Jack Branch

B.S. in Biology, Shenandoah University

Hometown: Chantilly, VA.

My favorite spot around SU: Union Jacks – it is an English restaurant along the walking mall in downtown, and as someone with a dual citizenship in the U.K. it’s nice to have taste of home. They also have an axe throwing area above the restaurant, which is always fun.

What makes SU special to me: Shenandoah gave me a wealth of different opportunities that I doubt I could’ve found anywhere else. Developing meaningful and lasting relationships with not only my peers around me, but with my professors was near effortless. Everyone genuinely cares about you and what you are interested in and are very welcoming. During my time as a student, I went to the Galapagos through a Global Experiential Learning (GEL) trip with SU. I was able to visit the exceptional wildlife there and do research on biodiversity among the islands.

My advice: Visit a variety of schools, large and small. I knew that I wanted to go to a smaller school the moment I stepped inside of 500 seat lecture halls, so I would highly encourage going the extra mile and visiting those schools in person. Recent years have made the virtual experience easier and more convenient than ever, but nothing replaces actually being there.

Fun fact: I had a pet tortoise growing up! His name was Spike, and he was a Russian tortoise, but he wasn’t getting anywhere fast.