Sophomore Katie Cicero works on her Chemistry homework in her dorm room. “I'm only taking four classes this semester, which was honestly a very good idea, because Chemistry is so much work.” (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters.)
Katie had a friend who was attending and wanted to know someone on campus. “I didn’t want to have to go to college alone and try to make new friends,” she said.
Jump-Starting Success: The Summer Bridge Program
To ease into college life, Katie participated in Montclair’s Summer Bridge Program, which is designed to help students adjust academically and socially. During the month-long program, she lived on campus, had a meal plan and earned 7 credits. “It took a lot of time because the classes were long but it was still a really good experience because I made a lot of friends, and it helped me get used to the school.”
A Passion for Food and Sustainability
A foodie, Katie says she initially wanted to become a nutritionist. “I was really interested in keeping people healthy, but changed my major to sustainable food systems because it’s more fitting for me as an environmentalist.” Here, she chats with friends (L to R) Arthur Laub, Alisa Polishchuk and Nate Joslin at Freeman Dining Hall.
Adjusting to College Life
Balancing five courses her first semester was challenging. Now in her sophomore year, Katie has found her rhythm. Taking four classes, primarily General Education courses required to be completed by the end of sophomore year, has helped her maintain a balanced workload while adjusting to college life. “This year has been so much better,” she says. “I’m more comfortable navigating campus and making friends.” Here, she chats with a classmate in German class.
Favorite Class
This is the third German class for Katie, who listens to German goth rock and pop music and is a fan of German fashion. Here, she and classmates listen to Associate Professor Pascale N. LaFountain. “It’s getting hard at this point but it’s still fun. I like learning,” says Katie, who hopes to visit Germany someday.
Lab Time: Chemistry
Katie works with lab partner Sarah Bowers in the Chemistry lab. “Chemistry is way harder than I thought it was going to be. I knew it was gonna be hard, but I didn’t expect it to be so much work. There is so much homework, and it’s very difficult.”Katie and classmates listen to Chemistry and Biochemistry Associate Professor David Talaga during the lab for her Fundamentals of Chemistry class. Sarah and Katie wash a piece of aluminum foil during a Chemistry lab experiment. This day’s assignment was to determine the percent of copper in a compound using gravimetric analysis, a quantitative method used to determine the amount or concentration of a substance in a sample based on its mass.
Advice to Prospective Students
“Look at Rate My Professors; that’s an important thing. That would probably be the best thing I’ve learned.”
Future Career Goals
After taking a food safety class, Katie discovered a new career interest: “I want to be a health inspector of restaurants.”
