Page 10 - Eureka 2011
P. 10

Finding your






     Student news  Mgoal for many first-year science



                    edical school is the ultimate

               students, but sometimes other
               opportunities come along that can make
               a student consider another path.
                 For Neuroscience student Bryan Luu,
               future plans always included applying
               and hopefully going to medical school.
               Even when he was in elementary school
               back in Ajax, Ontario, he knew he
               wanted to work in a profession where
               he could help others. Fast forward
               to the summer of 2010 and Luu, now
               a fourth-year student at Carleton,
               is working on his medical school
               applications which are due at the
               beginning of October.
                  “First thing I did was meet with three
               students who had successfully gotten                                                                 Photo: James Park
               into medical school, and got their
               advice. Then I researched everything
               about the MCAT (the Medical College   Alongside his studies and research work, Bryan Luu makes time to volunteer at the Science Student Success
               Admission Test) and took the online   Centre where he mentors other students and hosts MCAT-related study groups.
               practice test. I also worked hard on
               my letter outlining why I wanted to be   program. I started to think about   in pursuing a career in health care.
               a doctor, which is a requirement for   pursuing a career in medical research,   Here Luu met a plastic surgeon in
               many of the applications.” He also made   particularly stem cell research.” In the   his 70s who was dividing his time
               sure that his list of extra-curricular   summer of 2008, after finishing his   between teaching at the University of
               activities and awards was up to date.  first year, Luu was hired by the Dean of   Ottawa medical school and travelling
                 Luu wrote the day-long MCAT exam   Science at the time, George Iwama, to   to Nicaragua to volunteer his services
               at the end of that summer.  For many   do molecular biology work. For the next   as a doctor.
               medical school applications, the results   two summers, he was awarded NSERC   This got Luu thinking about
               on the MCAT can carry as much weight   summer research awards to work   expanding his horizons beyond
               as the candidate’s university marks   in the research lab of Professor Ken   Canada’s borders. He turned to the
               and can be used as a cut-off. Since the   Storey, who holds a Canada Research   Internet, looking for international
               test can be so important, a variety of   Chair in Molecular Physiology.                                                                                                                                        research opportunities in his field of
               organizations offer test preparation   Luu is grateful for the learning   interest. “I was particularly looking for
               courses and many students begin   opportunities he’s had to date and   a lab where they were using the same
               studying for the test months in advance.  has said that “the chances of getting a   techniques that I had been exposed to
                 After applying to several medical   better research experience elsewhere   in my research work here at Carleton.”
               schools, both in Ontario and elsewhere,   in the country as an undergraduate   says Luu. “This way I can contribute
               and also applying to Carleton’s Master   student are slim. Dr. Storey allowed me   something to the group and build my
               of Science program in Biology, Luu   to work at my own pace, try new things   own skills further.”
               pushed the applications to the back   and mold my own project. Graduate   He applied for three summer
               of his mind as he concentrated on his   students or Dr. Storey were always   placements. One of them was to the
               fourth-year studies.              there to guide me and answer my   Vienna Biocenter Summer School which
                 Besides course work, his studies   questions.”                    offers undergraduate students from
               included conducting research in the   This past winter, Luu attended   around the world the opportunity to
               lab, something that Luu has become   Carleton’s ‘Med Night,’ an event put on   work with eminent scientists from the
               passionate about since he arrived   by Carleton’s Science Student Success   life sciences field. The Vienna school
               here in first-year. “When I started my   Centre which brings together a variety   received over 400 applications and
               studies and got into a lab, I realized   of health professionals from across the   took 25 students for the summer. Luu
               how much I enjoyed this part of the   city to meet with students interested   was one of those 25 – the first time a



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