 MEET THE STUDENTS
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Rob's Three Favorite Things about the ECE Department:
1.) The faculty and staff. Throughout my time at Maryland I can say I’ve never had a bad ECE professor; all have been knowledgeable and approachable. Also, the advising staff is amazing; they have helped me out countless times.
2.) The research and internship opportunities. There are so many opportunities to gain experience. I have participated in undergraduate research and had internships, all of which I have learned a great amount from. The university, and specifically the ECE department, have job fairs with all of the big name companies and also detail research opportunities to the students through email and other methods.
3.) Other ECE students. I have made so many friends in my major, and every one of them is great in their own way. There is great diversity in the department but at the same time everyone is really cool and has similar interests.
Advice to Incoming Students:
Meet everyone as soon as you can! Talk to the students in your class because you’ll find that they will be in more of your classes later on in your curriculum and you’ll make many great friends. Talk to the mentoring and advising staff because they will help you make important decisions in your coursework and in your life. And most importantly do not be afraid to talk to you professors, they are all great people and are always willing to help you if you need it. Get to know as many of them as you can and find out about the research they are doing to see if it interests you at all, you never know, they could be the one to write your letters of recommendation.
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Rob
talks about ECE @ Maryland:
I am originally from Leonardtown, MD and have lived there my entire life. I went to St. Mary’s Ryken High school, a private school near my home.
I was originally attracted to engineering because I was good at math and science in high school. My best friends’ dad was an engineer and he told me the various things that he worked on and it really interested me. The reason I chose electrical engineering was the diversity that a degree in electrical engineering brings you. With an electrical engineering degree the possibilities of projects that you could work on are endless. You could work on anything from designing cars and planes, to robots and prosthetics or even network communication and antennas. This essentially guarantees you’ll find something you love and also allows for flexibility if you want to switch and work on something completely different.
There were many things that attracted me to the ECE program at the University of Maryland. First of all, the prestige of the engineering program, which is known as one of the best in the country, drew me to the University. Second, the proximity to Washington, D.C. and the ease of travel (via the College Park Metro Station) to and from the city; I have traveled to DC on many occasions including to go to the museums, concerts, sporting events and the cherry blossom festival. Third, the successful sports teams at Maryland attracted me. I am a huge sports fan, so being able to watch great division one football, basketball, soccer and lacrosse was a huge plus for me. Lastly is something that I had heard but was not proven to me until I attended the University of Maryland, and that is the great faculty and staff. Students that I had spoken to said they had great faculty and staff, and I took their word for it, but now that I have witnessed it for myself, it is certainly true.
I am currently pursuing a degree in electrical engineering and will be graduating this semester (Spring 2010). I am specializing in control systems and am very excited about the opportunities which are available to me in this field. Control systems are used in everything from cars to robots and the applications are endless. I would really enjoy being able to work on control systems for prosthetics or for unmanned underwater or aerial vehicles.
I am a member of the Leaders of ECE, where I serve as an ambassador for the department and give tours and information sessions to prospective students. I am a member of the IEEE student chapter as well as the ECE Undergraduate Student Council. I go to the gym three to five times a week and was also a member of the boxing club.
The students in the ECE department are very diverse in their backgrounds but all of them have similar interests and great personalities. I have some friends who share my interest in music, others who share my interest in sports and some who don’t share any interests with me other than topics of electrical engineering. The professors here at Maryland are great. All of them are extremely smart, but at the same time are able to teach the students the material effectively (which isn’t always the case). The professors are all approachable and are all more than willing to help if you are having trouble grasping a topic.
My experiences here at the University of Maryland have changed the confidence I have in myself as an engineer and in my abilities. I have learned so much here that I feel confident that I can do anything within electrical engineering well. I also feel that my problem solving skills have improved drastically; if there is a problem I am confident that I can determine the most effective and efficient way to solve that problem.
Dr. Bell is great, she is an academic advisor for the electrical and computer engineering department. Everyone in the department learns her name very quickly because she sends out many emails to students with reminders and important information. However she is also an amazing advisor; if there is a problem with anything she is there to help you out and she gives great advice. She is also willing to give advice on anything you could need help with, not just classes.
I also worked as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Espy-Wilson. She was a great advisor and helped me out substantially during my research. The projects that she is working on are very interesting and also complex, but she is always willing to take a break from her busy schedule to help out when needed.
Upon graduation I plan to enter the work field and get a job in industry. However, I feel it is very important to work somewhere that will allow me to continue my education and obtain a graduate degree while working.
If I had to choose one reason why other students should choose to enroll in the University of Maryland’s ECE program, it would be for the people. Most of the top-ranked universities have state-of-the-art research facilities and labs, but what sets Maryland apart is the people. The other students are great, the staff is always there when you need them and the faculty is incomparable, and in my opinion the best any university has to offer.
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