University of Mississippi School of Medicine extends welcome to 19 aspiring doctors
University of Mississippi School of Medicine
DECEMBER 10, 2022 BY STAFF REPORT
This autumn, nineteen University of Mississippi students were accepted in the Early Decision Program to the School of Medicine in Jackson. Twelve are in the College of Liberal Arts with eight biological science majors, two biochemistry majors, an allied health studies major, and an international studies major. “When students apply for Early Decision, they have identified the school that they feel is the best for them,” said Sovent Taylor, director of UM’s Health Professions Advising Office. “UMMC is an excellent medical school that provides a high-quality education, so it is no surprise that our students are eager to apply there for early decision.”
Aspiring doctors committed to attending one particular medical school may apply through the Early Decision Program. Two important aspects of the EDP are that the applicant can apply to only the one school of choice until a decision is received and, if accepted, must attend that school; if not accepted under the EDP, the applicant may automatically be reconsidered as a Regular Decision Program applicant by that school and may then apply to other schools.
“Our students work very hard to do everything we ask of them,” Taylor said. “They are highly intelligent and driven and that motivates us even more to make sure our students have a competitive advantage. Premedical academic advisor Kelli Hutchens is essential in this process and is one of the reasons for the extremely impressive acceptance rate for early decision students. In the Health Professions Advising Office, we will continue to put our students’ dreams at the forefront and do everything we can to help them reach those dreams.”
The students accepted early decision to the UMMC are
- Abby Carroll, allied health studies major, minor in linguistics
- Blake Berry, biological science major, minor in chemistry
- Camille Couey, biological science major, minors in chemistry and society & health
- David Huang, biological science major, minor in chemistry
- Claire Pearson, biological science major, minor in chemistry
- Allegra Latimer, biological science and French majors
- Michael Pitts, biological science major, minors in chemistry and mathematics
- Quay Robinson, biological science major, minors in chemistry and mathematics
- Braxton Crumpler, biochemistry major, minor in biological science
- Megan Dallas, accountancy major
- Mattie Derivaux, biochemistry major
- Logan Lamar, management major, minors in biological science and chemistry
- Luke Pitts, biochemistry major, minor in biological science
- Anna Robertson, biochemistry and biological science majors, minor in society & health
- John Hollis Tackett, engineering major, minor in manufacturing
- Holman Taylor, biological science major, minors in chemistry and society & health
- Alex Turner, business major, minor in chemistry
- Akshaya Vijayasankar, international studies major, minors in chemistry and Spanish
- Hanna Watson, exercise science major, minors in biological science and chemistry
According to Hutchens, “Nineteen of 21 applicants is an over 90% acceptance rate and neither of the remaining two have been rejected so both COULD be accepted in February or later.”
Sixue Chen, chair of the Department of Biology—which had the most majors accepted early decision by the University of Mississippi School of Medicine—said, “This is an amazing achievement, and I am so proud of our students. These outstanding students have worked hard to prepare for a great future in medicine.
“Our society is facing a lot of grand challenges to our health, availability of sustainable resources, biodiversity, and a changing climate. Biologists can make big contributions to solving these problems. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to educating our students in an uplifting and inclusive environment to become lifelong critical thinkers and future leaders in many different professions. They make sure our students are successful. As a big family here at the University of Mississippi, we together lift barriers, transform lives, and make our world a better place.”
The University of Mississippi has a much higher than national average acceptance to medical school, particularly for those students who work with our Health Professions Advising Office said Holly Reynolds, associate dean of liberal arts. “The students receive outstanding academic preparation, have a full range of meaningful cocurriculuar experiences, and are guided by experts in the Health Professions Advising Office to be as competitive as possible. I am so proud of what they have accomplished!”