This guest post was written by Forrest Iandola. When I visited the University of Illinois, I met Forrest through the iFoundry program. He is currently a sophomore studying computer science, and he is involved in several entrepreneurial organizations on campus (Illini Entrepreneurship Network, iFoundry, and the Technology Entrepreneur Center).
Now that I am a couple years into my computer science degree at the University of Illinois, I have received a few requests from graduating high school seniors for advice about college. To almost every graduating senior I find myself saying, “There are lots of options, but I think you will benefit a great deal from attending engineering school.” Students tend to follow up by asking what they will get of engineering school, what they can do after engineering school, and whether they’re smart enough for engineering school.
What will I get out of engineering school?
First-year engineering students must complete rigorous sequences of physics, chemistry and mathematics courses. By senior year, most engineers will have taken fifteen or more courses in a specific field of engineering, such as mechanical engineering, computer science, engineering physics, or electrical engineering. While engineering students graduate with a broad and deep knowledge of engineering, these students also develop strong organizational skills, strong social skills, and high levels of resilience.
Organizational skills
In order to earn strong grades in engineering courses, students must have strong organizational skills. Engineering professors expect students to be self-motivated and to complete complicated projects before strict deadlines. Successful students keep track of deadlines and collaborate with professors, teaching assistants, and classmates long before projects are due.
Social skills
In engineering, successful collaboration with professors, teaching assistants, and classmates requires strong social skills. In my first semester of engineering school, I would sometimes try to barter with my classmates, “I’ll help you with physics if you help me with math.” I’ve sometimes seen students groveling for help, “well, you’re so smart, and you could probably do this physics in two seconds…” Neither of these tactics are very successful in gaining the attention of a fellow engineer.
Here’s what works: “Hey, I have the strangest problem—when I calculate the angular velocity, everything looks good, but when I look at the angular momentum…” Bingo, I’ve immersed a fellow engineer in a problem, and he or she is likely to spend a few minutes to help me solve the problem.
Resilience
Even the most organized, most socially adept students do not always earn perfect scores. In computer science courses, having an “almost correct” solution to a project often results in zero percent credit. Despite starting projects early and getting help from the professor, you could still fail a project! Even successful engineers with great GPAs still fail a project or two, so resilience is key to preventing short-term mistakes from causing long-term failure.
What can I do after engineering school?
Engineers are versatile. With strong organizational and social skills and high levels of resilience, engineers are demanded by almost everyone. Even before graduating, engineering students often pursue technical consulting, academic research, and financial engineering. Some engineers even start successful companies prior to graduation!
Successful engineers often become organized, socially adept, resilient entrepreneurs. Many of Silicon Valley’s finest entrepreneurs come from engineering backgrounds.
Am I smart enough for engineering school?
Students sometimes claim that they are, “not smart enough for engineering.” While a natural affinity for mathematics and science might make engineering school a bit easier at first, success in engineering school is about organization, social skills, and resilience.
A prodigy without these skills is like a car with a huge, powerful engine connected to a transmission that’s stuck in first gear. Such a prodigy might be impressive in math tournaments, but, in engineering school, no amount of intelligence can fully compensate for a lack of organizational and social skills. In contrast, a relatively average high school student who develops these skills can be incredibly successful in engineering school.
If you are in high school, what do you plan on studying in college? Why? If you have already graduated college, what did you study? If you could go back in time, would you go down a different path? I am curious to hear everyones thoughts on this topic.
I agree with most of the points you listed here. Things you get from an engg. school are more than just academic knowledge, but things go well only when you take it the right way. I have many friends who regret on their decision to join engg. school. Many complain about not knowing JAVA or .NET but i think it is more about concepts and ideas that we get when we learn the working of code or machine.
It is difficult to think of new things when we don't know about existing ones. The three qualities you mentioned are definitely part of engg. So, my suggestion is: “Go get a seat now!”.
Interesting article, Forrest. I'd like to hear what your biggest gripes are about CS or UIUC and how you've worked around them.
[...] iFoundry students and stakeholders might be interested to read the 4 January 2010 Cory Levy blog. Cory visited UIUC in October 2009 as the first guest speaker in the World of Work (WOW) Student Development Series co-sponsored by iFoundry, Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC), Engineering Career Services (ECS), and Undergraduate Programs Office. To read the blog titled, “So, you think I should go to engineering school?” visit here. [...]
Interesting, I'm 16 and college has already become a huge pressure in my life. Engineering is definitely one of my interests and now that I know how many benefits it offers, I'm very happy… Thanks so much!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cory Levy, The Quad. The Quad said: nice guest post about Engineering by @fiandola – http://bit.ly/7UjEjd [...]
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by corylevy: So, you think I should go to engineering school? http://is.gd/5M0ol by Guest Author @fiandola…
I am a senior in high school and I agree with most point that were given about engg. school. Through high school, I have started my own business and was a co-founder of an Entrepreneurship Club at my school. Being an “entrepreneur” (there are many definitions of what this means) has been in my blood for many years, and it is something that draws my attention. I imagine myself going into the business world and being a business major at whatever college I attend. Though you made great points about what other skills engg. school can do for someone, I can make an argument how I will develop strong organization skills, strong social skills, and high levels of resilience in any major one studies. Bottom line, I can argue that developing these skills is what college is all about.
So to answer your question, I will most likely be a business major, but I would love to take some law classes as well. This does not say I am ruling out engg. school, but I just grew up with a business mind and looked at life through a business perspective.
Ryan
We work with young entrepreneurs often and love the energy, vitality and spirit that you bring. Keep up the good work. Congratulations to you!
Anibute,
It sounds like you've already learned lots of the lessons I've learned during engineering school.
As far as the specifics of what you learn in computer science at a good engineering school, the first CS course for CS students is taught primarily in Java. So far as I know, none of our courses focus on .NET. Luckily, by the end of engineering school, students have enough experience to quickly learn unfamiliar programming languages. So, a good computer scientist can pick up a language like .NET quickly.
Today, I met with engineers from Zynga (creators of FarmVille and various other Facebook apps). The lead engineer on FarmVille told me that Zynga looks to hire smart people who can do great things in C++ or C–language specifics are easy, because a smart computer scientist can easily PHP of Flash (which are used a lot at Zynga).
-Forrest
I love CS and all that I can do with it, and I couldn't be happier with University of Illnois. We have amazing professors who spend lots of time with students, and there are amazing research opportunities. Illinois CS definitely deserves its hard-earned #4 US News national ranking. CS courses aren't easy; you have to do tons of work, and your work still might not come out perfect at the end of the day.
Hi Avery,
I just checked out your website; Dynamical Software offers ideas and advice that certainly resonates with my experiences.
I love the quote from your website, “smart software development is cheaper than dumb software development because mistakes are more expensive than you realize.” This is certainly true–taking time to plan software development and to strategically evaluate software during development is certainly superior to quickly hacking out code that isn't very robust.
Forrest
Hi Ben,
Glad I could be of encouragement! I'm sure you're well on your way to an outstanding career. Be sure to take high school seriously, do internships and research if you can, and apply to lots of college (spanning from safety to reach schools).
Best of luck,
Forrest
Oops, the above post is from me…I seem to have accidentally have put Avery's name in the “name” field instead of my name. Sorry for the confusion.
At beginning of my high school years, I thought that I would study business in college. My academic study all really depends on what school I attend. Over the years, I have learned that It is easier to teach an engineer the fundamentals of business through experience and practice than to teach the nuts and bolts of engineering to a businessman.
That is a great quote! Avery – definitely keep in touch!
The engineer politics are a little out of my realm but I would say that having social and communication skills will go a long way to getting you assistance from others with areas that you are not strong in. In regards to whether or not you should go to engineering school or not I recommend engineering or business school (or something involving math / science). At some universities you may be able to make the choice after Freshman year. I personally felt that in college, I was teaching a lot of the material to myself – i.e. the teachers weren't feeding it to me like in high school. So no matter what you study, you should be prepared to teach yourself the subject matter and the instructors are just an aid in the learning process. I will say one thing, I do not regret studying business in college. I can't speak for engineering. Good luck.
Hi Ryan,
Thanks for the comment. In college, especially at large universities, successful students must take ownership for their own learning. Most students at Illinois Engineering work hard, but they don't all take advantage of resources such as office hours and connecting with professors. In fact, when I visit my professors' office hours, I'm often the only student in the office.
Here's why this is fantastic for entrepreneurial-minded, outgoing people like me: I spend ten hours a week networking with my professors, because I'm the only one who attends office hours. Most Illinois CS profs are a world expert in their field of CS. I ask in-depth questions from class, learn about their research, and learn things that wouldn't even occur to me outside of a professor's office! I love being responsible for my own learning.
Best,
Forrest
At beginning of my high school years, I thought that I would study business in college. My academic study all really depends on what school I attend. Over the years, I have learned that It is easier to teach an engineer the fundamentals of business through experience and practice than to teach the nuts and bolts of engineering to a businessman.
That is a great quote! Avery – definitely keep in touch!
The engineer politics are a little out of my realm but I would say that having social and communication skills will go a long way to getting you assistance from others with areas that you are not strong in. In regards to whether or not you should go to engineering school or not I recommend engineering or business school (or something involving math / science). At some universities you may be able to make the choice after Freshman year. I personally felt that in college, I was teaching a lot of the material to myself – i.e. the teachers weren't feeding it to me like in high school. So no matter what you study, you should be prepared to teach yourself the subject matter and the instructors are just an aid in the learning process. I will say one thing, I do not regret studying business in college. I can't speak for engineering. Good luck.
Hi Ryan,
Thanks for the comment. In college, especially at large universities, successful students must take ownership for their own learning. Most students at Illinois Engineering work hard, but they don't all take advantage of resources such as office hours and connecting with professors. In fact, when I visit my professors' office hours, I'm often the only student in the office.
Here's why this is fantastic for entrepreneurial-minded, outgoing people like me: I spend ten hours a week networking with my professors, because I'm the only one who attends office hours. Most Illinois CS profs are a world expert in their field of CS. I ask in-depth questions from class, learn about their research, and learn things that wouldn't even occur to me outside of a professor's office! I love being responsible for my own learning.
Best,
Forrest
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Helpful article, thanks. I've switched over to bartering recently for most of anything I can get without having to shell out cash. There are a couple sites out thereto use, to connect with people who are looking to barter trade/swap items or even services (carpentry work for auto work, etc). One of the sites I use is Baarter – http://baarter.com