[ShotgunNinja]

Originally Posted by NullEntity

I'm looking for something similar. I think I'll double major in software engineering and electrical engineering. I have a bit more of a general interest in electronics, robots, and programming, so I think it'd work for me.

If you're interested, MSOE has a great 4-5 year program for SE/EE (aka S-Triple-E), and since you're in the area, you should definitely consider us for your college of choice. For one thing, we are one of only 12 colleges in the country to be taking part in NEAT, a pilot program for what we hope will become a FIRST College-Level Robotics program by next year. Come check out our booth in St. Louis this year if you are able, as it will be operated by active MSOE students and members of our NEAT team, S.C.O.E. Robotics. If you aren't able to make it to that, send me a message and I can get you in contact with Dana Grennier or Laura Schumacher, two of our admissions officers, or I could try to get you in contact with one of our professors or students. Please let me know if you are interested in attending MSOE, as I feel it's the perfect place for FIRST alumni such as myself!

EDIT: One thing I've noticed from other posts is the emphasis on Computer/Software/Electronics/Mechatronics related degree programs. The thing is, though, a Computer Science degree from a technical academy or state college is NOT a Computer Science degree from MIT, Carnegie Mellon, or UC Berkeley. Or MSOE, for that matter! The two most important things that I've seen when deciding upon a college to attend were the following: (A) Find a college that offers YOU the things that YOU want to take away from it, and (B) Take progressive steps to make sure that YOU are getting the most that the college has to offer. I was disappointed last year that my school's FIRST Support Organization, formerly headed by the legendary mentor Kevin Kolodziej, had disbanded. So, this year, I started my own, with the help of some of the hundred or so FIRST Alumni that I have met throughout my time here so far. Maybe you can get involved too!

~ Nicholas A. Iannone
~ Sophomore, Software Engineering
~ Vice-President/Co-Founder, FIRST Collegiate Robotics Organization
~ Milwaukee School of Engineering
~ E-Mail: iannonen@msoe.edu