Preparing for College: What You Should Know
By Merrill Keating
Earlier this summer, we were asked by our college chapter of the Society of Women Engineers to share our thoughts to high school seniors who’d be freshmen at University of Washington this Fall. Below were some of mine.
How did you choose your area of study?
I started coding at the age of seven. There were many activities that led to my passion for STEM over the years. In elementary school I was involved in math clubs, LEGO activities, and attended STEAM camps during the summers. I won awards for best programmer and best team partner. West Sound CoderDojo was the first activity where I not only got a chance to really sit down and code with others for a few hours, but I was also groomed for leadership as a mentor to help others learn how to code. Being on my high school’s FIRST Robotics team cemented my passion for not just programming, but mechanical engineering. Understanding the ethical and technical implications of artificial intelligence seemed like a natural marriage with robotics.
What was your college search process like? How did you choose UW?
I’d been recruited by various colleges since middle school, but ignored most of them because I was too young. When I was a freshman in high school, someone reached out to my parents about UW Academy and invited me to apply, which I did in my sophomore year. I chose it because it was an opportunity to finally enjoy a more challenging academic environment than I’d been experiencing.
Do you have any advice for personal statements?
Sometimes it’s hard to resist the temptation to list all of your extra-curricular activities and achievements, but most colleges are looking for something that differentiates you from other high-achievers. They want to know how you think, hear about your goals and passions, and to see how their offerings can help put you on the best path forward. Take a deep breath and go for authentic. Consider sharing inner thoughts you might not have shared with others. Be willing to be vulnerable yet hopeful in a manner that conveys your resilience and thirst for lifelong learning.
Do you have any advice on or experiences with paying for college that you would like to share?
Apply for STEM grants or scholarships. Search for affinity groups such as SWE, FIRST, or others related to your field of interest or other activities in which you’ve been involved. And if you haven’t already and are able, start a fund or account and save (like I did).
Tell us about your transition to college.
It has been a particularly challenging transition for me because of COVID-19, and leaving behind the remainder of my high school milestones, a robotics team experience I loved — and friends. Being able to enjoy college also wasn’t possible because of the pandemic and being too young to live on campus even had I wanted to do that. On the other hand, online learning has provided some conveniences, such as not having to commute for hours on the ferry and juggle that with homework, labs, lectures. More importantly, the work load and pace of UW are voluminous and super fast given the quarters (versus semesters) system. I excelled in everything in my life but still wasn’t completely prepared for that. Learning to take advantage of the office hours, to ask questions or get help was a challenge I had to overcome. I missed the interaction of an in-person class and being able to see other students since most of them had video turned off on Zoom. As someone who came from a relatively small environment, getting used to the size of UW and its student body was also an adjustment. With nearly fifty thousand students on the Seattle campus alone, I sometimes felt as if I was falling through the cracks.
Tell us about your general experience in college so far.
Thus far, my general experience is okay. It could have been better but I’m looking forward to the Fall.
What is it like to be an engineering student at UW?
It’s surreal. I’m glad many students don’t know I’m young. I can just blend in, and there are times I feel excited and hopeful about the prospect of learning and further developing my critical-thinking skills so I can solve problems. At other times I wonder if I made the right choice because the material isn’t easy, but I can’t think of anything else I’d much rather tackle than this. This summer I am a NASA researcher on an exciting project where I hope to be able to apply my knowledge while having fun.
Do you have any advice for high school students? What do you wish you had known before entering college?
Make sure you know what you love and want to do. My parents allowed me that freedom to choose and continue to encourage me while making sure I understand I can change my mind.
Stay open to exploring different subjects and activities so you can take full advantage of the college experience. Don’t be afraid to fail, or if you do, don’t see it as permanent or the end. Take a step back, course correct, then dust yourself off and keep going. It sounds trite but it’s true: it’s a marathon and not a sprint.
Also, UW is very competitive. Primarily because some popular majors are capacity-constrained. You can have the best grades, GPA, and extracurriculars and still not get accepted into your major because there are more students than slots. Give some creative thought to similar avenues or completely new one in terms of your major so you don’t end up feeling stuck. And don’t be afraid to transfer if you feel you want something different. It’s not how you start, but how you finish. Believe in yourself and build a supportive network.
And never think you don’t belong in engineering because you’re female.
