Summer Plans: STEM Majors

04.13.2021

 As a child, summer was a long expanse of freedom. It was almost too long, as the days would stretch on lazily, punctuated by the few vacations my family would take. I remember my erratic sleep schedule when I was younger, as school no longer would dictate my circadian rhythm. Summers were for sleeping in, waking up close to noon, and taking another cat nap late afternoon. Indulgent and relaxing, summers years ago always seemed to sprawl into an eternity.

         As a university student, summers are barely a blip. Gone are the cat naps, the lackadaisical attitude, and the loafing around. Summers are now for summer classes, summer jobs, graduate school applications, entrance exams, internships, shadowing—the list never ends. Summer can be a chance to cram in all the vacation an individual did not take during the school year, or better yet, a chance to cram in more items on the academic agenda. The vacation is now seen as a chance to better oneself, and to get ahead of that college degree to get into the workforce. Although these objectives are undoubtedly necessary, it is important to keep in time that this free time is also a great opportunity to reconnect with friends and family.

I interviewed some Andrews University students to see what they have planned, academic or otherwise, for this upcoming summer.

What are your summer plans?

Isabella Tessalee (junior, chemistry): For some reason, I can only think in list format. This summer, I plan on studying for the MCAT, and taking the MCAT. Shadowing at a clinic, doing medical school applications, and recharging and spending time with family in between. It can be overwhelming thinking about everything I have on my plate, but I recognize that starting is the hardest step.

Alec Bofetiado (junior, medical laboratory sciences): I will be taking summer biochemistry classes, then vacationing in Cancun with my family. We don’t really have a plan about what we’re going to do in Cancun; we’re just going there and then seeing how it goes. Then I’ll be taking the MCAT, and taking summer clinical chemistry, which is an MLS class.

Julianne Magakat (senior, medical laboratory sciences): I think my summer looks like shadowing dentists and some vacationing with family and friends before dental school. Probably with the Riverside Dental Group for shadowing, and my friends and I are trying to road trip up the California coast so we’ll see if that happens.

Andras Muranyi (junior, biology): MCAT. And applying to professional schools and taking entrance exams.

Dara Atmadja (junior, biochemistry): I’m planning on taking a couple of summer classes for the first month; then I’ll be shadowing a dentist while finishing up my applications for dental school.

Franky Paypa (sophomore, pre-physical therapy): Uhhhhh. But I have no plans. I’m going to lounge around and play with my baby brother.