Yuki To is a first-gen student at Wichita State University who is currently graduating with her degree in health science, and with the help of the scholarships available to her at Wichita State, she is graduating debt free. She made sure to spend time on extracurricular activities and develop connections with other Shockers. Her advice to her peers: “Don’t be afraid to try.”

To is one of more than 1,200 students eligible for fall 2024 graduation. Learn more about her time at Wichita State and what's next for the grad.

Wichita

Bachelor of Science in health science with minors in chemistry and public health

Wichita State has amazing programs for both biology and health sciences/health management. I also received scholarships, which is helping me graduate debt free. Wichita is my hometown, which made Wichita State the perfect place for me.

My biggest challenge as a student was finding a balance between school, work and clubs on campus. WSU has a great selection of clubs and organizations to join, which has given so many opportunities and friendships in the last four years. Being a part of a lot of clubs while juggling school, exams and work can be very hard. I think it is important to find a balance in everything and occasionally take a day off to avoid burnout.

On campus, I love to go study at Woolsey Hall, John Bardo Center or the Rhatigan Student Center. All three places have plenty of study spaces and food/coffee shops to keep me rejuvenated when I need a quick snack. For off-campus spots, I love to go to Leaf Teahouse or Coffee Daze. They have great selections in drinks and food.

I am a huge Marvel fan so it would be awesome to see my life story integrated in some sort of Marvel superhero movie.

I plan to take some time off to travel and work before I start medical school at KU next July.

Don’t be afraid to try. It does not hurt to try, especially as a student. This goes for applying to internships, joining clubs, going to an event, emailing someone for a coffee chat or even starting a conversation with a person in your class.

Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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