Our alumni find opportunities
across the country
Gina Anthony
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine-Bradenton, 2020
Biology, Physiology option
Form relationships early with your professors, they are incredibly knowledgeable and will help you so much with the medical school process. Work hard and keep your overall goal in mind, but make some time for fun at Penn State! You will miss it when it's gone!
Youcef Boureghda
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, 2020
Biology, Vertebrate Physiology
The amount of opportunities you have by simply being a student at Penn State cannot be overstated. However, some of these will not come to you as passively as others. So be willing to seek those ones out.
Gino DiNicola
Georgetown University School of Medicine, 2020
Biology (vertebrate physiology option)
If anyone has any specific questions I encourage you to reach out!
Dominic Farronato
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 2020
Biology: Vertebrate Physiology
As a pre-med student you will encounter many setbacks but my advice is to put your head down and continue working hard because in the end it will all be worth it. There is no "perfect recipe" for an applicant, so do what genuinely interests you because that will be more impactful than just checking off boxes you think other people want to see. Penn State will provide you with the education and resources you need to be successful so take full advantage of every opportunity. And remember, you are smart enough!
Chris Godissart
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Seton Hill, 2020
Biology, Vertebrate Physiology Option
Focus more on the process and less on the end goal. Looking back to my time at Penn State, I was always too nervous about trying to get to where I am today, and your classes are already hard enough without that extra pressure! Also, take advantage of any opportunities related to clinical experience that the Eberly College of Science may offer. Those programs will be motivating, remind you why you're working and studying so hard, and give you experiences that will be very useful down the road!
Dasha Goykhman
The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, 2020
Biology- Vertebrae Physiology
Please utilize your resources! Penn State has so many wonderful professors, faculty, and staff who truly want you to succeed. I often went to their office hours for advice on how to improve my application and guidance on editing my personal statement. Also, make sure to research the programs that you are interested in so you fulfill all of their requirements and do not fall behind.
Kushagra Kumar
Graduated May 2020, Matriculated July 2020 at Penn State College of Medicine
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Cell Biology Option
Make sure that when you apply you are READY to apply with the strongest application possible. Research what makes a successful student profile, find aspects of your application that are unique, and most importantly, take time to develop a compelling application. Thousands of people apply every year and seemingly identical, high achieving applicants are differentiated by almost arbitrary details. Don't be afraid to take some time off before you apply to develop your resume. It is easier to apply once with a strong application than it is having to explain in following years post-rejection why you are more capable than the first time around!
Shakira Laing
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2020
Biology
Be wise in choosing appropriate subjects that will prove to be beneficial to you in medical school. Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics are important classes to get acquainted with during your undergraduate years. This foundation will be very beneficial for your first year as a medical student. Even if these courses are not a requirement for your major, it will help you get through your first year of medical school.
Steven Leonard
Drexel University College of Medicine, 2020
Biology, Economics
The process of preparing for medical school (or any professional school) can be challenging, stressful, and confusing. However, you can make it manageable by starting small. Set some realistic and short-term goals for yourself. Align those goals with your interests and the advice from your advisors, write them down, and then put them in a place where you can see them. Quietly work on them every day, and once you achieve a goal, set a new one that builds on what you've just accomplished! When it's finally time to put together an application, you'll have a wealth of experiences and achievements that you can use to impress the admissions committee. Remember, baby steps add up over time.
Michael Sisko
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 2021
Premedicine
Do not be afraid to ask for help. The journey through the medical school application process is a long and stressful one and you will greatly benefit from having people in your corner helping you through it. Most importantly, try to find someone you know that is going through this process or has recently gone through it to help make sure you aren't missing out on anything.
Brandon Weiss
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2020
Physics
Make sure you focus on establishing healthy and effective study habits while in undergrad as it will help you transition when you get into medical school. Additionally, getting in to medical school is particularly challenging. I feel it beneficial to take a year after undergraduate to work in the health care field to see what it is like and find where your flaws are (I took 2 years off and felt better off for it). This will help you with interviews while applying later.