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DAY IN THE LIFE
KANSAN.COM
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GRAHAM WEHMEYER Who got a perfect score on the MCAT
JOSH MCQUADE @LOneW0lfMcQuade
In the middle of September, many students are finally grasping the concept of each of their classes. But Graham Wehmeyer, a senior microbiology major, was walking into the dreaded MCAT, or Medical College Admission Test, completely prepared.
Seven and a half hours later, Wehmeyer became one of the few examinees to receive a perfect 45 on the MCAT.
But the road to this perfect score was not easy.
During his junior and senior year of high school, Wehmeyer said he was lucky enough to take part in a bioscience program at Blue Valley's Center for Advanced Professional Studies. This program focused on exposing students
However, even with an academic-heavy family, Wehmeyer said he struggled with academics in high school. He had trouble understanding how he could connect the material he learned with how to use it.
It began during Wehmeyer's childhood. He was always interested in sciences, especially biology, and was raised in a strongly academic family.
"I was lucky enough to have a family that understood the importance of academics — my dad has been a professor at KU since 1999 and is currently the director of the Beach Center on Disability and the co-director of the KU Center on Developmental Disabilities — and encouraged me to pursue my interests at every opportunity," he said.
The program sparked Wehmeyer's interest for molecular bioscience and paved the way to his microbiology major. He was able to obtain a position in a molecular bioscience lab at the University before he was a freshman.
to how they could apply bioscience to the real world. This included learning correct lab techniques, knowing how to design and perform research projects and understanding scientific literature.
Despite his difficult major, Wehmeyer said he had to adjust to a heavy load to study for the MCAT.
"It takes time and practice," Wehmeyer said. "The test that you take, it plays to your strengths, it plays to your weaknesses."
The menu Wehmeyer had created for himself looks to be rigorous to the normal student; however, Wehmeyer made sure to leave room for pleasure within his schedule. He said he believes a student will not be able to perform well when under the constant stress of the MCAT, and must leave room for relaxation and a social life.
"It's important to not get too caught up in studying all the time," Wehmeyer said, "If you study 24/7, you'll burn yourself out and you won't do as well."
Whmeyer began studying for the MCAT in May, allowing him flexibility between juggling studying, volunteering at Heartland Community Health Center and a job at a microbial genetics research lab with Susan Egan.
"[Studying] didn't [affect my daily life] that much actually which was nice", he said,
"The lab I'm in is really great because it's pretty flexible...I could fit 4-5 hours of research in a day and then go study and still be done at 8 or 9 and go watch a movie or go out."
The Heartland Community Health Center is a clinic based in Lawrence dedicated to providing service to underserved and uninsured people. Wehmeyer did not have much extra time while studying for the MCAT, but still volunteered at the health center.
READ THE FULL STORY AT KANSAN.COM
AUSTIN, TEXAS. REGIONAL
The No. 3 Texas Longhorns (27-2), the No. 14 UCLA Bruins (25-7), the No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers (28-6) and the No. 11 Florida Gators (24-6) make up the Austin, Texas, Regional.
The Longhorns and the Bruins face off on Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. central time. The match will be streamed on ESPN3.
The Badgers and the Gators face off on Friday, Dec. 11 at 4:30 p.m. central time. The match will be streamed on ESPN3.
**PREDICTION:** Texas tops UCLA, and Wisconsin defeats Florida, with Texas upending Wisconsin for a bid to the Final Four.
The Husks and the Buckeyes face off on Friday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. central time. The match will be streamed on ESPN3.
LEXINGTON, KY., REGIONAL
The Huskers and the Cougars play on Friday, Dec. 11 at 4 p.m.
central time. The match will be streamed on ESPN3.
The No. 5 Washington Huskies (30-2), the No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes (25-9), the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers (28-4) and the No. 13 BYU Cougars (28-3) make up the Lexington, Ky., Regional.
The pass en a said close
PREDICTION: Washington defeats Ohio State, and Nebraska tops BYU. Nebraska edges out Washington for a Final Four bid.
Graphic by Jake Kaufmann/KANSAN