Adam Glaser ‘17 (Neuroscience)
Will be attending Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
(Early assurance applicant)
“I’ve worked in an Ethiopian clinical setting for four summers, and each summer has resonated with me slightly differently. At first, I was struck by the importance of determination in medicine. However, my subsequent experiences have emphasized the roles of patience and careful human interactions. In my experience at NIH, I discovered how much my understanding of basic science informed patient interactions and treatments. These disparate aspects of medicine are what excites me about being a doctor.
Studying neuroscience was actually one of the main reasons I chose Middlebury. I knew I wanted a small school with rigorous academics where I could play soccer. I was also drawn to neuroscience, which really narrowed schools down.
I’ve been enjoying working in Professor Dash’s lab. It gives rise to a fuller professor-student interaction than is often available from course studies. It is also an entirely different way of studying a field. Rather than doing a survey of many topics, as is the case in courses, research requires expertise in one specific area.”
Amity Calvin ‘16 (Biology)
Attending Oregon Health Sciences University
“One of the best decisions I made at Middlebury was signing up for the J-term EMT class held every winter. It was a solid month of stress and study, but it opened up a side of the medical world I’d never seen before. It was significant because I realized that I didn’t want to pursue that side of medicine. Emergency medicine is fascinating and exciting, but it’s not for me. It let me realize that I want more time to get to know each patient. I have such deep respect for all who choose that path, even more so because it’s not the future I see for myself.
Whenever I was facing a long morning/evening/night of studying, I’d go straight to BiHall and find one of the biology classrooms, third floor. I always felt most at home there and loved having an entire room to myself most of the time. I’d spend hours covering every inch of a room’s chalkboard with my notes.”
Katie Merrick ‘17 (Chemistry)
Attending University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
“Shadowing Dr. Adam Fasoli ’04, a Midd grad who practices in town, was one of the primary experiences that made me want to become a dentist. I know that I ultimately want to return to Vermont to practice dentistry, so I really appreciated getting to see what it will look like to practice in a town like Middlebury.
My sophomore year, I was involved with the Middlebury STEM Innovation Project, a program designed to expose liberal arts students to engineering. Working with tools and crafting prototypes empowered me in a way I hadn’t experienced before. This finalized my decision to become a dentist.
I believe that balance is incredibly important, and I firmly believe in taking time to relax every day. I spent the summer after my junior year doing research in Professor Rick Bunt’s lab (organic chemistry), which was not only an incredibly fulfilling academic experience, but also a fantastic time to go on hiking and swimming adventures on the weekends in the beautiful Vermont summer.”
Yasmeen Byrnes ‘17 (Math)
Attending Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
“I did the J-term shadowing internship at Porter Hospital. I shadowed many departments, as well as health professionals such as nurses, EMTs, and hospital lab scientists. This allowed me to see what medical professionals’ daily lives look like and reaffirm that it was the right career choice for me.
As a first-year, I was pretty sure I wanted to major in math and at the time also thought I might go into medicine. I was mostly focused on exploring different fields and finding which one was best for me. Additional experiences outside of class informed my decision to major in math (so I could enjoy taking lots of math courses in college!) while taking all the premed requirements with the intention of applying to medical school.
My study abroad experience in India was a fantastic growth experience that further developed my already-existing interest in medicine. I’d certainly recommend premeds to go abroad-my experience changed me and helped me become more ready for medical school. I’m so glad I went!”
Ryan Brewster ‘14 (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry)
Attending Stanford Medical School
Manchester, MA native Ryan Brewster always thought that he would be a mogul skier. Though a nationally ranked Junior Olympian and a member of the US Ski Team, sore knees eventually gave way to a career in medicine. A Molecular Biology Biochemistry major and Spanish minor, Ryan took advantage of all that Middlebury had to offer: he was an EMT, Senior Admissions Fellow and spent a summer Rwanda with Gardens for Health International. Ryan used his Spanish skills to translate at the Open Door Clinic, and his formidable graphic design talent to develop a clothing line, Ron’s Closet. Following graduation, Ryan spent two years working as a research assistant at Harvard Medical School and matriculated at Stanford Medical School in September 2016.
Ann Carpenter ‘15 (Biology)
Attending Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
In the Fall of 2011, Ann and her twin sister Lydia threw their swimsuits in the car and with their horse in tow, drove up I-95 from Virginia. An accomplished swimmer, Ann chose to attend Middlebury because she was certain that she wanted to be a veterinarian and wanted to prepare for vet school with a strong program in the liberal arts. When many of her classmates studied abroad during junior year, Ann spent a semester at Virginia Tech’s Agriculture School to gain more hands-on knowledge and take specialized pre-vet courses. Ann found spending time in numerous veterinary practices around Middlebury to be an invaluable experience, and enjoyed a number of opportunities working with equine and large-animal providers.
Sarah Crepps ‘15 (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry)
Attending Colorado School of Dental Medicine
A 14,000 foot Colorado peak is no match for Sarah Crepps, a high energy Molecular Biology and Biochemistry major who knew that she wanted to be a dentist since childhood. At Middlebury, Sarah engaged in an eclectic array of extracurricular activities: she hosted a radio program that explored scientific discoveries, lead a MiddView Orientation trip, tutored chemistry, taught pottery making, coordinated the Community Friends program and performed significant laboratory research. Sarah chose dentistry in part because she felt saw it as an amalgam of scientific knowledge, interpersonal relationships, and tangible skill.