Class of 2012
Ben Longwell
Presidential Fellow Goes Premed and Beyond
Like many prospective students, Ben Longwell '12 considered a large university—until he learned more about Washington College.
"I thought I wanted to go to school in a big metropolis, but a big place with a huge student body is not always best. I realized this after visiting campus, sitting in on classes and talking to students, but I was very skeptical at first," he remembers.
Ben, who was selected as a Presidential Fellow, immediately became immersed in campus life. A biology major with a philosophy minor, he's also a member of the varsity swim team, and he works on campus as a tour guide and resident assistant.
"The swim team was a big draw," he says. "It was a great social tool to help me get to know so many people. From your teammates, you start to meet people in fraternities and sororities and other organizations and, pretty soon, you know the entire campus."
The same community atmosphere exists in the classroom. "It's a really nurturing environment with plenty of help along the way if you need it," says Ben, who claims to have needed all the help he could get in his introductory piano course.
"I love biochemistry," he says, "but if you put a piece by Chopin in front of me, I become a two-year-old. My professor slowly worked with me on it, a luxury you don't get at bigger schools. Here you have greater opportunities to try new things and find your niche—you're not confined to your major," he says.
Ben, who's on the premed track, earned Honorable Mention in a contest sponsored by The Collegian literary magazine, which published his humorous essay about working as a lifeguard.
"I wrote it as a way to release some stress, to get a break from writing papers. I called it 'Trading a Whistle for a Pitchfork,' and it was really, really fun to write. It proves you don't need to be an English major to contribute to the literary culture here," he says.
Ben hopes to make even greater contributions in the future with a career in orthopedic or cardio thoracic surgery.
"I want to pursue something that I can wake up in the morning and feel good about," he says. "I like to think Washington College is putting me on a path that will help me make a small part of the world better."
The same philosophy led him to apply to be an RA. "I want incoming freshmen to know it's ok to make stupid mistakes—don't stress over things that won't make a difference in the long run. Enjoy your time here and focus on building relationships and learning and growing as a person."
Contact
- Email: blongwell2@washcoll.edu
Campus Involvement
- Major: Biology
- Minor: Philosophy
- Varsity Athletics: Men's Swimming
- Presidential Fellow
- Admissions Tour Guide
- Resident Assistant
Q & A
- Hometown and high school? East Greenville, PA/Upper Perkiomen