Senior Success: Cara Carne ’12

5/18/12

Cara Carne '12

In this video, Carne tells how SURF and study abroad  have prepared her for graduate school.

A biology major is the perfect fit for Cara Carne ’12.

“I love learning how things work—in particular, how things in the natural world work,” says Carne, a Crozier, Virginia native. “And I love to be outdoors.”

Travel and Research
Travel and research have given Carne the opportunity to get valuable hands-on experience.

“My 2012 January Term (J-term) trip to the Galápagos Islands was unforgettable,” she says. “We spent several weeks on a yacht with Biology Professor Sarah Huber, traveling to different islands of the archipelago and learning about evolution and conservation.”

Carne has twice been a Schapiro Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) recipient. The SURF program offers students the opportunity to conduct ten weeks of full-time, original research during the summer months, under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

“In 2009, I conducted research in Brunswick, Maine, collaborating with students at Bowdoin College as we researched marine invertebrates,” says Carne. “In 2010, I worked on the James River in Richmond with a wild population of beautiful Prothonotary Warblers.”

Giving Back
As she heads toward the homestretch of her R-MC tenure, Carne says she is especially happy to serve as co-chair for the Senior Class Gift.

“It’s been an incredible adventure,” she says. “I engaged in great networking opportunities, and this is a way for me to show my appreciation for all that Randolph-Macon has done for me. I have grown as an individual and I am prepared for the next step. Thanks to R-MC’s demanding curriculum, I am a well-rounded, thoughtful and inquisitive citizen.”

Looking Ahead
After graduating from Randolph-Macon College, Carne plans on applying to veterinary school.

“Veterinary-school applications are due this summer,” she says. “I am applying to the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. They have an exceptional equine veterinarian program. After I earn my DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), I would like to open an equine-exclusive private practice in Virginia.”

Her advice to freshmen Yellow Jackets?

“Be prepared to experience the most amazing four years of your life but also be prepared to work hard. It will all be worth it in the long run. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Be willing to take risks and ask questions.”

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