When Paris arrived at Michigan in 2023, they were set on studying film. But as they settled into college, they realized they were still figuring out the right academic direction. That changed in Winter 2024, when Paris took an intro cognitive psychology course for the LSA natural science requirement. Topics like attention, memory, sleep, and learning immediately stood out—and the class also introduced them to the neuroscience foundations behind cognition.
After that semester, Paris researched majors and found Cognitive Science and Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN). Unable to choose between the two, they declared both. Around the same time, Paris’s mom suggested psychiatry. Paris didn’t know much about the path then (including that it requires medical school), but that conversation pushed them to explore medicine more seriously—and they’ve been building toward it ever since.
As Paris took more Cog Sci and psychology courses, they became especially interested in the intersection of cognition and neuroscience—particularly mental illness, treatment, and neuropsychiatric medications. They also enjoyed learning how biochemical pathways relate to cognitive processes. Over time, psychiatry felt like a strong fit, and Paris began noticing meaningful overlap between their majors and premed coursework.
Balancing a double major with premed has been challenging, and planning ahead has been essential. Paris tried to pair demanding premed classes with lighter courses when possible, and finishing LSA distribution requirements by the end of sophomore year helped free up space later. Paris is also applying to med school on a later timeline than some students, so they took spring and summer classes after sophomore year to stay on track for graduation.
To explore medicine beyond the classroom, Paris joined the Black Undergraduate Medical Association (BUMA), which connected them to volunteering, speaker events, and networking with medical students and physicians. They also volunteered at University Hospital through Michigan Medicine, gaining valuable exposure to clinical settings. Within Cognitive Science, Paris serves as a peer advisor, which has helped them connect with students and faculty and build relationships with professors in psychiatry and cognitive science. Next year, Paris hopes to do research for Cog Sci credit to gain hands-on experience and deepen their understanding of the field.
The biggest challenges have been managing the credit load, keeping up with high-workload STEM courses, and balancing academics with personal routines (like making time for the gym). What keeps Paris going is remembering that progress isn’t always easy—but it’s worth it. One highlight has been earning University Honors with a 3.5 GPA, and Paris has learned that celebrating small wins (even something like a sweet treat after a tough exam) helps maintain motivation.
For students considering a similar path, Paris recommends using Michigan’s pre-med planning calculator spreadsheet, meeting with advisors regularly, and building community. Friends in their major(s), student orgs, and mentors can make the process much more manageable. After graduation, Paris hopes to be applying to medical school and continuing service work that feels meaningful—work that helps affirm psychiatry as the right long-term path.
