Rachel Singer knew she wanted to work in health care. Figuring out where she fit took a little exploration.
While studying in the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Rachel volunteered at a hospital in Long Island, New York. Time in the emergency department and surgical intensive care unit gave her a close look at nurses’ day-to-day work.
“I loved how involved and hands-on they were in their patients’ care,” Rachel said.
She was drawn to the relationships nurses built with patients and their role as patient advocates. Learning about different nursing specialties and opportunities to continue her education helped her see a future in the profession.
That discovery led Rachel to complete a cross-campus transfer to the University of Michigan School of Nursing through the sophomore transfer pathway. Now a senior preparing to graduate in May 2027, she has plenty to share with students considering the same move.
Getting Hands-On Early
Early clinical experience was a big part of Rachel’s decision to choose the U-M School of Nursing, along with its connection to Michigan Medicine.
“We were able to start clinical rotations in medical settings during our sophomore year, which allowed us to start making connections early on between what we were learning in our classes and what we were seeing in clinical settings,” she said.
The transition felt manageable, too. While applying, Rachel was already taking biochemistry and anatomy and physiology courses with the nursing school, giving her a chance to get familiar with her future classmates.
Spending the summer in Ann Arbor helped her meet other transfer students navigating the same change.
“I felt very prepared for the upcoming semester when we all were fully immersed in the program,” she said.
Finding Her People
Some of Rachel’s strongest support has come from the people learning alongside her. Staying with the same cohort has given those friendships time to grow.
“Being able to study together, share our experiences and learn together has made nursing school feel like a supportive experience and a shared journey rather than an individual one,” she said.
Her clinical instructors have been part of that support system as well. With six to eight students in her clinical groups, Rachel had opportunities to build close relationships and felt comfortable reaching out for help even after a rotation ended.
Taking Nursing Beyond Ann Arbor
One of Rachel’s favorite experiences took her to Denmark through the school’s Health and Birth in Denmark program.
“This was an unforgettable opportunity to learn about health in another country and be immersed in the culture,” she said.
Along with exploring a different approach to health, she traveled with nursing students from her own class and the class ahead of hers. Learning and exploring together made the experience a highlight of her time in the program.
Her advice to students thinking about transferring is enthusiastic: Give yourself permission to change direction.
“It is never too late to change majors, and if you are passionate about nursing and providing hands-on medical care to patients, then the sophomore transfer program is an amazing choice for you.”
Thinking about your own path to nursing? Explore the U-M School of Nursing’s sophomore transfer pathway to learn more about the program and how to apply.