Biology

Major: Biology, Minors: Spanish, Chemistry, and Communication 

About me: I am from Elkhorn, WI. I am on the Pre-Physician Assistant track and plan to specialize in Women’s Health. In my free time, I love to hang out with my friends, exercise, and hammock in the bluffs.  On campus, I am a Vanguard, a tutor in the Public Speaking Center, and a Student Association Senator for the College of Science and Health.  

Study Tip: The strategy that has helped me the most is “processing” my notes after each lecture. After a lecture, I write the most important points/concepts in a separate notebook to reinforce my knowledge. Then, I can use this notebook as a study guide. 

Major: Microbiology 

About Me: I am a sophomore from Farmington, Minnesota which is about 30 minutes south of the Twin Cities. I am a microbiology major with hopes to be an embryologist one day. In my free time I love to work out, be outside, hangout with my friends and family, and cook/bake. I also work at a restaurant off campus as a server which takes up a lot of my time too! 

Study Tips: Use the resources you are given. For me, I like to use the slides to write on during class and review/go back over them after class. I also think the objectives/study guide is a helpful tool. Before an exam (a week or so before) I start writing responses to the questions and answers to the questions. Then I have a friend quiz me and try my best to answer the question, even if I get it wrong. I continue to do this until the exam. I also think repetition is the best way to memorize. For me, I use Quizlet to help memorize specific things/definitions I am required to know.  
 

Major: Biology, Minors: Spanish and Earth Science

About Me: I am a sophomore from Berlin, Wisconsin. I’m a biology major with a concentration in environmental science. I’m still not sure what I’d like to post graduation, but I think working in conservation or restoration would be rewarding. In my free time I like to spend time outside, hang out with my friends, and go to the gym. Oh, and contrary to what it looks like in that photo above, I am not a Minnesota fan.

Study Tips: I would have to recommend looking over notes after classes to refresh what was learned earlier that day. Also, I think it helps to watch videos when it comes to learning processes. I like to find someone to study with before tests because sometimes it allows you to teach an idea to someone else and they say that’s the best way to learn. I would also recommend starting to study at least a week before the test.

Major: Biology, Pre-PA Track       Minor: Psychology 

About Me: I am a Sophomore from Whitewater, WI. I’m a biology major with a concentration in biomedical science. After I graduate, I wish to attend Physician’s Assistant school to become a Pediatric PA. In my free time, I like to hammock and go hiking, exercise, watch movies and spend time with my friends.  

Study Tips: I recommend studying early and not cramming. Start at least one week prior to your exam and start re-learning the material a couple of hours at a time. The biggest tip I would recommend someone to do for studying is to take practice exams. Find one online based on the material you’re studying or create your own based on practice problems/ homework from class. Additionally, talk things out loud to someone else or even yourself. Teaching material to someone else can help secure the information in your brain. 

Major: Biology, Pre-Optometry Minor: Anthropology 

About Me: I am a sophomore from Rochester MN. In my free time I enjoy reading, spending time outdoors, and taking my dog for walks. My only job during the school year is tutoring but over the summers I lifeguard and work at my dad’s bouncy house business. I'd like to get another job with an optometrist to gain some experience in that field.  
 
Study Tips: Explaining and discussing or drawing out all the information on an exam forces your brain to make connections between different concepts and helps you zero in on specifics that you don't understand completely and may need to refer back to. Practicing activities that were demonstrated in class is a great tool. It's easy to watch a professor do something and think it’ll be easy for you but, until you practice it on your own, you don't know what difficulties you may potentially run into. 

Majors: Biochemistry and Biology (double major) 

About me: I am a sophomore from Two Rivers, WI, about 45 minutes from Green Bay and right on Lake Michigan! I added biology as a second major since it went so well with my biochemistry major. With them, I want to go onto graduate school and do medical research in genetics. This past summer, I did undergrad research with Dr. Anne Galbraith on the effects of a lab-made drug (SK-03-92) on various types of yeast cells. I tutored various STEM subjects in high school, and I wanted to continue in college. In my free time, I love to hammock, hike, weight lift and save some time to relax. 

Study tips: Study in your most productive time, the time where your brain works the best and study consistently.  It’s best to plan to study for exams and quizzes about a week out from them. I usually start with a big picture of everything covered in the exam/quiz and then do more practice on the trickier subjects/problems.  It’s also better to figure out how you study best.  It could be flashcards, rewriting notes, making note cards... everyone is different! 

Major: Biology, Pre-PA Track  

About Me: I am a junior from Fall Creek, WI which is about 15 minutes from Eau Claire. I plan to apply to Physician Assistant school after this school year, and I am thinking of becoming a pediatric PA. I am involved in undergraduate research involving bone and breast cancer cells, and I also work as a CNA at Gundersen Hospital. During my free time, I enjoy running, reading, hiking, and fishing.  
 Study Tip: The most important study tip I have is to begin studying early. By doing this, you will be able to pick out the information that you need to dedicate the most time to learning. The first thing I do when studying is read over all the notes I have for the upcoming exam and highlight the information that I don't know or understand. Doing this will help you identify the topics/information you need to focus on. From there, I take my highlighted information and draw diagrams or create concept maps from it to enhance my understanding. To have time obtain an in-depth understanding of the difficult material, beginning to study early is key. 

Major: Biology

Minor: Nutrition 

Pre-Veterinary Track 

About Me: I will be a senior this year and I am from Sun Prairie, WI! I started my undergraduate at Marquette University, but quickly realized the city was not for me, so I transferred to UWL and have absolutely loved it here since. Next fall, I hope to attend veterinary school at Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison (I just submitted my application!!) In my free time I enjoy working with animals, spending time outdoors, and exercising. I tutored elementary school students in high school, so I am looking forward to tutoring college students this year!  

Study Tip: My study tip would be to try your hardest to not wear yourself out while studying! I have found success in this by reviewing each course’s material continually after I’ve learned it, even if my exam isn’t for another two weeks. Keeping the information fresh in my thoughts allows me to make connections in new material that I am learning, as well as not having to pull all-nighters the nights leading up to the exam. Also, since I’ve been continually reviewing material throughout the semester, studying for my cumulative final exams isn’t nearly as stressful. 

Major: Exercise Sport Science

Minors: Biology, Psychology 

About me: I am a junior from Prior Lake, MN (25 minutes south of MPLS). I work as a CNA on a Med Surg floor at a hospital in my hometown. I plan to attend PA or med school following undergrad. I’m on the Women’s Track and Field team here at UWL. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling, watching shows/movies, and being outdoors. Although I’m from Minnesota, I am a huge Packer fan and attend the games on weekends I’m able.  

Study tip: My biggest advice is to plan and begin studying far in advance. I would recommend writing valuable information out several times. Simply reading material does not enforce it in your brain as well as writing stuff down. Take advantage of learning objectives and study guides when they are given. Make sure to also spread out your studying and take breaks. It’s not sustainable to study for hours on end. Your brain needs a break to digest the information for you to truly learn it. Active recall is also a highly effective study strategy. This is when you recall/write down what you know about the topic without looking at notes. Studying takes time, so be patient and you will find what works best for you. 

Major: Biology (pre-dental)   Minor: chemistry 

About me: I’m a sophomore from Onalaska, WI, so not too far from here! I’m a biology major with a chemistry minor with the hopes of becoming a dentist one day. Some of the things I like to do in my free time are hanging out with friends, watching Netflix, and playing basketball, which I am a part of the men’s basketball team here at La Crosse. I also bartend at a local restaurant here in the summers when I have some more time. 

Studying tips: Study early. That is the biggest piece of advice I would give to students trying to improve their grades and to really learn the material. Cramming can only do so much, especially with the amount of information that we are expected to remember. Instead, start studying at least a week before the exam, in smaller study sessions throughout the day, which makes studying much more efficient and successful. The other piece of advice I can give is to print off your professor’s lecture power points before class and take notes on those. This way, you can focus on the additional bits of information your professor is talking about that is beyond what is up on the slides instead of scrambling to write down the vague points up on the screen.  

Major: Plant and Fungal Biology

Minor: Microbiology 

About Me: I am currently on my Junior year here at UWL, and I have lived here in the LaCrosse area my entire life. I am currently studying plant and fungal biology here at UWL with plans to attend grad school. In my free time, I enjoy growing weird plants and fungi, the most recent being peppers that are extraordinarily hot. 

Study Tips: The biggest thing that has helped me out is taking good notes. Personally, I like to rewrite the information that is being presented to engage with the information rather than just copying it down word for word. I also like to review my notes regularly, especially the older ones just to keep the information fresh in my mind. 

Major: Biology, Pre-Med  

Minor: Psychology 

About Me: I’m a junior here with a biology major and a psychology minor on the pre-medicine track. I’m from La Crosse so I’m very familiar with the city and the campus. After medical school I hope to specialize in cardiology or emergency medicine and currently work as a Cardiotesting Technician at Gundersen. I also do research on campus looking at the effects of oxidized LDL on platelets after cold storage or hibernation.  In my free time I like to be outside going for hikes or walks, preferably with coffee.  

Study Tips: Used spaced repetition when studying and most importantly make sure to leave time to spread that out throughout the week. I also have found reviewing the material before class helpful, because even if it makes absolutely no sense when you’re looking at it, during class the words and concepts aren’t new. I’ve found that it makes them easier to understand because they’re not as daunting and I’m able to relate them to a general category. Finally, just make sure to minimize distractions and be an active studier rather than passive.