Research Opportunities

"My Honors experience helped differentiate me from other medical school applicants. The one-on-one help from the Honors director in drafting my personal statement helped me secure six acceptances from around the country, including three from Ivy League programs. In fact, in my essay I mentioned how Honors helped mold me into a critical thinker, something my chemistry and biology courses didn’t foster. Consistently during my rigorous med school interviews I had to examine difficult issues relating to medicine, society, and government policy--my broad Honors education gave me the background necessary to provide thoughtful and unique replies, something that helps an applicant stand-out from a pack of 1000 others."
-Dan Perez, 2006 Honors grad & 3rd-year Med School Student, Univ. of California, San Francisco

The Honors program encourages student research both inside and outside of the classroom. Not only is research at the heart of intellectual inquiry and learning, but it also helps prepare students for their lives beyond college, whether that involves graduate school, a specific profession, or other plans. In recognition of the complexity of today's world, the program's curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to learning.

As the website for one major medical school explains about the advantages for applicants who have done undergraduate research: "Orientation toward lifelong learning, independent thinking, and decision-making are attributes of an excellent physician. It is to your advantage to participate in activities (e.g., independent study projects, research projects, and courses requiring active involvement, etc.) that will foster those attributes." One could say that such activities would lead to success in any field and these are at the heart of the Honors program.

For further information, please use the links to the left.