Name: Luke Tomczak
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Major: Biological Sciences Minor: Religious Studies
Favorite place for lunch on campus or in town: Smokin’ Pig… Nothing makes me happier than some southern pulled pork, and Smokin’ Pig does it the best!
Favorite spot on campus: Any outside study space (especially the ones at Y-Beach on Lake Hartwell)… I really take advantage of the warm weather and great outside study spaces at Clemson. Being outside makes studying a million times more enjoyable.
Favorite question on a tour: It’s a tie!
“Where did you live your freshman year?” I love talking about Living-Learning Communities because I lived in one (specifically RISE – Residents In Science and Engineering) my freshman year. It surrounded me with like-minded, hardworking, and academically focused students, giving me a solid start in becoming a successful and passionate student.
“What is your favorite class you have taken at Clemson?” My Clinical Applications and Medical Practice class has been one of my favorite experiences here. Through this class, I was able to hear from speakers such as physicians, medical school admissions faculty, medical students, and more, as well as shadow doctors in many different medical settings. I gained valuable experiences all while getting class credit for it!
Clubs and Organizations you are involved in on campus: Tour Guides (of course!), Student Government, CURE Clemson, Clemson FCA, American Medical Student Association (AMSA), Honors College, and Undergraduate Research
Hobbies: Going to the gym, hanging out with friends, meeting new people, and whatever other adventure my friends and I get into
Advice for jumping into college life: Make every effort to live these four years with no regrets. Want to get involved in that organization you don’t know anybody in? Do it! Debating talking to that student you want to be friends with? Do it! Feeling like you need a break and want to go for a walk by the lake? Do it! College gives so many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for you to grow as a person, so take advantage of these four years to become the best version of yourself. It will make you feel so much more confident and prepared as you leave college and start a new journey in your life.
Advice on how to choose a college: Recognize what helps you succeed as a student. For me, having a strong support system, equally passionate peers who can balance a social and academic life, and endless opportunities to get involved outside of the classroom, all help me achieve my academic – and also non-academic – goals. I did not think hard enough about these factors when I made my list of schools, but I was lucky enough to end up at Clemson because I got everything I didn’t know I needed.
Fun fact about yourself: I am a scuba diver, I am EMT certified, and I am a twin!