Career Moves: Senior finds help with daunting grad school application process at SPDC

Meghan Peterson ’18 developed a passion for helping others as she worked as an athletic trainer for the Elon University football team. A biochemistry major, she will expand her abilities as she enters pharmacy school later this year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she will focus on changing the lives of children through medication therapy.  

Peterson is featured this year in the Career Moves series of profiles on the recent experience of students and alumni who work alongside professionals in the Student Professional Development Center to explore career interests; build a resume; find job and internship opportunities; prep for interviews; craft graduate school application materials; and more.

She recently answered questions from the SPDC about her experience.

What help did you receive from the Student Professional Development Center?

Before applying, I worked with René Jackson, who helped me tremendously to construct my CV, resume, personal statement and with interview preparation. Over the years I worked with Rhonda Kosusko to develop my LinkedIn profile, Debby Wall to find and register my internship for credit, and with Danielle Golinski and Sara Cone to review and revise my resume.

What recommendations would you share with other students about the Student Professional Development Center?

I would encourage students to go to the SPDC and actively seek out the wealth of knowledge and advice available to them. No matter what path you see yourself following, someone in the SPDC will be willing to work with you every step of the way. 

Please tell me about your experience being accepted into pharmacy schools at the University of Kentucky, The Ohio State University, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Entering the pharmacy application process was a daunting and utterly uncharted territory. If you had asked me four years ago about my intentions post-graduation, I would have immediately said a medical school with the goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. I thought I wanted to work in sports medicine, where I could combine my love of sports and health care. I had a narrow field of vision on health care, but I knew I wanted to expand my horizons. To do so, I accepted a position as a student athletic trainer with the Elon University football team.

Working with team physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists and nutritionists within this department ultimately led me to discover my real passion within the pharmaceutical industry. After I made the change from medicine to pharmacy, I relied heavily on the advice and support given to me by Professor of Chemistry Kathy Matera, Elon’s coordinator of health professions. Through this support, I was able to navigate how to fit in all my prerequisite courses, shadowing experience, and when to take the Pharmacy College Admission Test.

When I applied to pharmacy schools, I never expected to be accepted to four of the nation’s best pharmacy schools. When I received an interview at the University of North Carolina, I was ecstatic and overjoyed with emotion. Throughout my interview process, I had the opportunity to experience a mock class and engage with faculty and students, and it was then that I knew I wanted to be a Tar Heel. Receiving my acceptance to UNC was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had, and I cannot wait to start my next chapter in Chapel Hill!

What do you hope to gain from your experience in graduate school?

I hope to gain the skills to create a community where I actively work alongside physicians, nurses, dietitians, and other medical professionals collectively working to improve the health of a patient. As a clinical pharmacist, I want to continue my academic success and work each day diligently to change the lives of children through medication therapy.

Which faculty members did you work with to prepare and what help did you receive?

I worked predominantly with Dr. Matera and my adviser, Associate Professor of Chemistry Daniel Wright. Dr. Matera helped me with balancing the classes required for my biochemistry major and my prerequisite courses, the timing of my Pharmacy College Admission Test, and constructing my statement. Dr. Wright has helped me within the biochemistry major and with life at Elon over the course of my four years. I know without their advice and support I would not be where I am today and couldn't thank them enough.