Freshman accepted to the Undergraduate to Medical School Initiative

By Katie Main, College of Human Sciences Marketing and Communications

Nutritional Sciences major has been chosen for guaranteed admission to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine is home to a prestigious program created for ambitious students interested in entering the field of medicine. Cameron Walker, a freshman Nutritional Sciences major, from San Antonio, Texas, has been selected to take part in the Undergraduate to Medical School Initiative (UMSI). Through this program, Cameron will be guaranteed admission to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine after completing her Bachelor's Degree from the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech University.

Acceptance into the UMSI program is dependent on the student's academic standing, at least a 1300 on the SAT or a 29 on the ACT, a minimum GPA of 3.7, and prior acceptance to Texas Tech University and the Texas Tech University Honors College. In addition, students in the top 10% of their class and those showing competitive and well-rounded tendencies are given preference.

Once in the program, students must demonstrate evidence of health-related activities in a clinical or hospital setting during their four years as an undergraduate at Texas Tech before entering the School of Medicine. In addition, UMSI students are required to complete all requirements of the Honors College, as well as a 3.7 overall GPA and a 3.6 science GPA.

Cameron found her acceptance into the UMSI program to be an encouraging breath of fresh air.

"It's definitely such a relief knowing I don't have to worry about the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and being perfect in all of my academics. Regardless, I'm going to be striving for perfection, but just knowing I have a buffer is such a relief."

In high school, Cameron was a four year varsity volleyball player and member of the track team. She also participated in theater and choir. However, Cameron said she always knew she wanted to be work in the medical field.

The summer before her senior year of high school, Cameron volunteered in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a hospital in San Antonio. Cameron said her time spent at the hospital changed her perspective on medicine as well as life.

"Being able to have exposure to something so serious, intense, and as high stress as the NICU cemented my passion for medicine, specifically neonatology. Being able to experience the highest and lowest moments, and knowing I can handle them showed me I would love to do this work regardless of the ups and the downs."

Cameron discovered the UMSI program while doing research about a similar program her friend was a part of at a different university. Although she applied to multiple programs, Cameron chose UMSI because she believed Texas Tech would offer her the best college experience.

"The UMSI program gives me a lot of freedom and flexibility. We are allowed to major in whatever we choose, we can participate in extracurricular activities, and it's not as time consuming."

Cameron specifically chose to pursue a Nutrition degree through the College of Human Sciences because the degree plan includes all of the medical school prerequisites, and seems both interesting and applicable to what she will be studying in medical school.

Cameron said applying to such a prestigious program was overwhelming. Coming from a private college prep school, Cameron had to find most of her medical service hour opportunities on her own while maintaining her grades and being as well-rounded as possible.

"I think my well-rounded resume made my application competitive with students who went to schools that focused on science, technology, engineering and math as well as larger high schools that offered medical programs."

Looking forward, Cameron is excited to begin her college career as a student in the UMSI program. While her main priority at Texas Tech is making sure her grades are as competitive as they can be, Cameron is looking to join other organizations within the Honors College, and to pursue opportunities through her sorority and the Study Abroad program.

In regard to her medical education, Cameron is especially excited to get hands-on experience and find out where her career will take her.

"As much as I have decided to focus on neonatology, I'm really excited to become familiar with all the different types of medicine. I am more excited than nervous, so that is good!"

Cameron's grandparents have been the biggest influence in her life. Her grandfather, a war veteran, and her grandmother, one of 13 children and an immigrant from Mexico, taught Cameron lessons that have allowed her and her family to succeed.

"The standards they hold themselves to, and they hold our family to really influenced me to become who I am now."

Cameron's advice to a student who is applying to the UMSI program is to be proactive and look for medical research experiences or any kind of hospital volunteer opportunities.

"Get up the nerve to ask someone if you can shadow them, because most of the time they will say yes."

Cameron's goal is to maintain a GPA of 3.7 and complete all of the Honor's College requirements so she can graduate from the UMSI program and not have to take the MCAT. However, being able to look back and say she made the most of her college experience outside of her academics is something Cameron is practically thinking about.

Upon completing her medical education or residency, Cameron would like to attend seminary to study theology. A dream of hers is to set up a non-profit for medical mission work.