Casebook
Danielle Ciofani
Hometown
Columbus, Ohio
Degree
Bachelor of Science
Major/Department
Biomedical Engineering
Minor/Department
Spanish
Actively Involved
I'm
a member of Case's Biomedical Engineering (BME) Society, as well as a programmer on WRUW-FM. I've also worked with Ignite TV, University
Program Board (UPB) as well as served on our annual Springfest planning committee.
Get the Party Started
While
on my way to graduating with a B.S. degree, I've been able to take a
variety of interesting classes outside of the engineering realm. For
me, maintaining involvement around campus helps to supplement my
academic challenges. From free trips to the Science Center with the BME
Society to being a DJ on WRUW-FM and helping book concerts with UPB, my
involvement at Case allows me make the most of my college experience
directly. When I'm not doing something school related, I primarily go to shows,
support the arts and get the party started with a boombox on my
shoulder.
Set it Apart
When
looking at schools, I wanted a university known for its academic
strength but one that had enough options for me to make my own path.
In addition to its diverse range of well-regarded programs, the
plethora of social clubs and groups also impressed me. Case also
rewarded me for academic merit as well as leadership, which set it
apart from the other schools to which I applied.
Eclectic and Rewarding
My
experiences have been eclectic and rewarding, and have allowed me to
explore a number of possibilities for my future. In addition to
teaching me life-long skills, such as time management and
self-responsibility, I've used my experiences to further develop my
leadership skills, ambition and overall creativity. I've made a great
amount of lifelong friends in the process, and, basically, my options
have become limitless.
Take Advantage
Cleveland really does have it all. Being a sports fan, I go to Indians games in
the summer, and the Browns and Cavs seasons are another reason for me
to be excited for fall and winter. Downtown itself is unique with its
Great Lake scene, and there are a lot of bars and clubs in the
Warehouse District that take advantage of the waterfront, not to
mention the Plain Dealer Pavilion and Tower City Amphitheater, both of which
feature concerts on the water. I really like to take advantage of the
events going on around the city; on an average weekend I've been known
to hit the East Side, West Side and Downtown before returning home.
Working Smart
My academic endurance through a semester was probably the thing I've had to work on most. It's easy to maintain perfect attendance the first two weeks of classes, but once you miss one class, it becomes easier to miss another. I realized very quickly that even if I take a break, the world keeps moving, and catch-up is not a fun game to play. Ultimately, being a student is a full-time job, and if you make it the full responsibility that it is, you're working smart rather than [just] working hard.
Roots to Rock
Every
professor in my major has been a tremendous help to me academically,
but I've built the best relationship with Professor Mary E. Davis in
the music department. I'd taken her class as an elective, something to
balance all the math problems I was doing one semester, and found that
her "Roots to Rock" class on popular music was especially interesting
to me. It gave me the opportunity to discuss music, a huge hobby of
mine, in a class setting. She always appreciated and encouraged my
input, even though I was one of the few non-music majors in the class. "MED," as we called her, usually chatted with my friends and me before
and after class. She has always had a very genuine appreciation for my
love of music and has been very encouraging of my radio work as well
as my engineering pursuits. I've opted to take another of her classes since Roots to Rock and will
probably choose to take another before I graduate as she's a great
person and her classes are fun.
Any Possibilities
I
plan to get an MBA in Management and Engineering, hopefully through the
Case two-year MEM program. Ultimately I'd like to work in a consulting
firm, but I haven't excluded any possibilities yet. Case is the reason
I'll have my degrees, so I'd say they're essential to me reaching my
goal.