Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Master of Engineering
What do you study and what year are you in?
I am currently in my third year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Master of Engineering, specialising in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Who or what made you choose to study this?
When I began my study at UQ, I was enrolled in a Dual Bachelor of Mathematics and Science (majoring in Applied Mathematics and Physics), as I was still considering a pathway into medicine. However, after my first semester and getting the opportunity to meet new people and hear different perspectives, I decided that I wanted to switch programs and study Electrical and Computer Engineering.
One of the main reasons for this pivot was that I felt Electrical Engineering would be able to provide me access to a much broader range of opportunities, ensuring I wouldn’t be limited in my future career choices. I was also interested in Electrical Engineering, because it retained the deep mathematics and rigour of my previous studies, but offered a more hands-on focus with highly transferable skills.
This was a bit of a leap for me. Having spent most of my life surrounded by doctors and nurses, in a smaller school outside of Brisbane, I lacked any exposure to the engineering and broader tech industry. Engineering was simply a path I had never considered until arriving at university.
What’s been your favourite course so far and why?
My favourite course so far has been MATH1071 (Advanced Calculus & Linear Algebra I). I’ve always loved mathematics and taught myself multivariate integral and differential calculus before arriving at UQ. I really enjoy challenging myself and wanted to understand the underlying proofs behind the math, rather than just learning the formulas. Choosing the advanced course allowed me to push my boundaries right from my first semester and dive straight into high-level problem-solving.
Highlights of your past year at UQ
If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering studying at UQ, what would that be?
My biggest piece of advice is to volunteer and sign up for extracurricular activities.
The friends and connections I have made at UQ are the most valuable thing to me, and many of them I would have never met if it weren’t for volunteering or taking on extracurricular leadership roles. University is a unique bubble; it is the most concentrated group of people your age with similar interests that you will ever find before going out into the real world. Make the most of it!
Getting involved also opened doors to amazing experiences for me, and led to me serving as a Team Guide at the International Mathematical Olympiad last year. Beyond that, extracurriculars allow you to give back and contribute to the broader UQ community through initiatives like the Get Set Mentoring program.
