Built for pre-health success

When Miranda Correia arrived at Auburn, she knew she was interested in medicine. What she found in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) was structure, accountability and a clear path forward.

Now a senior majoring in biomedical sciences and a 2026 Dean's Medalist, Correia is preparing to begin medical school this fall. She credits COSAM’s advising model, required research experience and clinical partnerships with helping her move from uncertainty to confidence.

Below, Correia reflects on her journey.

Q: You did not begin your undergraduate career in COSAM. What led you to the college?

When I first started freshman year, I was in neuroscience, but I was interested in going to medical school. After the first semester, I realized COSAM had a lot of opportunities for pre-med students. The pre-health advising, the newsletter and the Canvas page all felt tailored to that path. When I came to COSAM, everything lined up.

Q: A big part of that structure is PPAC, the Pre-Professional Advising Course. How did that program guide you through the pre-health process?

Freshman year, I went to an information session that really put things on my radar. This is what the MCAT is. You should be shadowing this many hours. You should be volunteering this many hours.

Sophomore year, there was a boot camp where we filled out worksheets to see how competitive we were and practiced mock interviews. Junior year, we submitted a full mock application. It is like the entire medical school application, but you submit it to the pre-health advisors and they review everything and give you feedback.

My personal statement came back, and my first paragraph just had a big X on it. At first, I was a little hurt, but it helped me in the end because I needed that feedback.

Before applying, you also complete a mock interview. They give you advice on what kinds of answers you can improve and help you refine your interview skills. It really builds every year.

Q: What made biomedical sciences the right academic fit for you?

I liked how the electives lined up with my interests. I am really interested in obstetrics and gynecology, and I was able to take embryonic development, which was really cool.

Some of my favorite classes were cell biology and genetics. The classes were challenging, and the exams were structured in a way that felt similar to MCAT questions. We were given scenarios and had to think critically, which made me feel prepared.

Q: A biomedical sciences degree requires research. What did that add to your experience?

At first, I was not sure about the research requirement, but it ended up being great. I worked in a lab studying microplastics and nanoparticles and gained hands-on experience with microscope work and writing lab reports about what I learned.

In both of my medical school interviews, I was asked about my research. It is not technically required for med school, but they always want to see it. The fact that Auburn requires it is a really good thing.

Q: You also worked more than 20 hours a week and were involved in student organizations. How did that shape your preparation?

I would recommend getting involved in organizations in COSAM because you have people older than you who can give you advice about what they did. I talked a lot with people in the year above me about how they studied and what worked for them.

Because I worked over 20 hours a week, I had to be efficient with MCAT preparation. My coursework helped a lot because there was a lot of material I felt like I already knew, so I did not have to review as much.

Q: Beyond coursework and campus involvement, you also accumulated about 1,000 clinical hours at a local heart clinic. How did that experience influence your decision?

I worked there for a year, and I even got to go into the surgery room and watch surgeries. What I liked most was the personal side of it. Everyone had very different stories, and they would make me laugh a lot. I like how in health care you never know what you are going to get that day.

That really solidified my decision to go into medicine. I cannot see myself doing anything else other than working in a health care setting.

Q: As you prepare to begin medical school, how are you feeling about taking the next step in your career?

I am nervous, but I am excited. I have always liked school, and I am excited to keep learning. I am excited to learn about diseases and how you can treat them.

Looking back, I feel confident that COSAM prepared me for what comes next.