VCU Honors College

Neil Majithia

Neil Majithia credits many of his college experiences and opportunities to the Virginia Commonwealth University Honors College. In two years, the connections he’s made through the honors professors will shape his future in the medical field.

“The faculty is definitely interested in seeing the students succeed,” Majithia said. “There’s a lot of one-on-one advising, not just during class, but in pretty much anything — in scholarships or other activities. They’ll really work with you to see that you not only meet your academic goals but any other goals that you have.

“I definitely think there’s a degree of prestige involved in The Honors College,” he added. “Professors expect more out of the honors students, even if it’s a non-honors course. In that way, you get to know your professors better and that can open doors for you.”

Majithia has experienced those opportunities firsthand while shadowing a neurosurgeon at the VCU Medical Center. In the last two years, he’s volunteered numerous hours in a post-anesthetic care unit and completing extensive research in neuro-oncology.

Enrolled in The Honors College’s Guaranteed Admission Program for medicine, Majithia plans to pursue a career working with the brain and its processes.

“It’s just kind of fascinating to see how much the brain controls,” Majithia said. “I’m also interested in behavior and understanding the neurochemical processes behind it.”

The Guaranteed Admission Program — one of the main reasons the California native chose VCU — gives students the freedom to explore different specialties and, as in Majithia’s case, possibly choose a focus before they even enter medical school.