation. The honors orientation quickly injected me with excitement.

We had a wonderful dinner at Dr. K’s house where we met all of the new students, a few returning students and played a game of wiffle ball. We also had a campus scavenger hunt and visited Knoebels. It made me look forward to spending four more years at Bloomsburg with the people that I was meeting.

Than the university orientation was a little less exciting, but there were enjoyable moments if one stayed optimistic and engaged. The comedy show was hilarious and many of the night time activities were well worth attending.

Once the orientation settled down it came time to make friends and settle into the place that I will call home for the next four years. I quickly connected with a girl that I believe will be my friend for a while. I found ways to fill my time, people to socialize with in the dining halls and people to call study buddies.

My classes are just getting started but I know that I will need to put a lot of time into my studies and that I have a semester ahead of me that will help ease me into college life slowly but surely. The first week has made me proud to be a new husky!

— Morgan Lewis is a dual biology and finance major with a pre-medical studies concentration. 

#FutureHusky #HuskyUnleashed