Lizbeth Mendoza 鈥�25
Queens, New York
Neuroscience major. Sociology minor. Admissions ambassador. Member of the student club Raic茅s.
Stepping onto Skidmore鈥檚 campus at the start of my first year filled me with a rush of excitement for the new memories and opportunities to come.
Skidmore has helped me to understand that there is always more than one path, especially as an undergrad. Initially, I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I pushed myself to explore new topics, from the arts to the sciences. Creative Thought Matters!
When I attended a computational science conference in South Carolina and presented a poster based on my summer research, it was fun not only to showcase my abilities but to speak with other scientists. I never imagined presenting research findings to such an informed audience so early in my undergraduate career. I鈥檓 grateful that the experience was fully funded, too.
Outside the classroom, I do computational biophysics research with Professor Lia Ball, which has allowed me to gain valuable skills in a new field. I am also a student worker in the Office of Special Programs and at Scribner Library.
For fun, I love being a member of Raic茅s, the Latinx multicultural club. Not only do I enjoy seeing other people in a shared space where we can share our identities, but it also makes me feel like I鈥檓 at home.
After Skidmore, I plan to pursue a neuroscience research career focused on testing the efficacy of drugs and treatments for neurological or severe neurodevelopmental disorders. I am also considering a Ph.D. in neuroscience.
I remember applying to colleges and thinking that my family would never be able to pay the tuition costs. I stressed myself out not only finishing the application but also applying for external scholarship sources. Thankfully, the financial aid offer from Skidmore was more than I had imagined. Thank you so much for allowing me to discover myself personally and academically and pave the way to future success.鈥�