Hi! I'm Hannah, a pre-med student at Vanderbilt studying Medicine and Psychology. I'm outgoing, curious, love meeting new people, and most importantly love talking about Vanderbilt. My three years at Vanderbilt have given me some of my favorite memories, closest friendships, and countless experiences both in and outside the classroom. I’m involved in neuroscience research, Greek life, community service and health-related organizations, and several student-led initiatives on campus all since freshman year. I also just studied abroad in Paris, which was an incredible opportunity to experience college life in a completely different setting (and made me appreciate Vanderbilt even more!). Outside of academics, I love exploring Nashville, spending time with friends, and taking advantage of everything Vanderbilt has to offer. I’m always happy to talk about anything from pre-med and academics to getting involved in research, Greek life, studying abroad, Nashville, or just everyday life at Vandy!

Hometown

New York, NY

Major(s)

Pre Med Track; Medicine Health and Society, Psychology

Minor(s)

Art Minor

Clubs, organizations & involvement

VUMC Neuroscience Research Assistant (2024-2026, including summers) Pi Beta Phi Sorority (2024-2026) Paris Study Abroad (Spring 2026) United Against Inequities in Disease Club, Leadership Role on Executive Board (2024-2026) Red Cross Club (2024-2026) General Chemistry Teachers Assistant (Fall 2026)

Describe your college experience

I have absolutely loved Vanderbilt. I have made amazing friends, 7 of whom I will be living in a house just off campus next year. The academics have been outstanding. The teachers are warm, welcoming, and genuinely care about their students and wellbeing. The classes are challenging, thought provoking, and push students to their fullest. The school environment is collaborative, students and peers are helpful not overly competitive. There are amazing and easy to find opportunities for extra curricular and profession advancement. The community as a whole is something so special. Genuinely everyone is kind, friendly, and eager to connect. The campus is beautiful, the food is relatively good, the dorms are nice, its in a city so there are lots of things to do, and so much more! It really is the place for anyone to find their place.

Tip for future students

As an incoming senior, I’m already so sad to think about leaving college. These truly have been some of the best years of my life. College is your first real taste of independence, a time when you’re surrounded by friends 24​/​7, while also getting to explore your academic interests and work toward your future career. It’s incredibly exciting, but it can also be nerve racking at times. My biggest piece of advice is not to take everything too seriously in the moment. So many things in college just need a little time, and they really do have a way of working themselves out. For example, freshman year I practically failed my first General Chemistry exam. I genuinely thought my world was ending and that maybe I should give up on being pre-med altogether. What I didn’t realize at the time was that college exams were completely different from what I was used to in high school. I didn’t need to change my entire career path -- I just needed time to adjust and figure out how to study effectively. By second-semester General Chem and Organic Chemistry the following year, I was getting straight A’s. The same thing happened socially. First semester freshman year, I was lucky enough to find an amazing group of friends pretty quickly. Then, during rush second semester, I ended up in a sorority completely different from all of those close friends. Once again, it felt like a huge deal at the time. But three years later, those first-semester friends are still some of my closest friends, they’re the people I live with, see every day, and have experienced college alongside. At the same time, the sorority where I initially didn’t know many people ended up bringing me some of my closest friends at Vanderbilt, along with the most amazing big and little I could have asked for. So if something doesn’t go the way you hoped right away, whether it’s a grade, a friendship, an organization, or anything else, give it some time. College comes with so many unexpected turns, and some of the things that feel like disasters in the moment can end up working out better than you ever could have planned.

Favorite class

Social Psychology was my favorite class at Vanderbilt because it really bridged the gap of learning in and outside the classroom. It focused on how our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions are shaped by the people and environments around us, and our professor made the material feel relevant to everyday life. Our homework was not just normal reading or writing assignments but also analyzing our day-to-day interactions, relationships, or even conducting small social experiments in public to see concepts like conformity, defiance, and anchoring play out firsthand. The teacher was wonderful, made the class very interactive and enjoyable, and I recommend it to every fellow student! On the premed side of things, I also loved Organic Chemistry and Neuroscience classes and the teachers. The professors were so helpful, made the classes so interesting, and made such an impact on my premed journey.

Career goals

I am applying for medical school in the Spring to start in 2028. I plan to take a Gap Year in between working as a medical assistant in NYC.

Ideal way to spend a free night

Hanging out with friends, trying new restaurants or cooking good food together, and exploring everything Nashville has to offer.

High school or secondary school

Nightingale Bamford School

Favorite spot on campus

Outside of Rand, there are a bunch of tables that are one of my favorite spots to eat on campus. My friends and I regularly grab lunch there between classes, especially when the weather is nice. It’s the perfect place to sit in the sun, catch up with friends, and take a break during the day. Even if I go there alone, there’s a very high chance I’ll run into someone I know and end up hanging out with them.