In this episode of Service to School Stories, host Whitney Cason sits down with Luke Hixson, a U.S. Navy veteran whose journey from the fleet to the Ivy League and now medical school proves that there’s no single path to success after service.
Luke shares how he went from treating Marines as a Navy corpsman to studying neuroscience at Princeton University, and now training to become a physician at Rutgers Medical School. He opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, failing the MCAT the first time, and finding strength in mentorship and community.
This conversation dives deep into what it means to transition, to persevere, and to keep your purpose front and center, even when the path gets tough. Whether you’re thinking about college, grad school, or med school after the military, Luke’s story is a powerful reminder that your service prepared you for more than you realize.
01:10 – From Tennessee to the Navy
03:00 – “I Was Good at School — I Just Didn’t Like It”
04:50 – Applying to Princeton as a First-Year Veteran
06:20 – Showing Maturity Through Essays
07:45 – Choosing Princeton and Planning for Med School
09:25 – Lining Up the Path to Medicine
11:10 – Early Assurance and the Road to Rutgers
15:30 – The Toughest Challenge: Failing the MCAT
17:15 – Adjusting to Life at Princeton
20:00 – Building a Social Life (and Staying Humble)
23:45 – Dating as a Veteran on Campus
26:20 – Inside the Early Assurance Process
31:45 – Transitioning to Med School
34:30 – Building a New Community at Rutgers
36:45 – Advice for Veterans Pursuing Medicine
38:50 – Closing Reflections
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