Whether she’s leading on the soccer field, conducting research in the lab, or mentoring fellow students, Abby Stephens ’26 has made the most of her time at Arcadia University. 

The Biology major’s efforts are already paying off; she’s been accepted to four medical schools so far, and has additional interviews scheduled. Of her acceptances, her top choice is Duquesne College of Osteopathic Medicine, but she’s keeping an open mind as the application cycle continues.

“Arcadia’s Biology department has really helped give me a foundation for medical school and my career going forward. The way that it fosters a community amongst the students has really helped me learn and provided me with the educational background that I’m going to need going forward. The way that it fosters connections between your peers, your professors, and your mentors will help me in my career. A huge part of being a doctor, and being a great doctor in my opinion, is the ability to connect with your patients and others. So. I think being in an environment that has encouraged that for four years will really help me in my career as well.”

On the pre-med track with a Spanish minor, Stephens is also a member of Arcadia’s Honors Program and captain of the women’s soccer team. First and foremost, she chose Arcadia for its academics.

“I felt confident that I was going to be able to get an education that would prepare me for medical school,” explained the Lacey Township, N.J., native. “I also really like that it’s a smaller school. I have a lot of personal connections and relationships with some of the professors because of that, which has been really helpful with a complex major like Biology. The other aspect was soccer for me. I wasn’t ready to stop playing just yet. I have great teammates, great coaches who made it very clear that our culture here really prioritizes school, and that was a huge help for me as well.”

For Stephens, Arcadia’s close-knit community has enhanced her academic experience, allowing her to contribute to faculty-led research. For the past year, she has worked with Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Christina Swanson on a faculty-sponsored project titled “The Role of DNA2 in Drosophila melanogaster Mitochondrial DNA Replication,” which will provide more insight into the function of the DNA2 gene and whether losing DNA2 function can lead to DNA replication stress or error, specifically in the mitochondria. This project will become her senior thesis. 

“It’s been super informative,” she said. “I’m learning a lot about developmental biology and laboratory techniques in general.”

After medical school, Stephens hopes to become either a psychiatrist or an oncologist, two fields that, though very different, align with her lifelong goals.

“My biggest motivator throughout my time here at Arcadia, which will continue to be my motivator moving forward into medical school and my career, is truly just my desire to help people and to improve the lives of others,” she said. “I’m always trying to give my best and be my best in every facet of my life. So, that way I’m improving myself, but I’m also helping others along the way. That’s the foundation of what I want to do with my life and in my career, just being able to pour goodness into the lives of others around me.”

On top of the success of her academic and athletic career, Stephens has taken on campus leadership positions such as president of The Hidden Opponent (THO), a club that advocates for mental health awareness among student-athletes, leading the Biology Department’s Student Advisory Board, and lead Biology tutor in Arcadia’s Learning Resource Network, to continue to help fellow students outside of the classroom.

As she prepares for graduation and the next chapter of her journey, she offers advice to those just starting theirs:

“Do the hard work. It’s worth it. It’s challenging, it’s difficult, it’s not always fun, but it will be so worth it. This year I’ve finally begun to see the fruits of my labor, and it is the best feeling in the world, but also I really cannot emphasize enough to enjoy things along the way. Take time for yourself. Take time for your friends. College is really such an amazing time, and it’s what you make of it. So make it what you want. Have fun and enjoy it.”