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Jaynelle Gao Graduated: May 2017 Degree Options: BS Human Biology, Nutrition & Metabolism Track Graduated: May 2019 Degree Options: MS Epidemiology & Clinical Research, Stanford University (CA) Attending: USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA |
| “As a junior, I discovered my interest in studying metabolic disorders through the Nutrition and Metabolism concentration, which inspired me to pursue graduate school in this part of population health. I also participated in undergraduate research with Dr. Turcotte, who helped cultivate my appreciation of the many factors that affect human metabolism, and later as a Master’s student, I was accepted to work with a clinical researcher whose research interests were aligned with mine.” | |
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Paige Havens Graduated: May 2020 Degree Options: BS Human Biology, Health & Disease Track; Minor Psychology Attending: USC Masters in Nutrition, Los Angeles, CA |
| “The Human Biology major provided me with an abundance of exposure and opportunity. It wasn’t until I switched my major to Human Biology that I realized what I wanted to do long term. It was because of this major, and the Health & Disease track, that I decided to study Nutrition and continue to learn about the fundamentals of the human body. My undergraduate experience prepared me well for my future studies. Human Biology was also a great major for me due to the selectivity and specificity it provides. I always appreciated how there was a broad connection between all HBIO students as well as within certain tracks of the major, making the field feel small and aiding for a sense of community within the students. Every professor I had was knowledgeable and accomplished and every classmate I had was determined and passionate, creating a very motivating environment overall.” | |
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Navya Jain Graduated: Dec 2018 Degree Options: BS Human Biology, Biomedical Science Track; Minor Health Care Studies Attending: College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia |
| “Always dreamt of becoming a health professional? Look no further, the HBIO degree program at USC is one of the best programs to fulfill this dream. I believe that I would not be in medical school without the mentorship program, quality classes like HBIO 407, research opportunities, and the constant guidance that I received from Dr. Turcotte and Laura Ames as part of this program.” | |
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Alexandra Koops Graduated: May 2019 Degree Options: BS Human Biology, Nutrition & Metabolism Track; Minor Health Care Studies Degree Options: Master of Public Health, Community Health Practice; Certificate in Global Health Attending: UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX |
| “The comprehensive coursework in the human biology program strongly prepared me for research and graduate study opportunities after graduating. I’ve had a wealth of opportunities open to me because of the knowledge and experience I gained from my HBIO degree. I’ve found that the rigorous content and quality of work that was expected at USC has become second nature now that I’m in graduate school, which has allowed me to excel in my classes and research opportunities. Some of my most rewarding experiences from USC have been from my courses like HBIO 302, 407, and 420, which challenged me while also reinforcing my passion for science. I especially appreciated the HBIO faculty at USC, who always made themselves available to students, to consistently support and encourage us to work hard and pursue our interests. Without a doubt the HBIO program at USC has given me the confidence and skill set to pursue a career in medicine and to become a leader in the healthcare field in the future.” | |
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Jaclyn Nguyen Graduated: May 2017 Degree Options: BS Human Biology, Biomedical Science Track; BA Spanish Attending: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD |
| “If I were to redo my time at USC, I would major in HBIO again without hesitation. I am grateful for the program’s innovative and fantastic labs emphasizing human exercise physiology which some of my classmates here are envious of. I still feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to learn from excellent TA’s who I still remember today and to have had access to unique equipment not many other universities offered to their students. I am thankful for the opportunity to pursue my honors thesis and the excellent mentorship I received from my advisor and professors, especially Dr. Turcotte. Lastly, I do not exaggerate when I say I reference the foundational knowledge from my HBIO metabolism labs and classes regularly in medical school. I continue to feel comfortable when we review pathways for class or board exams. I believe those classes were the most important I’ve taken at USC or, as commonly said in medical school, “very high yield!” | |
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Maya Prasad Graduated: Dec 2020 Degree Options: BS Human Biology, Health & Disease track; Minor Economics Attending: UC Berkeley, School of Law |
| “The ability to take a wide range of health-related classes within Human Biology allowed me to find my passion: improving nutrition for kids. The professors in HBIO are willing to help you achieve your goals both in and out of the classroom. They went above and beyond to help me create an impact on the surrounding communities through projects like the Milligan Fellowship and the JEP WonderKids program. The advice of Drs. Polidori, Stanford, and Turcotte really helped me at USC and is invaluable! I especially appreciate how the classes made me truly fall in love with biology. The professor’s passion comes through during lectures and it made me genuinely happy to learn for the sake of learning rather than just for grades. Not to mention, HBIO provides many ways to enhance your learning such as participating in really unique labs, conducting research with a professor, and attending Peer Tutoring sessions (I was a peer tutor for 302L and it was the best experience!). Although I am a law student, I believe the HBIO major was one of the best decisions I made during my time at USC and I highly recommend this major for anyone, not just people interested in pre-health!” | |
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Luis Vidaurri Graduated: May 2019 Degree Options: BS Human Biology, Applied Physiology Track; Minors in Entrepreneurship, Cinematic Arts and Innovation: The Digital Entrepreneur Attending: UCLA Dental School, Los Angeles, CA |
| “When I applied to USC, I picked the HBIO major for two reasons: it sounded cool, and I knew it would be a springboard for applying to graduate school. Two years into dental school, I can confirm that both of those reasons held up as true! The wide array of courses outside of the requirements (which align perfectly with nearly all health professional schools), as well as the outstanding faculty, make the major truly special and worthwhile. The coursework aptly prepares you for a career in any field of health, and the connections you make within the program will push you to learn about cool subjects like biomechanics and motor control, and their relevancy to your golf swing (thanks Dr. Polidori). I highly recommend HBIO as a major for anyone with a passion for science, health, or sports.” | |
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Brandon Yeshoua Graduated: May 2019 Degree Options: BS Human Biology, Biomedical Track Graduated: May 2020 Degree Options: Masters Health Administration Attending: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY |
| “As a current medical student at Mount Sinai, I can honestly say the HBIO program at USC has prepared me to succeed in medical school! I believe all the HBIO courses, but particularly HBIO 407, of which I have served as a Peer Tutor as well as a student, is one of the most useful and academically encompassing courses for anyone interested in a career in medicine. Only now that I am around medical professionals every day do I have a full appreciation for my training at USC as an HBIO major. Thank you to the incredible faculty within the department!” | |
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Amanda Zhou Graduated: May 2017 Degree Options: BS Human Biology, Nutrition & Metabolism Track; Minor, Musical Studies Attending: Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT |
| “The HBIO major was extremely helpful in preparing me for medical school. Courses like BISC 330 and HBIO 360 were an excellent primer for learning the scientific foundations of all of medicine, and having these primers made the fast pace and volume of medical school coursework extremely manageable. Other courses such as HBIO 302L and 407L taught me how to actually think and reason through biochemical pathways, rather than relying on rote memorization. Not only did this skill show me how interesting and interconnected all the different systems of the human body are, but it also helped me develop a valuable skill that I used throughout medical school, from studying for board exams to thinking through research hypotheses to clinical reasoning on the hospital wards.” | |