Nelson Finne

 Name: Nelson Finne 

Graduation Year: 2019

Major: Exercise Physiology

Your Story: From Elgin, MN and graduated from Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School in 2015. Attended Gustavus and chose Exercise Physiology as a major as it aligned with my interests the most and allowed me to follow a career in health sciences. After shadowing a Physician Assistant (PA) and looking into the career, I set my sights on attending PA school. While at Gustavus I played football my freshman year and ran track and field all four years. I competed in the decathlon in track, getting to learn many new events and making great relationships with people from all event groups. I applied for PA school after graduation in order to start in June 2020. Since graduation I have been working as a patient care assistant at Mayo Clinic, Saint Mary’s Hospital on a trauma/general surgery floor.

Top Five Activities/Experiences: (in no particular order)

1. Gustavus Track and Field team

2. Senior Week

3. Physician Assistant Shadowing

4. Meeting so many great people and friends at Gustavus.

5. Golfing with the boys

Advice:

1. Shadow different occupations in high school so you know what you want to do (or at least have some direction) when entering college, so you don’t have to take summer classes to make up for classes you didn’t take earlier in your college career. 

2. In essays and interviews for graduate schools just be yourself. Express who you are and why you are different from every other applicant. Be personable.

3. Get ahead on your direct patient care hours several years before planning to apply to schools so that you aren’t held up by trying to work before applying to schools.

Future Plans: Attend the Physician Assistant program at Midwestern University in Downers Grove Illinois starting in June 2020.

Updated 4/28/20 HB