Marcia Rojas
Study abroad, small classes, available professors, and interdisciplinary nature were my priorities when looking into the colleges. Smith had it all for me.
From the start I knew that I wanted to study engineering, but was open to a change of mind if it came by. I was accepted as an AEMES student and did research with Robert Newton from the Geology Department on our campus pond. On field days we went with the team on our Research Vehicle “Silty” and collect sediment, take depth measurements and analyze them back at the lab. I really enjoyed working on that project and closely considered Geology, but I realized it was the systems thinking of the project that got me excited. Once I had class with Prof. McKahn for engineering 110 I knew it was engineering all the way. I saw the numerical calculations I was doing in my research with the geology department in the material we were learning for my engineering class. I had the opportunity to get a hands on connection early. However, it wasn’t just in that class. Every class that I’ve had in the picker engineering department has felt full of purpose.
In the homework sets for my Mechanics class one of assignment problems would ask you to make up your own problem and solve it. It made it clear that engineering was everywhere. Eventually the engineering vision goggles of the professors become mine and it’s a pretty neat way to look at the world.
I am also a German Studies minor and knew from the start that I wanted to study abroad. At the time that I am writing this, I’m in Hamburg, Germany! With the help of my advisor and Martin [the assistant director], I was able to organize my courses so that I could study abroad for the year and safely finish my Bachelors. University here is a complete opposite of Smith College. I live off campus and commute 30 minutes to the traditional university and almost one hour to the technical university. The lecture halls are huge, ranging from 100-300 students. I am currently taking an Environmental Assessment class for senior level students. We are about 20 students who go to lecture, although I’m pretty it says 74 students enrolled on the class’s website! I love Germany and have had a wonderful time here, but I definitely look forward to taking engineering classes back at Smith and culminating my engineering experience with the Design Clinic Capstone Project.
From the start I knew that I wanted to study engineering, but was open to a change of mind if it came by. I was accepted as an AEMES student and did research with Robert Newton from the Geology Department on our campus pond. On field days we went with the team on our Research Vehicle “Silty” and collect sediment, take depth measurements and analyze them back at the lab. I really enjoyed working on that project and closely considered Geology, but I realized it was the systems thinking of the project that got me excited. Once I had class with Prof. McKahn for engineering 110 I knew it was engineering all the way. I saw the numerical calculations I was doing in my research with the geology department in the material we were learning for my engineering class. I had the opportunity to get a hands on connection early. However, it wasn’t just in that class. Every class that I’ve had in the picker engineering department has felt full of purpose.
In the homework sets for my Mechanics class one of assignment problems would ask you to make up your own problem and solve it. It made it clear that engineering was everywhere. Eventually the engineering vision goggles of the professors become mine and it’s a pretty neat way to look at the world.
I am also a German Studies minor and knew from the start that I wanted to study abroad. At the time that I am writing this, I’m in Hamburg, Germany! With the help of my advisor and Martin [the assistant director], I was able to organize my courses so that I could study abroad for the year and safely finish my Bachelors. University here is a complete opposite of Smith College. I live off campus and commute 30 minutes to the traditional university and almost one hour to the technical university. The lecture halls are huge, ranging from 100-300 students. I am currently taking an Environmental Assessment class for senior level students. We are about 20 students who go to lecture, although I’m pretty it says 74 students enrolled on the class’s website! I love Germany and have had a wonderful time here, but I definitely look forward to taking engineering classes back at Smith and culminating my engineering experience with the Design Clinic Capstone Project.