ABOUT RACHEL
- From Uniontown, OH
- Member of the Class of 2027
- Majoring in actuarial math
- Flashguide
- Plans to earn her MPH in BioStats at Kent State
Rachel's three words that describe Kent State: Welcoming, Fun, Home
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT AT KENT STATE!
I applied as a botany major but later switched to Actuarial Math because it sounded interesting. I felt overwhelmed at first coming from a medium sized high school but once I got involved in the Actuarial Math club, I felt like I was part of a community. I decided that I did not want to be an actuary, so I looked into grad programs here at Kent and I will be applying to the combined program to get an MPH in BioStats
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE KENT STATE?
My parents both graduated from Kent and my dad is a professor here. I also grew up on this campus because I went to the preschool on campus and my dad would sometimes take me to work. My parents had money set aside for me to go to another school if I wanted to, but every other campus tour I went on just did not feel like home. Also, the residence halls are really nice and the food is good.
WHEN DID KENT STATE START TO FEEL LIKE HOME?
When I met my roommate who is now my best friend is when Kent started to feel like home. I met some of her friends and we went to Rosie's like every night. It started to feel even more like home when I became a tour guide and really started to get involved on campus. One thing that I really missed about high school was seeing familiar faces everywhere, but when I started getting involved, I started seeing people I knew everywhere and I realized that everyone on campus is connected. My math friends are somehow connected to my work friends.
WHAT'S A COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE YOU'VE HAD?
We have speakers who come to the Actuarial Math club and listening to them made me realize that I did not want to be an actuary.
WHO HAS MADE YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE SPECIAL?
Eric Johnson. He is the G.O.A.T. and I love him. He is such a good teacher and his econometrics class made me realized that I am a lot better suited for statistics or economics over actuarial math. I wish he was a math professor and he would teach every class I need.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY?
The very first Bingo game I went to was in the lecture hall at Cartwright. I got separated from my friends so I was sitting with strangers. When it started to look like I was going to win, everyone around me was hyping me up and when I did win they all cheered for me. I won an espresso machine.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS, POST-GRADUATION?
I want to be a statistician because I love math and I want to use my skills to help people. I'm getting my masters in BioStats here and then maybe getting a Ph.D. somewhere else. I want to help with research but not actually have to come up with ideas.
WHY SHOULD OTHER STUDENTS CHOOSE KENT STATE?
I love the community here, it feels so welcoming and everyone is so kind. I feel like everyday I strike up a conversation with a random person on campus. Also, campus is beautiful, all the flowers and greenery make me so happy.