Early Start prepares Purdue biomedical health sciences student to take first step toward career in medicine

Written By: Rebecca Hoffa, rhoffa@purdue.edu

Preston Serratos(Photo by Rebecca Hoffa)

Preston Serratos, an incoming first-year student studying biomedical health sciences in the School of Health Sciences, loved the closeness to home and affordability that Purdue University offered as he was making his college decision. After solidifying his path in the College of Health and Human Sciences with a desire to go to medical school, he was already thinking of ways to get a jumpstart in his chosen field before the fall semester ramps up. In addition to shadowing and taking an EMT course through Franciscan Health in Lafayette, signing up for the Early Start program was a natural choice.

While he’s appreciated the academic side of the experience, some of the little things like learning to navigate campus and making new friends have also stood out to Serratos as a highlight of the program.

“I know there’s Boiler Gold Rush and that is a way to meet friends, but you can meet friends this way too,” Serratos said. “There are smaller classes, and I’ve made numerous friends already. It’s just nice coming to Purdue and starting off slower and adjusting to the college life a little easier.”

What drove your decision to sign up for Early Start?

I had the mindset that I wanted to get ahead. I have so many people who are telling me that medical school is going to be this really challenging thing. I have some friends who did Early Start as well, and they said it was a pretty fun experience. It’s a good way to get used to campus beforehand so you’re not trying to figure things out when the semester starts.

Why did you select biomedical health sciences as your major?

It was the easiest path to medical school. My advisors told me to go into biology or chemistry, and biomedical health sciences seemed like the in-between and the best pre-med track to take.

You also have taken an EMT course this summer. What made you choose to take that course in addition to Early Start?

It was a way to get deeper into my major. There’s shadowing, research and clinicals for medical school. I figured that I’m going to start research at Purdue. I’m doing shadowing with my mother because she’s a doctor. I could do clinicals by doing EMT training, so I started doing an EMT program at the beginning of summer, and then by the end of summer, I’ll be a certified EMT, so I can work in ambulances. Right now, in the ambulance, I’m helping administer glucose, asking questions, communicating with patients, stuff like that. It’s nice observing, having fun and learning, but I think I’m getting used to that, and I think I would actually enjoy a job like that. It’s nice to have a sneak peak of what I could do in the future.

How do you plan to get involved in research?

I applied to the Health Sciences Honors Research Program. My goal is to make a publication. If I could contribute to something that could be published for everyone to see, that would be my dream.

What might you say to someone considering Early Start at Purdue?

I remember when I first came to Early Start, there were so many things I had to get used to: the dining halls, finding my classes. All the early school stuff that you need to adjust to, it’s so much easier doing it now because it’s a lot less pressure. You’re not taking a fully loaded schedule either, so it’s easier to get acclimated.

What are you most looking forward to as you look toward the fall?

I’m looking forward to campus life that I’ve heard about from my friends. I’m craving that experience of campus coming to life.