What would you tell a high school student about your major? What is most important for them to know if they are interested in pursuing that field of study?
If you’re a STEM person who likes chemistry and biology like me, then you will enjoy biochemistry because it combines the two most popular majors into one field. Having a major in biochemistry also allows you to have a broad field of potential career choices, whether that be pursuing higher education or getting a job straight out of college. The most important thing for them to know is not to be afraid of the “hard” classes. Social media will have told them by now that organic chemistry and biochemistry are the hardest classes ever, but the professors at UM know how to teach the subjects really well so that you comprehend everything.
If you’re a STEM person who likes chemistry and biology like me, then you will enjoy biochemistry because it combines the two most popular majors into one field. Having a major in biochemistry also allows you to have a broad field of potential career choices, whether that be pursuing higher education or getting a job straight out of college. The most important thing for them to know is not to be afraid of the “hard” classes. Social media will have told them by now that organic chemistry and biochemistry are the hardest classes ever, but the professors at UM know how to teach the subjects really well so that you comprehend everything.
Why is your department a special place?
The Chemistry Department is a special place because everyone is so friendly, from the Starbucks employees to the classmate sitting next to you. People say that chemistry and biochemistry are the hardest degrees to ever receive, but I don’t believe that is true because the professors who have taught me have been wonderful in teaching the subject, so I do not stress as much about the classes anymore. The department is also wonderful because they do a lot of outreach to the community. For example, they are the judges for the science fair each year and help inspire the community about science.
The Chemistry Department is a special place because everyone is so friendly, from the Starbucks employees to the classmate sitting next to you. People say that chemistry and biochemistry are the hardest degrees to ever receive, but I don’t believe that is true because the professors who have taught me have been wonderful in teaching the subject, so I do not stress as much about the classes anymore. The department is also wonderful because they do a lot of outreach to the community. For example, they are the judges for the science fair each year and help inspire the community about science.
What class or professor has had the most impact on you?
I would say that my first organic chemistry class has had the most impact on me. Going into organic, you’ll hear all these crazy stories that it will be one of the hardest classes in the whole university. If you have a 4.0 GPA, be ready to kiss it goodbye because the organic chemistry class will tank your GPA. From the class I took, I found those stories to not apply to me. The teacher was always super engaged and excited to teach the class that which made me excited to learn. He was also super impressionable and approachable to the whole class because he gave off a “dad” vibe. His class was structured to also include guided practice problems in class so that you could receive help from him or the SI leaders if you were confused. Overall, the class helped me get over my fear of hard classes because it is the teacher who makes or breaks the class.
I would say that my first organic chemistry class has had the most impact on me. Going into organic, you’ll hear all these crazy stories that it will be one of the hardest classes in the whole university. If you have a 4.0 GPA, be ready to kiss it goodbye because the organic chemistry class will tank your GPA. From the class I took, I found those stories to not apply to me. The teacher was always super engaged and excited to teach the class that which made me excited to learn. He was also super impressionable and approachable to the whole class because he gave off a “dad” vibe. His class was structured to also include guided practice problems in class so that you could receive help from him or the SI leaders if you were confused. Overall, the class helped me get over my fear of hard classes because it is the teacher who makes or breaks the class.
What do you hope to do after graduation? What are your career goals/plans?
I hope to go to medical school after graduating from UM with plans to become an OBGYN for my small town.
I hope to go to medical school after graduating from UM with plans to become an OBGYN for my small town.
What is one thing you wish you knew as an incoming freshman that you'd tell your past self (about the general college experience)?
I wish I could tell my past self to also have fun in college. I was taught so much in high school that college would be so much stricter than high school, so I dove into studying right when I got to college. I wish that I had made more plans to go out with my friends to the square and see all the historical sites instead of being cooped up in my dorm room studying all the time. While it can be awesome to have fun all the time, it is also important to have a good balance of studying and having fun, and that is where my freshman self fell short because she studied all the time.
I wish I could tell my past self to also have fun in college. I was taught so much in high school that college would be so much stricter than high school, so I dove into studying right when I got to college. I wish that I had made more plans to go out with my friends to the square and see all the historical sites instead of being cooped up in my dorm room studying all the time. While it can be awesome to have fun all the time, it is also important to have a good balance of studying and having fun, and that is where my freshman self fell short because she studied all the time.
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