Scholar Stories: Schulz Sets, Exceeds Lofty Early Goal to Succeed at Michigan

Scholar Stories: Schulz Sets, Exceeds Lofty Early Goal to Succeed at Michigan

Continuing the series that began in 2016-17, each Wednesday MGoBlue.com will highlight a Michigan student-athlete and their academic pursuits. These are our Scholar-Athlete Stories, presented by Absopure.

By Ben Metcalf

From a young age, Mikaela Schulz had bold aspirations for her golf career.

“I remember my mom telling me a story of when I was in fifth grade and apparently I told my teacher that I was going to play golf at the University of Michigan,” she said. “I’d always had my hopes and dreams of playing golf at a high level.”

Schulz’s ambition stemmed from a long lineage of successful female golfers in her family. Her mother, Rachel (Krickstein), played golf at U-M in 1982 and 1983. Schulz’s cousins, Morgan and Madison Pressel, played professionally in the LPGA and the Symetra Tour, respectively. 

Eventually, after a successful career at West Bloomfield (Mich.) High School, Schulz’s goal was realized.

“It was a really cool opportunity when I accepted a spot on the University of Michigan golf team,” she said. “I still remember where I was in the car when I got a call from my coach saying that they’d offered me a spot. I was just so elated.”

After four years at her dream school, Schulz graduated from the School of Literature, Science, and the Arts this spring, majoring in biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience, while earning minors in both environment and entrepreneurship.

The biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience program integrates several natural science components into the overall study of behavioral psychology. Schulz chose the major because of her initial interest in science and mathematics.

“From high school, I was really interested in math and science, basically anything STEM-related,” she said. “So I was just trying to find something that fit with those interests.”

After initially considering studying neuroscience, Schulz decided to study BCN to better suit her athletic career. However, this decision opened up opportunities for additional academic pursuits.

Meanwhile, Schulz’s environment minor came as a matter of convenience, as she realized that her elective choices had nearly earned the minor. Schulz was able to fulfill all of the requirements by taking just one class outside of her existing plan of study.

Schulz was inspired to earn an…