What kind of degree do you hope to pursue after high school?

[talldude1412]

Hey everybody, I would really appreciate it if everyone take the time to respond to this one.

Also how has FIRST effected your plans for after high school?

[nparikh]

Wow..hmm.

It's funny because I walked into highschool thinking I'd go to college for Pre-Med or something in the natural sciences. Now, as a junior in highschool, FIRST, Team 25, and our awesome mentors have really made me rethink this. As I stand, FIRST has really inspired me to go into an Engineering based field, and I plan to do my undergrad in Engineering with a Pre-Medical concentration. What's to come after that I know not yet :D

[Andrew Blair]

Wow..hmm.

It's funny because I walked into highschool thinking I'd go to college for Pre-Med or something in the natural sciences. Now, as a junior in highschool, FIRST, Team 25, and our awesome mentors have really made me rethink this. As I stand, FIRST has really inspired me to go into an Engineering based field, and I plan to do my undergrad in Engineering with a Pre-Medical concentration. What's to come after that I know not yet :D
Bio-medical is HOT right now...

Well, I was actually inspired to pursue engineering through FLL, but FIRST has strengthened my aim. I will say that I definently know people influenced by FIRST to pursue engineering degrees over other technical occupations.

[|20807 61|2|_]

It's interesting for me because I am really and in a tug of war with either engineering or forensic science. When I first enter High School in September i had my mind set on a forensic science degree and had practically my whole life planned out for my schooling career. Now after going through all of build season I am really considering a degree in engineering, mostly in part being taught first hand how to make a robot and also working with Dave Lavery, one of the greatest engineers I have ever met. Right now I'm thinking more toward the engineering side of schooling but I'm not that sure.

[Donut]

I've always wanted to do a career that involved problem solving and building of something (any engineering degree for me). When I first entered high school, I decided I would take some programming classes for fun, but never seriously wanted to do it (especially since both my parents are software engineers). Working with FIRST robots and taking those few programming classes has convinced me I do want to pursue a programming degree, and I much more enjoy programming hardware than computer software; I'm now set on getting a computer engineering degree. FIRST has also convinced me that I must work on robots forever, and I'm either getting a career in it or mentoring future FIRST teams (or maybe some of both?).

[coastertux]

I am planning to go for Chemistry.

[Jaine Perotti]

I would say that FIRST has had a profound impact on my choices after high school.

This is my fourth year as a member of The Who'sCTEKS, team 716. Before I joined the team, I never even dreamed of becoming an engineer - I didn't even know what an engineer really was. I had always loved science in elementary school, but I had many other interests as well - art, music, and the humanities. When I entered high school, I was experiencing a personal conflict because I had no idea what type of career would be most satisfying to me. I had too many interests for me to allow myself to focus on one career in a specific area. In short, I was completely unsure of my direction after high school.

When I joined the team, I was immediately hooked by the aspect of competition, while at the same time, impressed by the teamwork. I was amazed by the older students who were knowledgeable enough to work independently and solve problems with the robot - a device which, to me, seemed immensely complex and almost magical. But I didn't begin to consider a career in engineering until my sophomore year, when I was given the chance to lead a design sub team for the main arm of the robot. That year was so exciting for me because of the fact that we ended up winning the UTC New England Regional that year, and won two engineering awards. I was so excited by the prospect that something I had designed and built was responsible for our success. I felt elated by the fact that I had used my problem solving skills successfully, and that I was of value to the team. By the end of that year, I was so in love with design work that I truly set my heart on becoming an engineer.

I know I am not the only one who has been affected in this way. 100% of the graduates of my team have gone on to major in either engineering, science, or technology. The Who'sCTEKS have truly been able to fulfill the missions of FIRST in that the lives of so many students have been impacted. I am very proud to say I am one of them. Next year I will be attending the University of Miami and majoring in mechanical engineering.

Hope this was of some insight,
-- Jaine

[Stuart]

. . . why is CS not considered engineering? . .I think you should have broken it down to EE ME CE and CS . . and added sciences to that list(physics chem bio).

and as far as first impacting my after HS stuff . . well I decided to do CS after my first CS class in HS(I loved it). but after I did BEST(soph, JR, SR years) and FIRST(SR year) I really changed from loving the really high lvl game Dev/ simulation(made a side scrolling shooter my JR year) side of CS and really started loving the lower lvl electronics/microprocessing side(I even went as far as buying a Z8 Dev kit my fish year and automated my house)

[Clark Gilbert]

. . . why is CS not considered engineering? . .I think you should have broken it down to EE ME CE and CS . . and added sciences to that list(physics chem bio).

At Purdue computer engineering and computer science are different schools.

Department of Computer Science (http://www.cs.purdue.edu/)

School of Electrical & Computer Engineering (https://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE/)

[Rick TYler]

High school was a leetle while ago for me...

I planned to get a BS in Chemistry and an MD. What I ended up with is a BA in Political Science and an MBA. Life is strange...

[talldude1412]

yea, I realized I could have broken the degrees a little, better but there's no way to go back and fix that now.... I don't think. Any body know a way?
Thanks for all your feedback everyone!

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

I'll be studying Biomedical Engineering, and then off to Med school! Wooooo!

Yes, FIRST definitly had an impact. I can't say it any other way.

[anna~marie]

I'd love to become an equine vet and work rehabiliation of horses, injured, problematic, and otherwise impaired.

[Andy A.]

I'm in the mechanical side of a bachelors in electromechanical engineering.

It's basically an associates in electrical and one in mechanical glued together. It gives a nice base in most every subject with an emphasis on project lifespans (working all all the phases of a projects life) and real mechanical and electrical experience (lots of time in machine shop and making functional circuits. Lots of time spent on diagnostics of electromechanical systems (instructor drops a broken thingly on the table and asks you to write a report on why it doesn't work anymore). It's a nice mix if you like technology but don't want to spend 4 years learning theory. You won't be in a good position to get a masters later on, but I've no desire to.

I have no aspirations to be a full fledged engineer my self, so this degree is a nice pick for me. It makes me very attractive to the kinds of employers I like and the jobs I want. A position in a prototyping lab or research shop would be lovely.

-Andy A.

[Commanchetruck]

I want to be a truck driver. They make a lot of money and they have big trucks.

[double_check]

FIRST has influenced me but not enough for me to change the dreams I've had since I was a kid. I want to double major in fashion design and art history with a minor in dance.

[Bcahn836]

Getting my degrees is one of the main reasons why I joined the NAVY. They are going to give me the resources and money to pursue the Fields that I am interested in. First I plan on getting an Associates in some Field of IT, then I plan on getting a second degree in either Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. I hope to obtain both degrees while I am in the Navy which right now is 6 years. If it takes longer than that to obtain both degrees than I will re-enlist and do whatever it takes to get them. F.I.R.S.T along with my mentors from the team have greatly influenced me to pursue my educational goals, along with my parents whom were both in the Navy for some years. Defend the country, travel the world, and get a free education what more could I want in my life right now?

[VTHokie617]

After this year I will be attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering and hopefully I will be able to minor in Business Administration.

[Angelfury126]

I grew up in FIRST and always wanted to be like the engineering mentors on the team.
I want to become a mechanical engineer. I haven't decided were to go for school yet.
I applied to Wentworth, WPI, Northeastern, Tufts, and MIT.
I've gotten accepted into Wentworth and WPI.

[mangda]

When I started high school I thought I wanted to be a psychiatrist. Later on in the school year when I joined the team I fell in love with all the social aspects of it. I loved talking to people, setting up activities, all that jazz. I wanted to mentor. My sophmore year we worked a FLL competition and just adored the children. I want to be an art teacher now. I don't know if I want to work in high school or elementary school, but I know I want to mentor. It sounds silly sometimes, but it's something I enjoy. So, I guess FIRST has influenced what I wanted to with my future.

[i_am_Doug]

I want to go for my computer science BD

FIRST has really changed me, i feel 99.99% smarter. Yes the other .01% was all me :D

FIRST has forced me to understand computers better.

So, I guess FIRST has influenced what I wanted to with my future.
^ Yeah, I feel that way to.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

FIRST doesnt just affect High School kids. When I first started mentoring a FIRST team I was a electonics technician without a degree (20 years experiance). Now, I am an engineer building and designing test fixtures and I have an associates degree in information technology.

[Jay Trzaskos]

I was accepted at The Clarkson School and I plan on studying Mechanical Engineering with a dual major in Aerospace at Clarkson University next year.

JT
229

[b_mallerd]

FIRST definitely gives you perspective into things waaay before actually entering any professional fields...

I think I plan on going for a double major in computer science and environmental science....=) Someone is going to have to stop all that pollution when all you engineers create designs that get sent to mass manufacturing.

[Daniel Morse]

When I went into high school, I figured I would come out and go into a liberal arts field; however, after spending time with FIRST, I realized that I had a real passion for designing and building things. When I was younger, I have always loved taking things apart to see how they worked. It took FIRST to actually convince me that I really wanted to major in mechanical engineering. As for colleges, I have been accepted to RPI and WPI, and plan to go to RPI.

[lukevanoort]

YOu see, I'm an academic masochist. I went into high school thinking physics/chemistry dual major. Now, chemisrty/mechanical engineering. I really would like to do aerospace engineering and/or astrophysics, but I figure with those, I could only get hired by an airplane company, the military, a university, or NASA. Sort of limiting, eh? Hence, chemistry (good range of job possibilities) and mechanical engineering. (Pretty general, I think) So, anyway, I plan on about 9 years as an under grad... ouch. Lots of APs, and summer classes are in my future I think. Then Ph.D. in something, mainly so I can introduce myself as Dr. Van Oort.

[CourtneyB]

Buisness degree all the way. I love FIRST and its inspired me more to become an engineer, but im one of those types of people that arent smart enough to become one. FIRST is awsome though with inspiring many people to become and engineer and someone who deals with science and math. I look up to those people.

-Court-

[AJL930]

Im not sure what this falls under but, I hope to be getting a degree in Computer Graphic Design, Basically working with video games. Im going through a two year program at a tech school to get my Associates Degree, then im going to a 4 year college in hopes of getting my Bachelors Degree. Hopefully some of the programming knowledge that i have learned in FIRST, can apply to this job.

[Nuttyman54]

ME baby! I've been wanting to do Aerospace engineering since 4th or 5th grade, and through FIRST i met some of them, who told me to do ME first and then get an advanced degree in Aerospace. So, that's what i'm doing (their reasoning made sense)

[Nate Edwards]

I was orginally thinking of being law and then accounting and business but first changed me while in high school and now I am a computer engineering student paired with electrical engineering with a possible double major in industrial and manufacturing engineering and a minor in computer science, entrepreneurship, math and athletic adminstration .. possibly followed with focus in network security, crypotography and business consulting. Also still considering an MBA or MBE (Masters of business in engineering (new degree at Oregon State))

Nate

[bk111]

Aerospace Engineering. Since the Ansari X Prize, aerospace has really seemed to pick up.

[Jill1022]

I think I want to pursue a career in Music Industry. Probably at Columbia College or maybe at Valpo for a few years.

Or maybe Chemistry.

Or maybe Marketing.

Even though I'm not going into anything Engineering related or FIRST related, I'm definately going to keep going with robotics. I'd like to start a FIRST team or mentor one.

[nwilli327]

I will be attending either Purdue or the University of Michigan (which is where I plan on going at this point) and majoring in Electrical Engineering, eventually I planning on getting my graduates degree and a MBA also.

[Pavan Dave]

I would like to become an Electrical Engineer. :)

-Pavan

[Gertlex]

I'm planning Nuclear and/or Mechanical Engineering. Best would be a dual major, or a major/minor, from what little I understand of those concepts... Whichever way, I expect I'll be doing more than 4 years of college.

And I'm off to the other side of town (dorms) attending U of Michigan next fall :ahh:

[thatphotochick]

i have so many interests that i could do anything. FIRST has kept me wanting to do photography and/or videography, which is my job on the team. i also very much love graphic design and web page design (i wish i could have been a part of our website as well). as well as photographer, i worked on logistics of the time, which is also keeping up with my willingness to be a secretary. as the days of high school are counting down and i read more, i want to be a librarian, however. i have seen FIRST inspire alot of people of 1038 to become engineers or venture in that direction.

[BRosser314]

I am going in Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University. I might also go into computer repair /science, prob not thought. If not computers then Electrical Engineering. :D

[Alex Cormier]

I am in a 1 year certificate here at SUNY Canton. (State University of New York). It is 10 miles from Clarkson University (Team 229)

My course is only one of 4 colleges/universities take part in the whole country.

Powersports Performance and Repair. It's Sponsored by Polaris.
It has to deal with small engine work like ATV's, Motorcycles,Watercraft and Snowmobiles. We now have around 15 Motorcycles, 1 Jet Ski, 8 ATV's, 6 Snowmobiles and a lot of engines. We just got the $8,000 Outlaw sport ATV. We are turning it into a Baja 1000 ATV for the Professor to drive. It's going to be amazing once we are done with it!

[ScoutingNerd175]

As I sat on the bus ride home from Chesapeake with all my teammates sleeping around me, I had occasion to wonder how I had gotten so far from where I started.
When I started high school I was planning on becoming a history teacher. I didn't have a lot of friends at school because I spent most of my time in Hartford at the theatre.
I joined the robotics team Junior year, I was still planning on becoming a teacher, but I had more friends at school and I was having a great time.
Well, now I am going to College in the fall (almost definitely Syracuse University) for either Chemical or Electrical Engineering. This was never something I would have considered without FIRST.
I hope to get a chance to work with a team while in college. If not, I will definitely mentor a team once I start working.
Did FIRST change my life? Definitely, sometimes I don't even recognize it anymore. But I like it so much better this way. :)

[YonZ]

FIRST is awesome! I started off as an engineer, but my interest in business led me to our team's Marketing division. I am currently a Junior in HS, but I would like to pursue a BSE in college.

[Safarley2901]

First has also affected my choice of majors for when I go to college. Right now, I'm planning on double majoring, Biology and Aerosoace engineering. From what I've looked at not many people are interested in the the latter of the two. I'm considering switching out biology for a CS degree in with a concentration in AI and Robotics. Unfortunately, I can't stand sitting down and writing code. (There are 3 of us on the Team who know C++). Out of the three there's only one of us, Who is reliable, and can sit down and write code.

After all that, I'll probably pick up a masters and a Phd. So I'll be in school forevor lol. I might even end up mentoring my home team If i can swing it. I sort of doubt it though. Its an hour and a half drive both ways.

So back the topic at hand. I here Case Western Reserve has excellent programs in all 3. Now I just have to pull off a 32 on my act to half my tuition :-p.