JONES• ACADEMIC INTERESTS:
PREMED STUDIES, LANGUAGES
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Academic Schedule:
• Organic Chemistry • Medical Sociology • American Literature • Career and Life Services • Japanese • Bioscience Lab
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For a student who considers herself “clueless” about declaring a major, Jennine is super busy taking as many courses as she can in her quest to achieve that nebulous goal. “I came to Rice with the intention of being an engineering major or natural science major, but lately I feel that the best way to be well-rounded and prepare for medical school is to have a liberal arts or humanities major,” she explains. “I guess I’ll figure it out by the end of the semester.”

With her heavy academic load of 18 hours and classes that run the gamut from hard sciences like Professor David Caprette’s bioscience lab to hard languages such as Professor Hiroko Sato’s Japanese class, Jennine is sure to find something that suits her. She says that her medical sociology class gets her up in the morning, and she doesn’t mind the early hours. “The material is very comprehendible and interesting, and the professor is super cool and really knows her stuff,” Jennine gushes. “We discuss topics that I would discuss in a regular conversation. The class size is small and quaint and a bit more intimate, which I enjoy.” She adds, “I came to Rice looking for a small student–teacher ratio and classes where teachers knew me by name and focused on learning. I found these ideals in my classes this year.”

To help determine her major course of study, Jennine enrolled in a Career and Life Services course. In the class, students learn about various types of personalities, personal values, skills, and interests and the type of jobs and majors that fit those characteristics. “The class is like a counseling session,” says Jennine. “I have taken several exams and listen to the counselors and people from the community.” It appears to have helped. “So far, I know that I want to go to medical school, or nurse practitioner school as a backup,” she says.

Jennine makes an art out of balancing her extracurricular activities with the myriad tasks that her varied classes provide. She shadowed Zenaido Camacho for a week this semester to learn more about his role as vice president for student affairs. In her position as socials coordinator for Jones College, she plans pub nights, public parties, and coffee house nights. She made the Rice Owl dance team again this year, and she’s the powder-puff football team defensive captain. “We aren’t very good,” she says, with her usual self-deprecatory but enthusiastic manner, “but we sure have fun!” She even found time to start a new Jones College tradition by designating Sunday night as TV night at the Masters’ House: “This all started because I wanted to watch Sex and the City, and Jones doesn’t have cable,” she explains. “It was also a great way to get to know the new masters [Professor Robert Forman and his wife, Anne Owens].”

Obviously with Jennine, where there’s a will, there’s a way. And with a will like hers, she’ll probably determine her major very soon.