He says he wants to be a doctor because he has “always liked math and science.”

He also likes dealing with people, he says, and he has a family reason for his choice.

Winer’s younger sister was diagnosed with type I diabetes six years ago, an event he calls “really traumatic.”

His sister’s illness prompted Winer’s involvement with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, where his father served as a board member.

He studied pancreatic endocrinology two summers ago at the Juvenile Diabetes Center and moved on to biostatistics research last summer at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Winer has pursued his research interests intensely even before coming to Cambridge, scientific training that could help him on tomorrow’s exam.

Winer took the Kaplan MCAT preparatory course, and he says he has studied intensely for months.

He says he completes reading and practice tests before each class—he says he knew he “wouldn’t be able to rehash the material without a set curriculum.”

Winer says he stays aware of Harvard pre-medical resources, but his independent approach to his career goals has informed many of his choices.

He says he consulted with the Currier House pre-med committee this year, but says the advice they gave was felt heavy-handed.

“It’s nice to hear a lot of opinions, but it often feels like a lot of people ganging up and telling you what to do with your life,” he says.

Winer has decided to play by his own rules.

“The best advice they gave me was to take only three classes the semester I took my MCAT,” he says. “I took four classes anyway, but it was good advice.”

Winer says he’s determined that the “biggest thing working against me is fatigue” in tomorrow’s test.

On an exam where “every question counts,” his study methods will be put to the test tomorrow morning, when he tries to vault into the top percentiles of pre-meds.