Southern hospitality, small class sizes, strong campus community and high acceptance rates to healthcare graduate schools – these are just a few of the reasons Kelly Walker, Kim Vaglio and Callee Clark chose Millsaps.
Nearly twenty years since graduating, each one is an accomplished, board-certified endodontist – a highly skilled dentist specializing in tooth pain. Although they each attended different dental schools and now practice in different states, their dreams took root at Millsaps.
As students making decisions about where to attend college, Millsaps stood out to each of them. “I loved the vibe from everyone I encountered on my visits to Millsaps,” said Walker. “I loved the feeling of a smaller campus; it felt intimate and closely-knit, approachable. Teachers and students had a lot of interaction, and that drew me in.”
Clark simply said, “Millsaps stood out as the place I felt most at home.”
Finding their Passion
All three were interested in pursuing careers in healthcare, but their undergraduate journeys weren’t all initially directed to dental school. The liberal arts curriculum at Millsaps empowered them to explore multiple areas of study and thoughtfully consider their futures.
“I always thought I would go to medical school, and while I knew that Millsaps would prepare me for that, I also wanted to challenge myself to make sure that’s what I wanted to do,” said Clark. With the flexibility and freedom to explore other career paths, she eventually landed on dentistry with confidence.
Walker didn’t enter college set on dental school either. But after conversations with Vaglio, whose father is a dentist, and hands-on experiences outside the classroom, her interest was piqued.
“I was able to shadow people in Jackson to get a closer look at potential vocations. I shadowed three dentists,” said Walker. “I realized that dentistry had all I was looking for: an avenue to help others, a way to provide for myself and the ability to set my own schedule!”
Set up for Success
Success in dental school admissions is nothing new for Millsaps students. It’s practically tradition, one that continues today. The most recent group of dental school applicants from Millsaps was accepted at a rate nearly double the national average. Even better, 100% of students who utilized pre-dental resources, like mock interviews and application reviews, are headed to dental school this fall.
A core part of the Millsaps experience that equipped this trio for dental school: academic excellence. “I loved that it was cool to be smart, to want to study, to want to succeed,” Clark said. “The culture of Millsaps really nurtured my love of learning.”
That culture of academic excellence at Millsaps goes beyond late-night study sessions and challenging coursework. The intentional relationships built between students and faculty is crucial to student success.
“One of my favorite memories was going out to a Mexican restaurant with the biology department – students and faculty – for one of my professor’s birthdays,” Walker said. “My professors had a high bar for us in the classroom, but also enjoyed connecting with us and having fun.”
The knowledge, relationships and perseverance established at Millsaps put this group on a trajectory for success. Dental school is no walk in the park, but the strong foundation formed during undergrad was a powerful asset.
“Millsaps provided me with a strong work ethic, proper study skills, critical thinking skills and people skills that proved extremely beneficial in dental school,” said Walker. “They proved even more helpful for the practice of dentistry itself.”
In addition to Millsaps boasting high acceptance rates to medical and dental school, the liberal arts curriculum helps graduates find their true passion, something that can’t be determined exclusively in the classroom and requires a broad look at multiple disciplines.
Interdisciplinary education, the cornerstone of the Millsaps experience, exposes students to new thoughts, perspectives, theories and careers.
A Moment of Reflection
Now, almost two decades since graduating from Millsaps, Walker, Vaglio and Clark have all completed the highest level of education in the field of dentistry and practice as board-certified endodontists. The best part: they were able to celebrate this accomplishment together, reflecting on their college years and the lifelong friendships they formed.
“Looking back on my time at Millsaps, what stands out most beyond academics is the incredible friendships and bonds,” said Vaglio. “Nearly 20 years later, those relationships remain strong. The sense of community and support we built then has truly stood the test of time, and I’m grateful for how those connections have enriched my personal and professional journey.”
Friendships forged. Passions fueled. Futures found. All right here at Millsaps.