For Connor Harshany ’26, the most important college decision was never about prestige.

It was about purpose.

That realization ultimately led Harshany to the University of Rochester’s highly selective Rochester Early Medical Scholars (REMS) program, an accelerated eight-year pathway that guarantees admission to medical school for a small group of students each year.

The numbers alone are staggering. Roughly 2,000 applicants compete for 50 interview spots, with only 10 students ultimately selected.

But Harshany does not spend much time thinking about acceptance rates.

For many students, that answer might have looked different.

Harshany also received offers from nationally recognized universities such as Notre Dame and the University of Virginia, schools that offered the traditional excitement, distance from home, and recognizable prestige many students dream of.

Instead, he chose Rochester.

Not because it was flashy. Not because it was far away. In fact, Rochester was closer to home than he initially imagined himself going. But because, after months of reflection, it became clear that the fit mattered more than the name.

That mindset shaped nearly every part of his college process.

Initially, Harshany had little interest in Rochester at all. Having spent his entire life in Western New York, he hoped college would offer a dramatic reset somewhere farther away. It was only after his parents encouraged him to complete an interview visit for practice that he began to reconsider.

What started as preparation unexpectedly became perspective. As Harshany researched Rochester’s philosophy on medicine and patient care while preparing for his REMS interview, he realized the program closely aligned with the kind of physician he hopes to become.

That philosophy resonated deeply with Harshany, whose interest in medicine extends beyond science alone. While he plans to major in biochemistry and potentially economics, he speaks just as passionately about empathy, collaboration, and understanding individual experiences as he does coursework or research.

That combination of intellectual curiosity and personal reflection has defined much of Harshany’s experience at Nichols. A student since fifth grade, Harshany says his understanding of education changed significantly over time. As a younger student, school often felt like a series of assignments to complete. By junior year, however, his mindset had shifted entirely.

That transformation, he believes, happened because of the environment Nichols created around him.

Over eight years on campus, Harshany found mentors, friendships, and experiences that shaped both his academic interests and worldview.

One especially influential moment came during a leadership summit trip to Normandy organized through Nichols’ French program. Originally, Harshany admits, he mostly wanted to travel with friends. Instead, the experience fundamentally changed how he viewed people, culture, and communication.

Meeting students from around the world helped shape the philosophy that later became central to both his college essays and his approach to medicine.

Teachers such as Mr. Gibson and many others helped guide that growth along the way — not simply through coursework, but through conversations, mentorship, and encouragement.

Harshany credits his college counselor, Ms. Bennett, especially for helping him navigate one of the most stressful and competitive admissions processes imaginable, while also reminding him to remain authentic throughout.

That authenticity ultimately carried through his REMS interview process, where Harshany says he focused less on impressing people and more on honestly communicating who he was and what mattered to him.

It worked.

Now, with his future pathway to medicine already established, Harshany is looking forward to something surprisingly simple: continuing to learn.

At Rochester, that includes research, collaboration, and the opportunity to contribute to work that could positively impact others. During an admitted students event, one question displayed prominently on a presentation screen particularly stayed with him: “How will you change the world?”

For Harshany, the question felt less intimidating than motivating.

And after eight years at Nichols, surrounded by teachers, classmates, and mentors who consistently pushed one another to grow, he believes he is prepared to begin doing exactly that.