Class of 2011, Pre-Veterinary Medicine Major
Hometown: Mankato, Minn.

Hannah Smith, a pre-veterinary major at The University of Findlay, believes her home-schooling experience and involvement in activities have given her an edge in college life.

Prior to coming to The University of Findlay, she was involved in the science club at Bethany Lutheran College, where she was a full-time student during her junior and senior years of high school, and also sang in her church band, played violin and piano, did archery with the Boy Scouts and volunteered with the Humane Society and VINE, a network of faith congregations and organizations in south-central Minnesota.

She’s continued that involvement at Findlay through the Pre-Vet Club, UF Concert-Chorale and Faith in Action Team (FIAT).

Campus organizations “provide a group with whom you can feel a sense of belonging. I love going to choir because even though we work hard, we laugh a lot too and laughing loosens people up,” she said. “Pre-Vet Club is loads of fun and we do a variety of things. I’m really excited about FIAT because I love to sing, but also because this group of people shares the same faith that I do and it is encouraging to be around them.”

UF made getting involved easy: One of the introductions during orientation weekend was a freshman service day, which involved each of the new students in one of nearly 50 projects at organizations in the local community.

“I thought that it was a wonderful idea. We were all united in helping the community. There is just something about manual labor that brings even strangers together,” Smith said. “Doing our service project allowed me to meet people that I otherwise wouldn’t have met and while we were working there was plenty of time to talk and get to know each other.”

The project had some unexpected side benefits, too: “The other thing I loved about it was the fact that we had some upperclassman helpers. It was really great to talk to them and find out the ‘inside scoop.’ They told us the best professors, the best places to get books, and general tips about certain classes,” she added.

Smith said she was a full-time college student during her junior and senior years of high school in Minnesota. “I personally think that home-schooled students are more prepared for the independent learning and critical thinking that higher education requires. Many of the home-schooled students that I studied with were at the top of their classes in college. Of course, having experienced this, I believe home schooling is definitely one of the best choices of education in our age. ”

She advised prospective freshmen — and especially, home-schooled students — not to be nervous about the transition to college life. “Definitely don’t think that you are behind the curve. Our professors are always telling us how the public school systems don’t prepare people to really be learners and thinkers. I think that a home-schooled background is one of the best preparations for college,” she said, adding, “Always be open to new activities. You might make some lifelong friends and find something fun to do.”