Name/class year:
Katheryn Ferris '06
Major: Neuroscience
Minors: Chemistry; Science & Health
Employment: Medical Student, Penn State College of Medicine
City: Hershey, Pa.
College Involvement: Alpha Phi Omega, Beta Beta Beta, Phi Beta Kappa, Wind Symphony
Her Advice to Students:
"When you're out there interviewing, whether it's for graduate school or for a job, let your true self come through."
Interests in music and community service set Katheryn Ferris apart from other students when she applied for medical school. "Allegheny students have an advantage," says Ferris, an accomplished clarinetist who majored in neuroscience, "because we are encouraged to go beyond our majors and explore other ideas and worlds."
Now enrolled at Penn State College of Medicine, Ferris notes that Allegheny provided her with a strong background in the sciences and with the ability to work well in small group situations. She adds that the Senior Project helped to sharpen her research skills and to realize the importance of discipline, commitment and perseverance. Those qualities have served her well when facing the massive workload encountered in medical school.
Also an avid baseball fan, Ferris says students shouldn't be shy about sharing their own unique combinations of interests and talents. "When you're out there interviewing, whether it's for graduate school or for a job, let your true self come through," she says. "Don't be afraid to tell people about all of the wonderful things you did at Allegheny."
The First Five is a series of profiles celebrating the accomplishments of recent Allegheny College graduates in their first five years as alumni. Read more First Five profiles here.
