Quiz about major options leads to new passion

NAME: Jenna Smuszkiewicz
MAJOR:Neuroscience
YEAR: 2023
HOMETOWN: Belvidere, Illinois

CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT: Wartburg Wind Ensemble, TRI-Beta Secretary Nu Rho Psi President, SI for Genetics, BI 151:Lab Student Assistant 

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WARTBURG: My mom visited Wartburg during her college search, and although she chose a different school, she remembered the campus and the great atmosphere that it had. We visited during my junior year of high school, and I went on a few of the Scholarship Days, as well. I stayed with students on campus for the Science Symposium weekend and for my music audition so I was able to see what living on campus would look like. I really liked that experience, and my admissions counselor was helpful with checking in with me and aiding me through the college selection process.

I also liked the smaller size. My second choice was a lot larger, and at that school I would have to be a music major to get a music scholarship. There were more opportunities for me at Wartburg, and I just got to know the people here a lot more than my second-choice school.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR MAJOR: I chose it after taking one of those “What’s your major?” quizzes. It was the top result. I had never considered it before, but as I learned more about it, I grew interested in the intersectionality of neuroscience and I developed a passion for it. 

HOW HAS WARTBURG PREPARED YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE:  I’ve been able to gain many great research experiences both on and off campus that I feel has prepared me greatly for my Ph.D. journey. 

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION: Start my neuroscience Ph.D. at the University of Iowa. 

HOW HAVE YOU EMBODIED ONE OF WARTBURG’S FOUR PILLARS: I have embodied learning on campus as I have always strived to learn more and do better. I have researched with several professors, both on and off campus, to continue to learn from their mentorship about how to best be a scientist. 

WHAT IS ONE MEMORY YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE OF YOUR TIME AT WARTBURG: The times I got to discuss the science work I was doing for my 455/456 research course. We had poster presentations and got to tell people what we have been working on all year.