FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Gregor

Did I read that correctly?

Originally Posted by AcesJames

Gregor,

Libby is absolutely correct. Clarkson has an incredibly unique setup for our FIRST mentors. Aside from Team 229, which is comprised of about 50 HS students from 2 schools, 2 HS teachers, and 20ish active Clarkson mentors (did I mention our shop space is at Clarkson too?), we have a suite-style dormitory for FIRST Alumni and Mentors. Currently our housing is a single floor with 20 students (12 freshmen and 8 sophomores), but we have plans to occupy up to 3 floors next year with 60 total students.

Each dorm room holds two people and is connected to one other room through a bathroom (2 people per room, 4 per bathroom). All the rooms face inward toward a central lounge which has (among other things) a 60" TV, a workstation computer, many laptops, some field components, and whiteboards for studying/mentoring.

Our residents are not only FRC mentors, but also JFLL, FLL, and FTC mentors on the weekends. We provide coaches clinics (our students coach other local adult coaches) to 18 FTC teams and 24 FLL teams, host our own FTC and FLL tournaments and scrimmages, and even travel around Northern NY in our robotics van doing demonstrations with quadcopters, FRC robots, humanoid robots, etc.

Feel free to PM Libby or myself with any questions you might have.

James nailed it - but the best part is, you don't HAVE to live 'on the floor' to be a part of FIRST or its community at Clarkson. There are tons of FIRSTers on campus involved at many different levels with Clarkson's/the NNY Robotics Institute's activities. We also support each other, with upperclassmen making sure to take the newer students under their wing and help them adjust to school. It's a pretty awesome community at CU. I am honored that some of these wonderful rising-star mentors and volunteers consider me their friend, colleague, and 'second mom'. That's the way Clarkson is - welcoming and friendly. Just like FIRST.

[Akash Rastogi]

If students want some feedback about Drexel, feel free to message me. There are quite a lot of FIRST alumni there that I could put you in touch with. I personally didn't enjoy it there, and now am at Syracuse University, but many others have enjoyed their time at Drexel.

Plus, I helped start team 3929, which is close by. There are a couple other teams in the city as well I can connect people with, such as 4454.

Best of luck! And let me know if any of you will be in Syracuse

[Jscout11]

Applied:

UMich
University of Rochester
UMass Amherst
Northeastern
Bucknell
TCNJ
UDel
Northwestern
UNC Chapel Hill
Indiana University
University of Wisconsin

Accepted:
Indiana University
University of Wisconsin
UMass Amherst

[Foster]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

If students want some feedback about Drexel, feel free to message me. There are quite a lot of FIRST alumni there that I could put you in touch with. I personally didn't enjoy it there, and now am at Syracuse University, but many others have enjoyed their time at Drexel.

I teach at Drexel, I can also be a resource for incoming students and ones that are there now.

Need to remember that Drexel is in the middle of one of the east coasts largest cities. If you are a city person, it's a good fit, Philly has lots to offer.

[216Robochick288]

Originally Posted by Libby K

FIRST residence hall

Libby, did you help make this a thing? I have been wanting one of these at Michigan Tech since I got here, any ideas on how to make this happen? Actually, I may have lots of questions for you, perhaps better suited for a PM or Facebook.

Originally Posted by Calvin Hartley

If you want cold and snow, try Michigan Tech. Here is their snowfall records page.

I saw this, expected this website ( https://www.pasty.com/snow/ ) and didn't get why this wasnt where I was linked to. Maybe it is only a thing you learn about once you get to Tech....

Anyhow, as Chris said, we have a wonderful chance to mentor teams up here, and would always love to have more FIRSTers up here! Can't go a day without seeing a shirt or 20.

[themitchshow]

Applied: Caltech, Stanford, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Bucknell, Rose Hulman, Colorado School of Mines

Accepted: Rose, Mines

Denied: Caltech

And we wait for the rest

Heading into Electrical Engineering with a either a minor or dual major in Business Managment/ Administration.
This tread is pretty awesome, it's so cool to see what/ where everyone is applying to and heading. Best of luck.

[Nate Bloom]

Originally Posted by MrTechCenter

I applied to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Sacramento State University, San Jose State University, and UC Merced. All for Computer Engineering. I know for sure that I'm going to apply to Embry-Riddle as well.

I'm strongly considering applying to WPI, I'm just not sure yet. Any insight from anybody that knows a lot about it and/or has been able to visit the campus?

I'm going to Embry-Riddle Florida (already accepted) for aerospace engineering.

[Meiers23]

I have applied to:

McMaster University - Engineering
University of Waterloo - Mechatronics Engineering
Western University - Engineering

Offers of admission come out around March, I can hardly wait!

[jbsmithtx]

No Texas schools from anyone?!

Applied(and waiting):
UT -Austin
Georgia Tech

Accepted:
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Colorado School of Mines

[Tungrus]

Though I have not completed applications for all colleges, just reviewing the information from my favorites, I have started believing (almost) that college admission is mostly luck. There is no guarantee that anyone person will definitely get into a good college. It’s not just about GPA (subjective depending on the school, city and state you attend), it’s not about SAT/ACT scores (they vary from test to test), it’s not definitely about extracurricular activities or interview or the Essay! Well you need to have decent scores and GPA, you are expected to have participated in diverse activities, some of them must be focused to your interest, you are expected to show leadership, not in just one activity and what not! From early middle school I focused on Engineering, just because my brain is hardwired to building and programming. Did Flash animation, not a good artist, but had fun making stick man do crazy stuff, build structures and competed in Destination Imagination, once got 2nd place in Nationals, unbelievable achievement for my school district. Did FLL went to Nationals, 2nd team (of the 3) from my city to go to Nationals ever, then joined FRC! Did Science Olympiad for many years. Had no time to join student association or year book clubs, did not do competitive sports, I play for fun though. Did not join drama club, dropped out of quiz bowl after couple of years. Barely got the sleep during school days (no not video games), just the home work, school projects and managing FRC stuff. Now I am applying for Engineering, thinking dedication to FRC would give me some advantage compared to non-FRC applicants. Standing with thousands for students some are like me and others slightly different, not knowing which college will accept my application… I am beginning to wonder if my decision to pursue engineering related activities will really help me in my college admission. Would joining DECCA or quiz bowl or heading student group or becoming editor-in-chief of school paper or taking up summer job, had given me a better chance? I am keeping my fingers, hands and legs crossed and waiting patiently. If nothing works out, will join local college and start my own FRC team…know enough to do that confidently!

[Rebka]

Originally Posted by Meiers23

I have applied to:

McMaster University - Engineering
University of Waterloo - Mechatronics Engineering
Western University - Engineering

Offers of admission come out around March, I can hardly wait!

The mechatronics program at Waterloo is fantastic! You'll definitely be among friends there. Good luck!

[ruhiner]

Originally Posted by Meiers23

I have applied to:

McMaster University - Engineering
University of Waterloo - Mechatronics Engineering
Western University - Engineering

Offers of admission come out around March, I can hardly wait!

I applied to the exact same schools for the same programs!

[Iaquinto.Joe]

I applied to RPI and was accepted. The Rensselaer medal that I received really persuaded me to go there. I enrolled last week.

[buildmaster5000]

Originally Posted by MrTechCenter

I applied to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Sacramento State University, San Jose State University, and UC Merced. All for Computer Engineering. I know for sure that I'm going to apply to Embry-Riddle as well.

I'm strongly considering applying to WPI, I'm just not sure yet. Any insight from anybody that knows a lot about it and/or has been able to visit the campus?

Being a junior at WPI, I think I can answer this one.
Yes, it is very true that WPI has a Robotics Engineering (RBE) major (it is a great program. Feel free to PM me if you want), but the words of one of the people I talked to continues to ring true to this day: Don't go to WPI for the RBE Major, go for the WPI Plan.
That is to say, there are other schools that offer similar programs, but WPI is unique that it is very hands on and project based. My finals week consists of more work on projects than studying. I have definitely enjoyed my time at WPI so far, as I am sure many potential students may, just do not remember that the college experience is more than just classes.

Libby: What are you studying in grad school?

[mplanchard]

Originally Posted by MrTechCenter

I applied to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Sacramento State University, San Jose State University, and UC Merced. All for Computer Engineering. I know for sure that I'm going to apply to Embry-Riddle as well.

I'm strongly considering applying to WPI, I'm just not sure yet. Any insight from anybody that knows a lot about it and/or has been able to visit the campus?

I took plane from Boston (2 degrees) to San Diego (60 degrees) today and had a lot of time to think about this question.
Disclosure: Graduated from WPI with an MS in Mechanical Engineering and WPI Robotics Advisory Board Member. I am humbled to be on this board with member from Rethink Robotics, iRobot, Deka and other industrial members in the New England area.
WPI is the first school to offer an undergraduate degree. I spend time with college students from their Masters program. They also have a new PhD program. Here the robots and research projects have a DARPA or NASA influence, competitions and awards. There are also humanoid robots – some of my favorites.
WPI’s K-12 robotics outreach has grown to be recognized throughout the country on different platforms, FRC, FLL and VEX.
As other members have stated, the fact that you are a member of a FIRST team is not what college admissions or employers want to hear. We want to hear, what you did and how did FIRST make a difference to you and those around you. Can you work independently and in a team – give me examples? Describe a major problem you had in FIRST and how did you solve it?
Coming from California, winter in Worcester is cold. But you get used to it. It’s a dry cold. Sometimes it’s a wet cold. You need boots and a good winter jacket, hat and gloves.
I have been to 80% of the schools or worked with students, professors and researchers at schools mentioned above. They all have great outreach, at Purdue, it’s EPICS program is known throughout the country. At MIT, look up the Edgerton Center.
I have never been to an engineering school that wasn’t great. Northeastern has one of the best co-op departments in the world. San Diego State University Baja team works harder than any team I know to prepare for competition with a small team. A few years ago, Texas A&M students challenged themselves to go to Formula Hybrid – even though they were doing great in Formula SAE.
At Rutgers, where I got my undergraduate in mechanical engineering, I found activates that interested me outside the classroom, designing in 3D CAD that introduced solid geometry, a new field at the time, and communicating to a small robot through the microprocessor on an Apple IIe. It was revolutionary!

It’s all what you make of your school and the opportunities at that school. If all things are equal to you, then I look to the finances. Everyone on CD knows math. Interest rates on loans, not matter how low, are tough to pay back – even on an engineer’s starting salary.

If you are going for a college interview, know the school’s outreach just as much as you review their engineering departments. Outreach is our life responsibility as engineers.

Many engineering colleges mentor robot teams. Last month, I was at UNLV engineering department only to run into a VEX robot team on the way to visit an SAE team.

If you are fortunate to visit a campus once, even twice – may three times if it is close. Stand in an engineering building close your eyes and picture yourself there 8 months from now. How do you feel? Marie