Concentration
I love reading all of you guys' day to day happenings! It makes it feel like I'm actually there, listening to your wonderful daily occupations and amusements. I won't censor my LJ writing for the entertainment of its readers. So bear with me through all the crazy things I may say or the boring topics that I happen to expound on. i.e. concentrations:
So, Harvard insists on using its own words to describe everything. So, this fall, I will not be "majoring in" but "concentrating in" Neurobiology. Yes, strange huh? So, how did Penny miraculously decide on such a weird and uber-focused major in a week? Well, good question; I blame it on my only sometimes trustworthy instincts (sense a little insecurity here?). For one, it allows me to have the most exposure to the medical school. Secondly, I sat in on a Fundamentals of Neuroscience class at Duke University and found that I'm absolutely fascinated with the subject (yes, after only one class, I know...). The concentration is relatively new (1993), so the faculty of the College and Medical School are working hard to get it off to a solid start. Also, the faculty that I met with already are so nice and super-dedicated. What else could explain their willingness to meet with me after a ten-minute e-mail warning? Or the enormous modesty required to bring a world-reknowned researcher into the meager presence of a pre-Frosh like me?
Tell me if you think my decision is too impulsive, but I'm fairly sure I know what I'll do (in terms of academics) for the next four years, which is a happy thought. On second thought, I really don't know what I'm doing in a specific sense, i.e. classes (oh are they really that important?). Oh well. I'll just wing it. But it's great, because that's what college is for!
I miss you guys so much; be sure to keep me updated on Ames, Iowa news (a.k.a. updating live journals very often)! I'll be flying out to the Philippines tomorrow; I'll tell you guys all about it when I get there. Beth, have a fun and safe trip to Japan. Susan R. and APWC Europe trip company, I hope you're all enjoying the history and beauty of Rome soon. Be sure to eat lots of gelati; coffee and chocolate-flavored is the best (Steph, you should go there just for this)!
So, Harvard insists on using its own words to describe everything. So, this fall, I will not be "majoring in" but "concentrating in" Neurobiology. Yes, strange huh? So, how did Penny miraculously decide on such a weird and uber-focused major in a week? Well, good question; I blame it on my only sometimes trustworthy instincts (sense a little insecurity here?). For one, it allows me to have the most exposure to the medical school. Secondly, I sat in on a Fundamentals of Neuroscience class at Duke University and found that I'm absolutely fascinated with the subject (yes, after only one class, I know...). The concentration is relatively new (1993), so the faculty of the College and Medical School are working hard to get it off to a solid start. Also, the faculty that I met with already are so nice and super-dedicated. What else could explain their willingness to meet with me after a ten-minute e-mail warning? Or the enormous modesty required to bring a world-reknowned researcher into the meager presence of a pre-Frosh like me?
Tell me if you think my decision is too impulsive, but I'm fairly sure I know what I'll do (in terms of academics) for the next four years, which is a happy thought. On second thought, I really don't know what I'm doing in a specific sense, i.e. classes (oh are they really that important?). Oh well. I'll just wing it. But it's great, because that's what college is for!
I miss you guys so much; be sure to keep me updated on Ames, Iowa news (a.k.a. updating live journals very often)! I'll be flying out to the Philippines tomorrow; I'll tell you guys all about it when I get there. Beth, have a fun and safe trip to Japan. Susan R. and APWC Europe trip company, I hope you're all enjoying the history and beauty of Rome soon. Be sure to eat lots of gelati; coffee and chocolate-flavored is the best (Steph, you should go there just for this)!