For most students, adding a second major to an already ambitious, rewarding, and valuable Methodist University education is challenging. For Jakob Fick, it’s been thrice the effort, and he will be celebrated for such this Saturday at MU’s Commencement 2025 at the Crown Coliseum.
For most students, adding a second major to an already ambitious, rewarding, and valuable Methodist University education is challenging. For Jakob Fick, it’s been thrice the effort, and he will be celebrated for such this Saturday at MU’s Commencement 2025 at the Crown Coliseum.
Mathematics, Engineering, and Computer Science. That’s the lineup the Methodist University senior signed up for, and somehow managed to balance − while still staying active on campus outside of the classroom.
Fick said he came to MU for the close-knit community and small-class environment, and, while staying close to home was high on the radar too, ultimately it was the feeling he got on campus that sealed the deal.
“I wasn’t really into the idea of big lecture halls with a hundred students,” he said. “I liked that this place felt more personal.”
Originally, Fick had his sights set on just Math and Engineering − but after taking a Computer Science class his freshman year, he added that to the mix of what would be his STEM trifecta. So, when his advisors told him he could take on a third major, he figured why not?
It wasn’t easy − but it was possible.
“You don’t really realize what you’re capable of doing until you decide you want to do it,” he said. “If a student really wants to try it, just go for it. It’s going to be hard, but you’re probably capable of more than you think.”
That’s the mindset that powered him through countless credit hours and packed semesters, plus Summer and Winter classes. A triple major wasn’t just a title for him − it was just another equation to solve − and he had the formula.
Of course, he didn’t do it alone. Fick credits professors like Dr. Shivappa Palled (Mathematics), Dr. Peggy Batten (Mathematics), and Dr. Denise Bauer (Engineering), who had the biggest impact as he maneuvered through some of the toughest parts of his coursework − but perhaps none more meaningful than his mother, Methodist University Math Professor Dr. Kathleen Fick, whom he also gives a nod to − balancing both titles as – professor and mom.
“Jakob excels in mathematics with a mix of analytical thinking and genuine curiosity,” said Batten. “He works hard, asks thoughtful questions, and has helped many students as a tutor − always guiding them to the answer with patience and skill.”
The busy scholar doesn’t go all work and no play. Outside of the classroom, Fick was part of the Math Club and the Explorer’s Table, MU’s tabletop gaming group. These two outlets gave him community and a much-needed break from his classwork.
Bauer, who served as both professor and advisor, said teaching Fick kept her on her toes.
“He is a very well-rounded individual as well as a great intellect who kept me on my toes − you had to always be ready for a ‘Jakob question’ that would take the class on an amazing deeper conversation on the topic,” she shared. “It has been a great honor being a small part of Jakob’s academic journey. I will miss him, his inquisitive mind, and his fantastic dry humor.”
So, what’s next for the busy grad?
Fick is heading to Georgia Tech to pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, with the goal to blend his three majors into research − focusing on electric grids and optimizing electronics.
His advice for anyone who’s considering a similar path is not to count yourself out.
“It’s definitely doable. Talk to your advisor, − plan it out. Take summer classes if you need to. And if it doesn’t work out, you can always scale back and turn one into a minor − but you won’t know unless you try.”
Fick didn’t come to Methodist University expecting to juggle three majors, but he’s leaving with all three and a Ph.D. on the way.
For Fick, his journey at Methodist University was a careful calculation − one solved with precision, purpose, and just the right formula.