Case Study: Washington University in St. Louis

Our student wanted to study chemistry, one of the most popular majors due to its preparation for medical school. ThinkSTEP knew that this would be a challenging task, so we brainstormed how to set Jonathan apart from the crowd. After discovering Jonathan’s passion for cooking, we sought to find a connection between chemistry and food. As a result, ThinkSTEP recommended that he take a summer course between sophomore and junior year called “Food Science and Technology” at University of Connecticut to connect his two passions. Not only did Jonathan ace the course, but the professor invited him to conduct research the next summer on yeast’s role in food production. Compared to many other students who desire to study chemistry for eventual enrollment in medical school, his desire to understand chemistry’s relationship to cooking helped him stand out when admitted to Washington University in St. Louis!