Re: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
 

Posted by colleen - T190 at 04/24/2001 10:50 AM EST


Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science and WPI.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



I got accepted to BU last year without knowing they had a team. At nationals, everyone kept telling me they saw a BU sponsored team, and sure enough they existed! That sealed my decision. This year I, like Deej, transferred to WPI for academic reasons. However, had they not had a such a great FIRST team, I probably would have just stayed at BU and dealt with it.

(But I still love Team246!! you rock!)

--colleen shaver
1996-1999 - Clinton High School/Nypro Team 126
2000 - Team 246
2001-? - Team 190 WPI/MassAcademy

Re: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
 

Posted by Tim Baird at 04/24/2001 12:06 PM EST


Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science and WPI.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



When choosing colleges last year, the presence of a FIRST team was a major component for me in addition to an excellent mechanical engineering program. It basically came down to WPI and Northeastern, both of which have high quality FIRST teams. The secondary reason for me choosing WPI was the terrific scholarship that they award to a high school junior or senior. This is just one more example of why colleges should sponsor FIRST teams and give out scholarships.
Tim Baird

Wow, Im the first senior to respond.....;)
 

Posted by Jessica Boucher at 04/24/2001 3:00 PM EST


Student on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



My quote:

"Before FIRST, I wanted to do international relations. Through my leadership role on my team, I knew I wanted to go into international business administration. With a major like that, I thought that it would be tough fitting in FIRST, but thankfully even business schools are seeing the teamwork, communication, and fundraising involved to get one of these teams off the ground...it's good to know that FIRST will still be a constant in my life."

Jessica Boucher
Student Leader & Head of Communications, Team #237 (Watertown, CT)
International Business, Babson College

Re: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
 

Posted by Chris Orimoto at 04/24/2001 4:16 PM EST


Student on team #368, Kika Mana, from McKinley High School and Nasa Ames/Hawaiian Electric/Weinberg Foundation.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



Even before I got involved with FIRST, I was interested in going into engineering. FIRST provided me with a way to work with my "goal". It was unlike the high school sports I've played...it was different. Honestly though, I can't say that it affected my college choice too much. I applied to all the schools that I wanted to go to because of their academic reputation. I only ended up with like 4 choices in the end. I chose (most likely) to attend the University of Washington...which sponsors a few FIRST teams. However, I think my personal choice would be to start up my own FIRST team.

Hope that helps (although its a little vague)

Chris, Team #368

my quote
 

Posted by Chris Hardman at 04/24/2001 4:30 PM EST


Student on team #111, WILDSTANG, from Rolling Meadows and Wheeling High schools and motorola.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



my quote "i have always liked taking things apart and putting them together. However i always loved that software controlled everything. So being on a FIRST team and watching what software can do influenced me to choose Computer Science as my major"

Chris Hardman
Team 111
Grand Valley State University

: I am trying to gather a list of 1-3 line quotes on how FIRST teams played a role in choosing where you go to college.... So I am posing the following question: To what extent did FIRST play a role in choosing which college you go to?

: Again 1-3 line responses are best so I can easily put them in a presentation to our admissions office, but longer ones are also fine. Also please put your name, high school, and where you are going to college in the message. Thanks very much.

: Patrick

Re: my quote
 

Posted by Mike Soukup at 04/24/2001 8:13 PM EST


Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling and Motorola.


In Reply to: my quote
Posted by Chris Hardman on 04/24/2001 4:30 PM EST:



Nice to hear you finally say some nice stuff about software instead of making fun of us. We'll make a computer geek out of you yet!

Mike

Re: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
 

Posted by Kate T190 at 04/24/2001 5:15 PM EST


College Student on team #190, Gompei, from Mass Academy of Math and Science and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



FIRST pushed my interests from teaching to engineering. Because of it, I applied to WPI, RIT, and UNH. While I chose WPI based on academics, financial aid, and closeness to home, FIRST still had quite a bit to do with it. WPI had a well established team; I had people willing to help me restart the team at RIT; and UNH was interested in starting a team if I organized it. So wherever I went, there was going to be FIRST, I'm really glad I chose to come to WPI.

Re: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
 

Posted by Becky Allen at 04/24/2001 6:10 PM EST


College Student on team #356, The Enigma, from North Little Rock High School and Pulaski Academy and UALR/Hendrix College/NASA.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



"I've always been one of those people that isn't really bad at anything, but on the other hand, I never had a forte for one subject. When I found FIRST in high school, I was hooked. FIRST spans so many different elements, that it is impossible not to find something you like or do well. On my college team, I like to be involved in everything. While I may not end up majoring in engineering, I'm glad that my college sponsors a FIRST team. It showed me that my college was interested and dedicated to technology and the future. I know that when I graduate I will work for a large corporation; I just haven't decided what I will be doing. FIRST instills and demonstrates task management, responsibility, communication skills, and dedication, just to name a few. No matter what career path I choose to take,I am confidant that in the future these skills will become valuable assests. If a college wants to challenge and make their students better, a FIRST team is crucial. Even though I'm no longer on the same team and I'm miles away from home, I still have one constant in my life, FIRST. Sometimes, as in my case, FIRST not only affects high school students, it guides college students. Every college must invest in FIRST."

Becky Allen
Team #16-Baxter Healthcare/Mountain Home HS--The Bomb Squad
Team #356-Hendrix College/UALR/NASA/North Little Rock HS/Pulaski Academy--Enigma

Sorry this is so long. You may edit any part of it that you wish.

Re: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
 

Posted by Joe Ross at 04/24/2001 6:43 PM EST


College Student on team #330, Beach Bot, from Hope Chapel Academy and NASA/JPL , J&F Machine, and Raytheon.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



I would have never heard of RIT if it hadn't been for their FIRST team in 97 and 98.

Joe Ross
Beachbot 97-2001
Tigerbolt 2002-?

PS, for those who haven't heard yet, I am transferring to RIT, made my final decision last night.

PPS, is this the only 1-3 line response yet?

Re: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
 

Posted by Lora Knepper at 04/24/2001 10:34 PM EST


Other on team #177, Bobcat Robotics - Adoptee, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



It was FIRST that took me from music to engineering. I told admissions that if they did not have a FIRST team they would soon be get one if they admitted me - because without FIRST I would not even have applied.

~ Lora

Re: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
 

Posted by Janna at 04/25/2001 4:40 PM EST


Student on team #349, The RoBahamas, from International Academy and Ford Motor Company and Robert Bosch GmbH.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



My college decision was mostly based on the course offerings for my intended major, biology, but I hope FIRST will play a part in my college experience. I'll be going to the University of Michigan, and even though they don't sponsor a team right now, I actually like that because it will give me the opportunity to help start a team and share this awesome life-changing gift to some new high school kids.

Janna Hutz

Re: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
 

Posted by Steve Brierty at 04/27/2001 8:45 PM EST


College Student on team #461, Westside Boiler Invasion, from Purdue University.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



I was a member of team 141, West Ottawa High School and Johnson Controls. The fact that Purdue is one of the top engineering schools in the Midwest, combined with their fledgling FIRST team convinced me to take my quest for a degree in engineering here.

Side note: Anybody at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, how does it look for getting a team started there? I might be at U of M next year, and I would love to help out a new team.

Re: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
 

Posted by Brandon Heller at 04/28/2001 11:14 PM EST


Student on team #449, Blair Blazers, from Montgomery Blair High School and NASA Goddard, Sigma Space.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



For me, either the school already had a FIRST team, or I was going to start one from scratch. The more important factors in my college decision were class size, academics, people, and the campus. That said, I'll be attending Wash U. at St. Louis in the fall, and will probably be starting up a FIRST team there.

Brandon
Team 449

Re: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
 

Posted by Brandon Heller at 04/28/2001 11:17 PM EST


Student on team #449, Blair Blazers, from Montgomery Blair High School and NASA Goddard, Sigma Space.


In Reply to: High School Seniors please read (and college students)
Posted by Patrick Dingle on 04/24/2001 9:44 AM EST:



For me, either the school already had a FIRST team, or I was going to start one from scratch. The more important factors in my college decision were class size, academics, people, and the campus. That said, I'll be attending Wash U. at St. Louis in the fall, and will probably be starting up a FIRST team there.

Brandon
Team 449

P.S. Is anyone else in this forum going there?