Chloe Mattila ’22 • Mount Pleasant, SC

MEET A SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Chloe Mattila ’22 • Mount Pleasant, SC

Mathematics and International Studies double major 

Richard H. Gadsden, Sr. Endowed Scholarship 

Being supported by generous donors allows me to be more involved on campus, present in my academics, and has given me the time, space, and availability to find my interests and explore this wonderful city! Coming to the College of Charleston was one of the best decisions I have ever made! It has opened me up to many new opportunities that have pushed me academically, allowed me to travel outside the country for the first time, experience mathematics research, and set me up for the future I am working so hard for.

As an international scholar in the Honors College, the summer after my freshman year I was able to travel to Estonia for two weeks and take a class on Estonia’s transition from the Soviet Union to the European Union. This was an amazing opportunity that I would have never thought of or done if it had not been for the International Scholar Program. Estonia shocked me with its history, beauty, innovation, and booming tech industry!

The following summer, after my sophomore year, I was able to conduct research with Dr. Stephane Lafortune, on the patterns observed in young mussel bed formations. This research showed me what math research can look like and pushed me outside of my mathematics comfort zone which forced me to grow and showed me that I can step up to the challenge.

This summer, after my junior year, I am participating in an REU at the University of Arizona on wearable data and circadian rhythms. This was an opportunity recommended to me by Dr. Lafortune, who has been an invaluable resource and support for me. The College of Charleston has changed my life for the better and I could not imagine where I would be without it. 

Support from donors has allowed me to focus on my studies more, and now I am a part of the mathematics department’s 4+1 program where I am able to take graduate-level courses. I have been on the President’s List every semester so far and am currently maintaining a 3.970 GPA. I am also more available to do jobs that fit with my major that have further shaped my future plans, such as math tutoring in the Center of Student Learning and grading for multiple math classes. I am so grateful for the support from donors, which has allowed me to make the most of my college experience! 

What do you plan on doing after you graduate? 

After graduation I want to go to graduate school to pursue a PhD in biostatistics. This is so that maybe one day I can teach at the collegiate level and be a primary investigator on clinical trial research, potentially with an emphasis in oncology. 

Why did you decide to attend the College of Charleston? 

I decided to attend the College of Charleston because of the many opportunities they offered to me when I was accepted, such as the honors college, the international scholars program, and the Charleston Fellows Society (formerly Aiken Fellows Society). I also chose the College because of the emphasis on undergraduate research experiences, which I have now participated in on multiple occasions. The environment of the College was also something I really liked, such as the small class sizes, personal advising, and interesting courses offered through Honors. Coming to the College of Charleston has been one of the best decisions I have ever made! The opportunities that I have been lucky enough to be offered has changed my career path and I have made connection that I do not think I would have been able to make at another school, both on professional and social levels. The ways in which my professors have looked out for my best interest and have informed me about so many different opportunities have made my college experience amazing, from research to summer programs, to just advising me on my future, I could not ask for a better support network!