At some point in life, everything has to come to a close. In this interview, I met with Jennifer Stern as she reflected on her experience in college as she prepares to finish her senior year and graduate in the spring.
Her Campus (HC): What made you interested in becoming an IMS major?
Jennifer Stern (JS): When I applied to college I knew I wanted to do something in the pre-health field, but I didn’t know what exactly. I was always debating between PA and PT so I wanted a major that was going to lead down multiple paths and it wasn’t a path that I would have to switch my major if I changed what I wanted to do because it had so many options for me.
HC: Did you ever consider any competing majors or was IMS always the main one that you thought of?
JS: I was considering Exercise Physiology. I thought about it my sophomore year just because I was looking at the courses ahead and it was going to be a lot. That what I was going to apply for and then looking at IMS I was like, well, this is more pre-med. They say it’s not, but all of the chemistry, biochemistry, all those requirements were going above and beyond, but I didn’t switch out of IMS just because I wanted that challenge and I really loved how they had the experiential learning requirement which really got me out in the community. It put me out of my comfort zone. I feel like my communication is so much better now and especially with physicians and other physical therapists.
HC: What would you say was the most challenging part of being an IMS major?
JS: I think staying motivated because it is very challenging and like I was in a FIG and to this day a lot of the students that were my FIG are no longer pre-health or premed or IMS. So it’s definitely challenging to keep working and stay motivated.
HC: What career would you like to pursue with your IMS degree?
JS: I’m pursuing physical therapy. I finished my application, so I’m currently doing that and I think IMS over prepared me for that process.
HC: Obviously with the pandemic a lot of things are different this year so for you what was the process like applying to grad school?
JS: It was definitely different than normal. It started off even over the summer before I even started applying. I was studying for the GRE all in my house. I had my sister, who’s a music teacher, playing her instrument, teaching lessons like in the room next to mine, which was definitely a struggle to keep myself on track and focus. Then I had all my family schedules going on with my schedule, so it was just me isolated on my own studying.
HC: What was the most stressful part about applying to grad school?
JS: I think the most stressful thing for me was feeling trapped inside and like not having that outlet to get out of my bedroom and get out of my apartment.
JS: It’s not what I expected at all. I came in with high hopes. I actually pushed back my graduation. I was supposed to graduate this semester, but I pushed it back because I was like, you know what, I’m going to have a nice relaxing semester. I’m going to be able to hang out with my friends this time because I was so busy the other three years that I’m going to just have some class but relax a little but COVID completely ruined that.
HC: What would you say was one of the best moments you remember from college?
JS: It was actually joining a FIG which sounds so small, but I met my best friends there. They are my roommates now and I think it was just all of the friendships that I formed with people from all over. There were people from so many different backgrounds and some of them were criminology majors, some of them were also pre-health or interior design. It was just unlikely friends that I’m so glad I reached out to.
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Youtube and Pinterest!