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Student and Faculty Profiles

Meet Mellisa...

Class: 2008
Hometown: East Haddam, Connecticut
Undergrad: College of William and Mary
Major: Biology
Program: M.D.

I am from East Haddam, Connecticut and went to Mercy High School in Middletown. I went to college in Williamsburg, Virginia at the College of William and Mary where I majored in biology and minored in classical studies. Throughout college I was active in environmental research, in which I studied lake and stream chemistry of a campus lake and the changes that occurred over historical time. I also held leadership roles in Catholic Campus Ministry and various service organizations. The William and Mary campus community and Williamsburg itself offered many opportunities for students to be involved. I was constantly meeting new people, but when I met someone new, we also had a similar connection. All and all, there was a tight-knit feel to my undergraduate experience.

When applying to medical schools, I looked mostly at places in the northeast to be closer to my family. During the beginning of the application process, I had a preference for the schools in big cities mostly because I wanted a change. The desire to be in a big city lessened after my interview day at UConn. What struck me most about UConn was how approachable everyone was, including students who had nothing to do with the interview process. The people were friendly and welcoming, which was important to me since I’d be spending much of my week working and interacting with the people at the Health Center. I was also attracted to UConn’s unique curriculum. The early interaction with patients and focus on clinical medicine allows students to integrate the clinical picture with basic science mechanisms from the start of learning. It also gives students a sense of satisfaction to give care to patients while studying; it provides a constant reminder of why we are studying so hard.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the Hartford area despite my initial desire to go to a big city school. Hartford has good food, a fun bar scene, and plenty of culture and the arts. In addition, it’s nice to be in an area so close to forests, trails, and outdoor activities. Farmington provides small town New England charm, and is close enough to major cities so that is easy to get away for a weekend and be immersed in big city life.