Class of 2024 - Patrick Coulter

1) Why did ou choose WVU?

I chose WVU for many reasons. I wanted to go to a dental school that excelled academically and clinically, and WVU does both to an extremely high level. I also wanted to be a part of the rural dentistry curriculum, which was very important to me coming from a small town in Indiana to have that training. Also, from my interview day, I fell in love with the campus, the town, and the kindness of the people. I knew pretty quickly that it was the perfect fit for me.

2) What is your favorite activity?

My favorite activity is fishing, whether it is saltwater or fresh water. It is my favorite activity to do outside of school.

3) What is your favorite TV program, movie, and who is your favorite music artist?

My favorite TV show is tied between Friends and The Office (only to the point when Michael Scott is still the manager). My favorite movie is Caddy Shack; it’s an instant classic. My favorite music artist is The Weekend.

4) Who has been your greatest influence in your life, other than a family member, and why?

The greatest influence in my life has been my Little 500 teammates. The Little 500 is a 70-year-old bike race unique to Indiana University where I am a senior currently. I rode for the past 4 years and have been fortunate enough to win twice, but what was more important than the wins were the lessons I learned during that period. My teammates came from all walks of life, Noble and Greg rode with me for all 4 years and they pushed me out of my comfort zone. They challenged me physically on the bike, as a person, and academically. They played pivotal roles in my development as a person during undergraduate.

5) If you could be anyone, other than yourself, who would that be and why?

I would want to be Lewis Hamilton, the Formula 1 driver. I would get to race exotic Formula 1 cars all day and be paid to do it which I think would be a great life. Also, I would get to drive other supercars on the road which is equally as awesome.

6) What are your biggest worries about coming to the WVU dental school this fall?

My biggest worry is being able to adapt to the Dental School curriculum as quickly as I need to do so in order to be successful. Every level of education is a big jump, and I just hope I am able to adapt to the increased workload as quickly as possible.

7) How do you deal with stress?

I embrace it. I understand stress will always be present in life to a certain degree, but I do my best to push through it and not let it get to me. It can be overwhelming especially in school, but I find ways to mitigate it through organization, a daily plan and an outlet such as working out.

8) If you could change the world, what would you do?

I would improve the public school systems across the board. I believe this would create a great equalizer to provide everyone with the same access to quality education where they can pursue whatever academic or careers interests without being held down by their education system they grew up with.