Evelyn Dong is a sophomore at Stony Brook University, majoring in Biology and minoring in English, with an anticipated graduation in Spring 2027. She is especially interested in exploring the intersection of STEM and the humanities, with a focus on bioethics.

What made you choose English as your minor, and what got you interested in the subject, even if it’s not your primary study area?

I first decided to minor in English because I came from an early college high school, so I had some credits that could transfer from the classes I took there. I decided to continue taking English classes at Stony Brook because my high school focused a lot on the humanities, and I thought it could be interesting to continue that trajectory in college. With the credits I already had and the ones I was gaining from taking more courses, it made sense to declare a minor. 

How do you think your English minor connects to your major? Have you noticed any ways that the two work well together or help you understand things better?

There are a lot of ways that Biology and English connect, especially since one of the English classes I’m taking right now is related to the conversation about bioethics and disease in terms of English literature. Both biology and English focus on interdisciplinary studies. It’s exciting to connect STEM with humanities which leads to very interesting conversations.

What’s been the most enjoyable or meaningful part of studying English so far, whether it’s a class, project, or just something you’ve learned along the way?

I think it kind of goes back to what I mentioned earlier; I feel like it gave me sort of a different perspective of looking into a lot of STEM subjects, conversations, especially those about bioethics. I am looking at the conversation from a different perspective and can analyze things I usually learned in a STEM-related area in a more holistic way which is pretty interesting.

Do you have a career in mind for after you graduate? Will your English minor help you, maybe through your writing, communication, or thinking skills?

I’m currently a pre-med student. I’m considering working in health-related fields in the future. I feel like having an English major is definitely helpful in terms of medical school applications. I have learned a lot about writing more personalized statements and have grown in terms of interacting with other people. Having an English minor or just an education in humanity would be helpful in a career as a doctor or in healthcare fields in general.

And finally, what advice would you give someone thinking about adding English as a minor but isn’t sure yet? What do you think they should know before deciding?

Before they decide, I would talk with advisors in the Department of English. All of them are really friendly and willing to help you if you express your interest in minoring in English or even taking some classes. And if you’re not sure, I suggest you take a course you find interesting and then, if you are interested, continue taking more classes.