HAMDEN — More than 86,000 students moved onto college campuses across the state last week.
Many of them grappled with the idea living away from home for the first time, keeping their grades up or finding their identity.
Some may even worry about being on a large campus by themselves, but that won’t be the case for Michael, Vincent, Anna and Sofia Ciacciarella. They share a bond that has connected them way before unloading their U-Haul in the parking lot at Quinnipiac University on Aug. 23
They are quadruplets from Naugatuck on campus to tackle their intended majors of engineering, English, communications and biology while finding their independence.
“We are very close, not best-friends, but very close,” Sofia said.
Vincent, with an affirming nod, said, “We are very different, and it’ll be cool to have them here with me.”
Sofia brought a weekend bag filled with makeup products as skincare and looking great are important to her. Vincent said he keeps his cellphone and Chap Stick handy, Michael brought his television and Xbox gaming system while Anna brought several books to read.
Their parents, Anne and Mike Ciacciarella, had a hard time believing it has been almost two decades since they brought the quads home from Yale-New Haven Hospital at the end of 1998.
Anne had the quads after undergoing more than a year of treatment for infertility. The chances of having quadruplets without the use of fertility drugs is one in 571,787.
“I am completely overwhelmed,” Anne said through tears. “I didn’t know it was going to hit me this hard but I’m glad they’re here — there’s no better place.”
John Petit, assistant director of public relations at Quinnipiac, said to his knowledge the Ciacciarellas are the first quadruplets to attend the school.
Anne was shocked when they decided to go to the same school. She said they didn’t want to go to school together, be too close to home or go to school in the state.
The quads applied to or visited at least 50 schools, from Connecticut to California.
“We all decided on going to Quinnipiac on our own,” Anna said. “Sofia decided first and then we all decided it was the best place for us to be.”
Vincent said the school’s communication program enticed him and he is excited to take classes which will bring him closer to being a television news anchor, which is much different from being the governor of the state, which is what he told the Republican-American when he was 10 years old.
“I lost the desire once my dad wasn’t so involved in politics, now I like television stuff and I definitely want to be on the air,” Vincent said.
Their parents were active in the Naugatuck community, serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission, as a burgess and actively volunteering with the Democratic Party.
Michael wanted to be an engineer when he was 10 and is still on that track. Anna said then she wanted to be a second-grade teacher but that has changed as she now wants to be a writer. Sofia still wants to be a veterinarian.
Anne said she and her husband had to pretty much buy four of everything to get their children ready for college. Tuition for the quads could total more than $200,000 without financial assistance — but Anne said they received academic scholarships. Quinnipiac University is a private institution with tuition at about $60,000 per year.
Vincent said he and his siblings will keep busy with parties, on campus activities — but will also give their best effort to their academics.
“We don’t feel any pressure, there are a bit of nerves but we will make the most of this,” he said.
“Our parents taught us that when we put effort into something you really want, the outcome is really great,” Sofia said.
Mike said he is proud of his children.
“I’m glad we’ve gotten to this day. They are very smart kids, and I am very confident that they are going to do well in college and no doubt that they’re going to do good in life,” Mike said.
