Electrical and Systems Engineering
Class of 2019
“I have always been fascinated by engineering, but it was the concept of wearable devices that drew me to Computer Engineering. I want to understand how software and hardware interact – how the code controls the device, how different sensors and pieces of hardware can be used to collect data, how the hardware limits what the software can accomplish, and plenty more.”
“I don’t think any background in electronics or programming is necessary to become a successful computer engineer. Experience surely helps, but the most important qualities are curiosity, creativity, and a passion for problem-solving.”
Class of 2015
“I chose computer engineering at Penn because almost all of the classes sounded interesting to me. I knew I wanted to be an “electrically oriented” engineer, but it wasn’t until I got to Penn and explored computer engineering’s curriculum that I realized the major was the direction I wanted to take.”
“I chose computer engineering specifically because, as a freshman, when I looked at the upper-level classes on the curriculum planning guides for each major, the descriptions seemed the most interesting. The combination between electrical engineering and computer science topics as well as the large number of hands-on, project-based classes appealed to me as well.”
“Computer Engineering offers the opportunity for CS-minded students to get a real understanding for how exactly computers…well, compute. That really appealed to me, and I switched in to the program before my second semester.”
Class of 2018
“I came into college knowing that I wanted to study both the hardware and software sides of engineering. When I found out that Penn offered a Computer Engineering major, I knew it was perfect for me and it was something I wanted to pursue.”
“I fell in love with computers while working IT for my high school. Through that I realized that I couldn’t see myself in a life where I wasn’t exploring the fascinating, ubiquitous machines that enable humans to perform some of the most amazing feats in history…”
Class of 2014
“Computer Engineering was the right major for me because it allowed me to explore my interests both in computer science and electrical engineering without sacrificing either the rigor of my study or my ability to explore other interests.”
“Computer engineering is fun, and I love the flexibility in the major. There isn’t another major where I’d have the breadth of skill to work as a webstack/mobile lead in one PennApps (Skynet Command, S’13 Top 20 overall) and then as an electrical lead a year later at another PennApps (Chirp, S’14 Top Hardware Hack).”
