Meet Schuler Hildenbrand ’27 Hildenbrand, an American history major on the pre-med track, enjoys being able to explore many disciplines at W&L.

Office of Communications and Public Affairs
January 28, 2025

Schuler Hildenbrand
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Majors/Minors: American History major; pre-med track

Why did you choose to come to W&L?
I was initially drawn to W&L because of the sense of community I felt when I visited. I saw how students interacted with each other and with their professors, and it became apparent that the small size of W&L created a very tight-knit community. However, while impressive, the best part of the W&L community is not its strength but the people who make it up. W&L students are some of the smartest, most interesting and goal-oriented people I have ever met, and being immersed in a community like that constantly pushes me to do better.

Have you discovered a course or topic that you didn’t expect to study when you first came to W&L?
Yes, when I first started at W&L, I had planned on majoring in biology or neuroscience because I felt like that was what I had to do as a pre-med student, but after taking two history courses in the fall, I decided to become an American history major. I am grateful to be at a school where we are encouraged to explore many disciplines because it allowed me to find something I really enjoy learning about.

What has been your most impactful experience at W&L, either on or off-campus?
One of my favorite parts of my W&L experience has been joining my sorority. My sorority has given me a community of people who always support me, inspire me and push me to do better. Being surrounded by such smart, ambitious and genuine people has been one of the best parts of my experience at W&L so far.

Have you found a mentor on campus? Who is it, and how have they helped you develop as a student?
Dr. Kyle Friend in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has been the professor who has inspired me the most at W&L. It was so obvious during class how passionate he was about what he was teaching and even more obvious how much he cared about each of his students.