A Day in the Life of a CIA Student

Follow the Daily Routine of a Second Semester CIA Student

Author Madeleine White ’29 is a Food Business Management major.

CIA is an incredibly unique college, as most students here share a similar passion for food and hospitality. CIA students spend six-plus hours in a hands-on culinary or baking class but let’s not forget about the academic classes. As an early semester student, and as a bachelor’s student, I spend two–three days a week in only academic classes. All students will take academic classes that help expand their knowledge as chefs, bakers, and gastronomes. So, here’s a glimpse into my academic daily routine.

• 6 a.m.—Wake up, brush my teeth, and get ready for the gym (my favorite part of my morning routine).
• 7 a.m.—Gym opens, I always start stretching to wake my body up and get ready for a day of exploring campus. Then I followed up with my work out for that day and some cardio, only 10 minutes because I hate cardio.
• 8 a.m.—Breakfast in The Egg. You don’t have to walk very far as the gym is connected to The Egg. Which is a blessing as I am ravenous at this point.
• 8:30 a.m.—Back to my dorm to shower and get ready for the day. I love picking out my outfits for class, especially in the winter when you can layer up cute sweaters.
• 10:30 a.m.—First class. I made sure to schedule my classes to give me time to have a proper morning routine, or extra time to sleep in.
• 12:15 p.m.—Second class of the day, I always pack a snack with me to eat between classes so I can stay sharp and focused!
• 1:45 p.m.—Another snack or I find my way to the salad bar. Either way I go to The Egg or library to study and stay on top of my homework. Doing homework on the day it is assigned makes it 100 times easier and I never forget to turn something in. That is also thanks to my online planner, what a life saver!
• 4:45 p.m.—Early dinner. Normally the student classes within The Egg aren’t open yet so I just get a sandwich.
• 5:30 p.m.—Final class, the last stretch of the day! This class goes by surprisingly fast for being a late class.
• 7 p.m.—Time to get a sweet treat and hang out with friends. Whether we are doing homework or just chatting, this is so important to keep a school life balance.

The rest of my day is spent unwinding and finishing homework. However, my schedule is fluid and changes with my needs, it’s very important to give yourself space to have “lazy” days or rest days. Always remember there are so many areas of support on campus like The Russell H. Ferber Learning Commons, where you can practice your knife cuts or schedule time with a tutor. CIA clubs also host activities throughout the day so you can fill your free time between classes. My favorite evening event is karaoke, while I never sing, it is so nice to watch everyone have fun! I absolutely love my academic days, and I am very grateful for the support I had planning my schedule and the advice I received from older students.