Malena Hughes is a sophomore Animal Science Major on a Pre-Veterinary track, from Barren County, KY
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Malena's Top 3 Study Tips
Form a study group! Building on the knowledge of others and being able to discuss helps solidify difficult concepts.
Use the whiteboards! There are whiteboards in both the Ag North Lobby and William T. Young Library. Drawing out and rewriting information can be helpful for memorization and visualizing.
Go to office hours! Professors have office hours for a reason. Don’t be shy and use them! They’re happy to discuss and answer any questions.
What advice would you offer an incoming freshman in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment?
My advice to an incoming freshman in MG-CAFE would be to get involved with extracurriculars on campus. There are dozens of things to do within the college and hundreds outside of it, so you will absolutely find something that interests you. Being involved helps you form community on campus and can make the large student body feel like home! These extracurriculars can also help you develop leadership skills and are a great opportunity to network. Some of my closest friends I met through organizations and they always give me something outside of class to look forward to!
Why did you choose your program, and how does your program contribute to your career goals?
Any major can be adapted to go with the pre-veterinary track, but I knew animal science was the perfect choice for me. The major has hands-on content built in from the very first class, ASC101, where we performed dissections in lab of the same body systems we studied in lecture. Additionally, the program has connected me to so many incredible opportunities, including the opportunity to perform independent research. The smaller class sizes offered in a MG-CAFE major also allow for fantastic relationship-building with faculty. All of these aspects of the animal science program have absolutely made me a more knowledgeable and competitive candidate for veterinary school!
What's been your favorite course and why?
Have you completed an internship, job, or been involved with a club that has been especially meaningful to you?
Currently, I am conducting my own undergraduate research project analyzing data variance in the Proudman method for counting equine tapeworm eggs. My research is under my mentor Dr. Nielsen, who is a veterinary parasitologist with a laboratory based at the Gluck Equine Research Center on campus. This opportunity has been incredibly meaningful to me as it has provided me with the ability to hone my technical skills, learn more about the research process through project design, and improve my communication skills by presenting my research at lab meetings, and hopefully at a conference when the project ends! I could not ask for a more supportive mentor and team, as they have truly let me lead the project and provided guidance when needed. I am also earning credit for my research project and participating in the Chellgren Student Fellows program for sophomores conducting undergraduate research. All in all, research has made me a better student, communicator, more passionate about veterinary medicine, and I would absolutely recommend it to any student in any major!