Meg Birenbaum ’25

When Meg Birenbaum ’25 was considering colleges, Claremont McKenna College was one of the only schools she was able to visit because of COVID. No matter. “After my visit here,” she says, “I didn’t feel like I needed to look elsewhere.”

A North Carolina native, Birenbaum loved everything about it: “the environment, the quirky architecture and sculptures, the lovely Southern California climate, the most extraordinary views on campus, and the people who all seemed to love their CMC experience and had nothing but positive things to share about the sense of community and inclusivity here.”

Given her career aspiration to work in pharmaceuticals, either managing or consulting for a large company or performing drug research, CMC’s Science Management major seemed the ideal option. “It combined both of my professional interests,” she says.

While the Science Management major provides students with a solid background in science, economics, and management, Birenbaum had never taken an economics class. She had no idea what to expect that first semester, but Professor Yong Kim’s Econ 50 class sparked a new interest.

“I think it was the best possible introduction to economics I could’ve had,” she says. “Professor Kim made every class lively, even at 9:30 in the morning, and always made sure everyone felt comfortable asking any questions or getting clarification in or outside of class. His charisma and enthusiasm on the subject were contagious, and he always found ways to get the class more involved.”

As the end of her first year at CMC approaches, Birenbaum is looking forward to spending the summer on campus, working as a research fellow at Keck Science under Professor of Chemistry Anna Wenzel.

Reflecting on the past year, she says, “I am getting so much more than I expected I would out of college. CMC has connected me with so many driven, inspirational, and generous individuals I am grateful to consider friends, and endless opportunities for me to grow as a student and person. I have learned how to be more independent and responsible, and take advantage of the resources and opportunities available to me.”

With all the support she’s found during her transition to college, the extensive opportunities for collaborative learning with faculty and peers, and a dorm community that’s like a second family, Birenbaum feels right at home in Claremont. “I’ve been surprised by how special CMC really is.”