F&M Stories
From Classroom to Published Research: Seizing Every Opportunity at F&M
Jackson Milone ’25 isn’t waiting for medical school to make his impact in the sciences — he’s already done it: He’s a co-author for two peer-reviewed papers. He volunteers for Crisis Text Line. And, he's worked with F&M Dining staff to ensure students with medical conditions have additional meal options and flexibility.
Milone knew he wanted a college that would prepare him well for medical school. He also wanted to build strong connections with peers and professors who saw the value in both STEM fields (he’s a neuroscience major and psychology minor) and the liberal arts (he finds public health fascinating and participated in College Chorus). He wanted a close-knit community, where he felt part of the campus fabric. And, he wanted a place where his dietary restrictions didn’t single him out or require him to divert attention from his studies.
“Making people feel heard and providing them with resources ... that makes me look
forward to [a career in medicine].”
— Jackson Milone ’25
Milone has celiac disease, and he was looking for an environment that could accommodate his dietary requirements. “A lot of the schools I looked at just ended up not being able to suit my needs,” he said. F&M’s dining options and supportive campus resources made the transition easier.
Milone is focused on a career in medicine, potentially in neurology and psychiatry. F&M’s pre-health advising has helped him chart that path — support he found particularly valuable, as he didn't have family in health-related fields who could give him that advice.
With pre-health advising from the Center for Career and Professional Development, Milone mapped out a four-year curriculum early (with plenty of visits and conversations to ensure that path could be adjusted and tweaked) and pursued off-campus research at the University of Pennsylvania, where he contributed to projects on substance abuse and psychiatric conditions. Those experiences led to his opportunities to contribute to published research in Nature Human Behavior and Neuropsychopharmacology, something undergraduates elsewhere may only dream of.
As a counselor for Crisis Text Line, Milone is part of a global team offering compassionate support to those in crisis. It’s satisfying, important work, and it affirms his choice of major and career. “Making people feel heard and providing them with resources ... that makes me look forward to [a career in medicine],” he said.
Milone is grateful for the financial aid that's made his undergraduate path to medical
school possible. “Financial aid and scholarships make going to a school like F&M possible
for me,” he said. “[The] help that I can get during my undergraduate years is very
much appreciated; it makes me feel like I've always been supported.”
“Financial aid and scholarships make going to a school like F&M possible for me.”
— Jackson Milone ’25
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