Jen Barton
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Major: Health Sciences
Hometown: Brownsburg, IN
Jen Barton comes from a long line of Bulldogs—both her parents and both her older siblings attended Butler University.
Because of that, Jen grew up coming to campus frequently, both with her parents and to visit her older siblings. So, when the time came for Jen to begin her own college search, she always knew that Butler would be high on the list.
“It had majors I was interested in, and it also had the small community feel that I was looking for,” she says.
When applying, she declared Health Sciences as her major because she wanted a well-rounded healthcare experience, knowing her future plans will hopefully include dental school.
“This major gives me the flexibility to take other classes and prerequisite courses that I need for applying to dental school,” she says. It’s also the perfect mixture of staying in the healthcare field—which I’m passionate about—but also giving me the flexibility to take classes outside of my major.”
In addition to her classes, Barton says that the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS) provides ample opportunities for experiential learning with a diverse array of organizations.
One of Barton’s particularly memorable experiences was volunteering with the Christian Healthcare Providers Organization. Through that organization, she was able to travel to the Dominican Republic over the summer with a group of other COPHS students. While there, Butler students were able to provide essential health services to those living in the local communities, giving students a first-hand opportunity to put their skills into practice.
That combination of academic coursework with experiential learning is what makes a Butler academic experience unique.
Jen agrees. “One of the best decisions you’ll make is sticking to it and becoming a Bulldog,” she says.