🎓 Alumni Spotlight: Taiwo Oladipupo Discusses his College Experience Thus Far

Meet Armory Prep Alum Taiwo Oladipupo!

Taiwo Oladipupo is a first generation pre-medical student and a Posse Scholar at Lawrence University. He is majoring in Neuroscience and Biology with a minor in Psychology, most recently making the Dean's List this past semester. Taiwo immigrated from Lagos, Nigeria to the Bronx in eighth grade, and ACP helped shape his academic journey over the following years, as he became fluent in English and graduated with honors from Taft Campus. Taiwo's current research under P.I., Dr. Joseph Rayman, at Columbia University Irving Medical Center focuses on progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative disease historically linked to tau pathology. Taiwo's dedication to scientific advancement coupled with his love for community service drives his passion for medicine. Outside the lab, Taiwo is the local president of KidsGive, a nonprofit organization that supports education and healthcare access throughout West Africa, and he founded the Tri Alpha Honor Society chapter at Lawrence to uplift fellow first-generation students through mentorship and service.

What are you studying at Lawrence University and what made you choose that school?

I got the prestigious Posse Scholarship, which granted me full tuition to study at Lawrence University. I'm studying neuroscience and biology, with minors in psychology and biophysics. I'm also on the pre-med track.

What kind of research are you doing this summer?

I'm currently helping conduct research at Columbia University Medical Center in one of the Alzheimer's disease labs located in the William Black Building, under the leadership of PI., Dr. Joseph Rayman. Alzheimer's (A.D) is a broad field that overlaps with other neurodegenerative diseases. My focus is on progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), specifically on understudied protein markers like KANK2 and EXOSC3. While these proteins are not traditionally linked to Alzheimer's, investigating them in PSP- a related tauopathy- can help us understand the parallel pathological mechanisms A.D operates in . I assist in purifying this  recombinant protein using different conventional molecular biology and biochemistry techniques, and screening compounds to see any targets that can bind to them.

What are your career goals after graduation, and what additional steps do you plan on taking to get there?

ACP has done so much to help set me up for life, and I’m really grateful for that. I'm planning on taking the MCAT next summer, so I’ll have to prepare for that. But I want to work in medicine, which will probably mean taking a gap year after graduating in two years. Everything is going well in terms of academics, extracurriculars, and gaining experiences. ACP has been a big part of that process of making sure I'm on the right track, and putting me in touch with the right people.

What aspect of ACP in particular would you say best prepared you for the transition to college?

Everything. I think the program is so well-rounded, from SAT prep, to homework help, and more. They helped me a lot with my AP biology classes, which helped me get a strong foundation for what I’m studying now. Mary Rose helped me craft a strong scholarship application that made me really stand out. On the day of our scholarship inauguration, the director of the Posse Foundation actually made mention of my essay. Clayton also helped me get additional financial aid, figuring out what opportunities to look for. Lawrence costs like $74,000 per year, but I pay almost nothing to go to school, which is something I'm really grateful for. Rita also connects you with people that will literally set you up for life, which is beautiful.

Do you have any advice for current ACP students for how they can make the most of the opportunity?

Show up every day and do all of the SAT prep. I know that academics can seem boring, but you develop great habits by doing all of it religiously. I think ACP did a way better job than my high school actually. If you’re part of ACP, you shouldn't have the excuse of saying that you were underserved, or that your high school didn't have enough resources, because they'll fill in those gaps. So whatever opportunities you’re given, whether it’s the SAT prep, the writing prep, or Mary Rose telling you to structure your applications in a certain way, just take them. It works. I'm not the first one who’s been able to benefit, so it keeps working.