MEET THE STUDENTS

Laura
talks about ECE @ Maryland:

I was born and raised in Pasadena, Maryland, a small town directly in between Baltimore and Annapolis.  I attended Chesapeake Senior High School.  Unlike a lot of engineering majors, I don’t come from a family of engineers.  My mother is a dental hygienist and my father is an accountant.  In fact, until my senior year of high school, I wanted to be a lawyer. I didn’t know anything about electrical engineering until freshman year of college.           

I initially considered engineering because I love math and physics.  I thought that as an engineer, I would be able to pursue these subjects in a very practical way.  Electrical Engineering appeals to me as a major because it’s challenging.  I love being challenged and pushing myself to learn new things.  The subject material isn’t repetitive and I’m never bored in my classes.  The opportunities in the career field are exciting and numerous.

What appealed most to me as a prospective student was the numerous research opportunities provided in the University of Maryland ECE program.  There are so many chances to work on exciting research projects and gain valuable experience while learning about the subject material in a hands-on way.  The A. James Clark School is a nationally ranked, highly respected engineering school; the idea that I could learn and work with some of the best minds in my field was a guiding factor in my decision-making process.

I am pursuing Electrical Engineering with a focus in Microelectronics.  I enjoy a lot of different aspects of Electrical Engineering, and I hope to find a career that encompasses several different focus areas.  I expect to graduate in May 2011.

Within the ECE department, I participate in undergraduate research in Dr. Horiuchi’s lab and was an undergraduate teaching fellow for ENEE204 last semester.  Outside of the department, I am a member of a Gemstone research team working on an innovative way to improve fire information systems, and a tutor in the Math Success Program.

There are a lot of different students in the ECE department.  One thing that almost everyone has in common is that they are hardworking and motivated.  We’re all excited to learn and excited about Electrical Engineering.  It’s fun being in classes with these types of students because we all help each other, and there isn’t any competitiveness.  The professors are very nice and welcoming, very willing to meet with students outside of class time and often outside of schedule office hours.  The atmosphere in this department is unique, it’s one of the reason I enjoy going to school here.

My experiences at the University of Maryland have made me more outgoing and confident.  I’m much more willing to network and meet people that I would have previously avoided.  I find that when questioned about my answers I can back them up and am confident that I am correct.

Dr. Horiuchi has been a tremendous help throughout my years here at Maryland.  I started doing research with him in my sophomore year and am continuing now.  Not only has he provided me with opportunities to learn and study hands-on, but he has provided me with valuable guidance in my course choices and career plans.

The ECE program has given me the opportunity and contacts to work in any career field that I choose.  I am currently still deciding where I want to work after I finish my degree.  I’ve had internships in several different areas and hope that after this summer I will have a more complete idea of what career field I wish to work in.

The one reason students should choose the University of Maryland’s ECE program is the research.  As a sophomore I was already working with a professor and conducting research, learning new things and experiencing electrical engineering outside of the textbooks.  This is one of the top nationally ranked universities in the country, being able to work with these professors as an undergraduate is an amazing experience.

↑ Back to Top