Major: Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience

Hometown: Gladwin, Michigan

Where did you transfer from? Mid Michigan College

Why did you choose to transfer to the University of Michigan? Being a pre-medical student, I transferred to U-M to mainly explore the most cutting-edge research and to push my studies as far as they could go!

Based on your personal experience, what is the one thing you want to tell new transfer students? Start now! As transfer students we have limited time to enjoy our undergrad years at U-M, be bold in your choices of extracurriculars, and surround yourself as much as you can in this community and in work you find rewarding and interesting. While the phrase “You only live once” is overused in every aspect nowadays, its meaning is something you should truly consider. 

How did you make friends and meet other students on campus? Find your base interests, look into social spaces that revolve around those interests, and embolden yourself to introduce yourself as much as you can in those social spaces. On the other hand, find spaces that are going to push you to grow; oftentimes these spaces will feel uncomfortable at first, but keep at it as if it’s a second job, you will eventually make yourself comfortable! 

What is your favorite part about being an LSA transfer student? I think the thing I find most fascinating about being a transfer student is the different perspectives I bring to the table. I used to think I was a very simple person, but I’ve learned that my diversity in this aspect has shaped how I view problems, which is often refreshing to my classmates or friends.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known before transferring to the University of Michigan? That more often than not, you have less time than you think. Spend your hours of time wisely to develop yourself into an amazing professional in whichever way you can manage. It’s easy to tell yourself you’ll lock in next semester -- I’ve had to work on that more complacent side of myself. 

Why did you choose your specific major(s)? I chose BCN because I love how substances  and neural impulses control pretty much everything we base as a reality in our life. For instance, every word you're reading has already been processed through split-second integration of information from rod and cone cells in our eyes being sent to our occipital lobe undergoing multiple processes I can’t even begin to explain, and all of that information is constantly being processed and being taken for granted every single second of our existence. Understanding those mechanisms is like understanding the framework of our entire process of making meaning as a being.