Turning Uncertainty Into Opportunity—Choosing a CIA Major
Author Annie B. Milostan ’25 is a Baking and Pastry Arts major.
You’re not alone if you’re still deciding on your major—many students are. But what if I told you that one decision could open the door to endless possibilities? CIA specializes in helping students like you turn uncertainty into opportunity within the world of food.
I know plenty of my fellow classmates that didn’t know what they wanted to do when they applied but, with the guidance of chefs, professors, and their academic advisors, they were able to choose what was best for them. I had the privilege of sitting down with one of my close friends Kaelyn to chat about her experience with choosing a CIA major.
Major and graduation year: Culinary Arts in Applied Food Studies with a Mediterranean Cuisine concentration, 2025.
Where are you from:
Saranac, NY.
Why did you choose to start at CIA as an undecided student:
I didn’t have a lot of kitchen experience, and I wasn’t sure on my career path, but I knew culinary school is where I wanted to be. I wanted to keep my options open and use the resources here at CIA to help me pick the major that was best for me and what I want out of my career.
What were your biggest concerns or anxieties about choosing a major:
Choosing the “wrong” option or choosing a major that nobody I knew here at school or in this industry was really pursuing. However, I knew that applied food studies was what I was meant to do, and it is what I am passionate about.
What experiences at CIA made you choose this major and what semester were you in:
Learning more about food systems and sustainability while being in classes here at CIA made me want to pursue the Applied Food Studies major. I was halfway through my first semester when I decided that was the major I wanted to pursue.
What made you pursue this major:
I wanted to pursue this major because I am passionate about agriculture, sustainable sourcing, and understanding where our food comes from and how it gets from farm to table.
What resources at CIA helped you choose a major:
My professors, chef-instructors, and academic advisor truly helped me make this decision. Their guidance and input really were beneficial to me and that led me to do my own research about the different majors and figure out what really spoke to me.
Do you have any tips or advice for students who are undecided on what major is right for them:
Choose a major that makes you excited for the possibilities! It shouldn’t be stressful, and you really should be excited to learn more about whatever major you may choose. Being passionate about what you do is critical to success.
CIA Majors
If you’re looking to get a taste of CIA’s major offerings—but don’t have a lot of time to spare—check out our Major in a Minute video series.