By Alison D’Addieco

Heather Bernard is fascinated by chemistry, so it’s no surprise as she begins college that she plans to become a doctor. Her application to Carnegie Mellon was one of more than 22,000 received this year, a record number for the second year in a row. Bernard, from Olney, Md., is among the 1,436 freshmen stories on campus. She is focusing on biochemistry and hopes to one day serve the homeless as a physician.