When I interview students for positions, I will weigh their FIRST experience as equivalent to a professional work experience. I will ask them about their accomplishments with their team. I also ask about their experience and the positions they held on the team.
Most students I’ve seen do not have professional experiences and that’s why FIRST students appear to have preferential treatment over other students with better academics.
(Some have accused me of giving preferential treatments!) But I prefer hard workers and good thinkers over just good grades.
PS- when I was young (many, many years ago. lOl) I Co-op’ed with the Department of Energy- National Bureau of Standards. It was the best experience I ever had. I also had offers from NOAA at Boulder, CO. and the FAA at NYC Kennedy Int'l Airport. I was lucky.
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popularis de ob instinctus agnitionis scientia technologia
Home website:
www.nycnjfirst.org
Member of NEMO & e^(i*pi)+1 Fraternity.
Member of Friends of Robots
Member of NYCFIRST Planning Committee