Stevens Institute of Technology: Admissions Blog

Spotlight on Transfer Students

Former Cornell University student-athlete and applied economics & management major Ryan Bridge entered Stevens as a transfer student after four years of active duty in Anah, Iraq.

A high school two-time New Jersey state champion wrestler, All-American, and academic high achiever, Ryan's acceptance to Cornell was not surprising. But his decision to leave the university early to join the U.S. Marine Corps, perhaps.

Ryan said joining the Marines was something he did out of a strong desire to serve the country's efforts at the time. And it didn't take long for his choice to earn the pride and respect of his family. He committed wholeheartedly to the stressful demands of his life as a Marine, rising to squad leader in his deployment to one of the most volatile areas in the War in Iraq.

Transitioning back to life in the U.S. wasn't easy, but getting back to undergraduate studies and wrestling was something Ryan gladly pursued. Ryan said it would have been much harder without the help of the Stevens Veterans Office and the Yellow Ribbon Program, an enhancement to the GI Bill that provides tuition assistance to qualified veterans.

Drawn to its location, size and offerings, Ryan continued to excel at Stevens. In the two seasons he competed as a wrestler, he earned a 32-7 career record. He qualified twice for the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships and All-America status both years he went to the tournament. Ryan finished fifth and seventh, respectively, in his two seasons. He was also selected as an Academic All-America and was a President's List Scholar.

A Business & Technology major, Ryan said one of the highlights of his career here was being able to apply what he learned in the classroom to real-life situations, and pointed to one project in particular. Ryan was one of four students who helped the Kortney Rose Foundation (KRF), a nonprofit organization that raises awareness of pediatric brain cancer and supports disease research and prevention efforts, improve its operational functions and ensure that its series of annual fundraisers are effective.

Ryan redesigned the KRF’s business systems and helped the KRF on the financial end with the creation of reports and strategic planning. Like many Stevens students, Ryan was eager to make a real difference, in this case fighting a devastating disease. “Brain tumors affect a lot of children,” he said. “I believe the Kortney Rose Foundation is a great program and can really help.”

His road to Stevens may be considered a path less traveled. But it is one that certainly matched his commitment to education and impacting the world. Set to graduate from Stevens this month and begin graduate studies here in the Business Intelligence and Analytics program, Ryan continues to face a bright future, ready for the challenges that lie ahead, he said. There is no doubt Ryan will fully seize the opportunity.

 

Natalie Schloeder began her college career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) as an aerospace engineering major but soon felt it wasn't a good fit, mainly because she longed to study in a location that offered a more diverse setting.

Natalie had been accepted to Stevens but had chosen to attend RPI because Stevens didn't offer an aerospace engineering degree. Everything else about Stevens was a great match, she said.

She transferred to Stevens' mechanical engineering program after her first semester at RPI, and quickly embraced the University's rich offerings. In her time at Stevens, she was a member of Stevens' concert band (alto sax) and served as Editor in Chief of The Stute (Stevens' student newspaper), captain of the women's tennis team and student athlete for the team for four years, and, with the encouragement of a classmate, a character in the Stevens production of Assassins.

She also took advantage of Stevens' proximity to top companies and employers, taking on an internship at Turner Construction Company, which is headquartered in New York City. She worked as a pre-construction intern for the concept and design of the Brooklyn Nets Arena.

What's more, Natalie didn't have to abandon aerospace engineering, a passion that ignited many years earlier in middle school. "Aerospace engineering is a concentration of mechanical engineering," she said. "And what I learned and experienced as a mechanical engineering student at Stevens propelled me right along the path I'd aimed for." Natalie is currently a graduate/doctoral student of aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech, leading research and problem-solving in the University's High Power Electric Propulsion Lab, specifically in designing ion engine thrusters for deep space missions.

The work she does in the lab requires being able to deliver viable solutions for contracted clients, which includes studying the problem and specifications, creating a design, and delivering it. "Essentially, I'm not just creating a solution, but the best answer to the problem, which works for the client and continues to attract funding for our work," she said.

Natalie gives kudos to Stevens for providing a wide breadth of extracurricular activities that enhance students' experiences and are also opportunities to learn how to multi-task. Maintaining good grades at a competitive school while enjoying activities outside the classroom requires creating a process to manage time well, and this was a key to her success, she said.

She also points to Stevens' Design Spine, a unique series of eight core design courses followed by a capstone, two-semester senior design project, as a significant advantage to students. "This design concentration throughout all my years at Stevens was extremely valuable," Natalie said. "The opportunity to create goals and timelines, think critically, solve open-ended questions, work collaboratively...it's all real-life training." She recently encountered a challenge in one of her projects and fell back on what she'd learned at Stevens to work through it, she added.

With her sights on innovating deep space exploration and on solid course to get there, Natalie has the universe at her feet. In this case, that's not just a metaphor.

Dominic Catalano began his college career at Binghamton University and then Tompkins Courtland Community College, where he earned an associates degree in engineering science before entering Stevens as a transfer student to pursue mechanical engineering.

Dominic customized his Stevens education with concentrations in automotive engineering as well as product design and manufacturing. For a number of reasons, it's no surprise that he's a member of the senior design team that took on the challenge of designing a Formula-style race car. 

The Formula SAE design competition is organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers, simulating what happens when a manufacturing company contracts design teams to develop a race car. Students prototype race cars that are judged on their potential for production for non-professional autocross racers. The teams must design, build, and test their prototypes under a certain criteria and rule-set that ensures on-track safety and promotes unique problem solving.

As part of the Formula SAE team at Stevens, Dominic was able to experience real-life work in an automotive engineering business environment, including research, design, manufacturing, testing, developing, marketing, management, and even fund raising. Cultivating alumni donations and business sponsorships is all part of the process, Dominic said. Click Here to see last year's Formula SAE car.

With several years of track and field experience both at Binghamton and Tompkins Courtland, Dominic fully embraces the competitive spirit on another level. He helped advance the Stevens track and field team as a student athlete for the last year remaining in his NCAA eligibility. And he competed in his first Iron Man at Lake Placid, New York, last year, finishing the race in just over 13 hours. Biking and running track and field for Stevens helped him train for the event, a regiment well worth juggling with a full schedule of studies and other activities, he added. "You just find time for what you're passionate about," Dominic said. "Even to the point of losing a little sleep." 

His advice to incoming students? "Stay organized. And schedule time for involvement in multiple groups." Dominic said. "But be careful not to spread yourself too thin. Choose a passion or two and then organize your time around that. This is hard when there's a lot to pursue and you have this feeling that if you're not involved, you might lose out on something. But it's important to find a balance, and over time, you do."

Moving on after graduation to graduate studies in mechanical engineering here at Stevens, Dominic is revving up for further research in combustion engines and designing efficiency for automotive applications. He looks forward to what the future holds at Stevens, but in the meantime, he's off to Nebraska with the Formula SAE team to race.

What might you experience at Stevens? The deadline for applying to Stevens as a transfer student is July 1. Click Here for more details.

 

 

Stevens Ranks High in "What's Your College Degree Worth?"

In Bloomberg Businessweek’s third annual ranking of the best colleges for return on investment (ROI), “What’s Your College Degree Worth?,” Stevens Institute of Technology’s ROI is 23rd in the nation.

The study is based upon PayScale.com, which uses self-reported salary data from alumni of more than 850 nationwide colleges and universities obtained through its online survey tools. The ROI ranking reflects what incoming students can reasonably expect from their investment in pursuing a college degree from a certain school. It represents the typical earnings of a graduate over a 30-year period, after deducting the net cost of the degree, which is based on the total “sticker price” minus the average financial aid award and adjusted for six-year graduation rate.

The 2012 report finds that average ROI across all surveyed colleges nationally decreased since 2011, reflecting sinking salaries in a tough economy and the rising cost of higher education. However, ROI for Stevens students remains at the front of the pack.

In addition, Stevens ranks eighth in ROI and fourth in ROI for graduates out of 18 metro area schools, and its graduation rate is the highest among the group. In its classification of “Private Research Universities, Engineering,” Stevens is fifth among all schools nationally.

Stevens’ leading ROI in part reflects national trends. In the 2012 report, private schools easily surpassed public schools in ROI. In addition, engineering schools averaged more than double the ROI for liberal arts schools, triple that of business schools, and more than 26 times that of arts and design schools.

Stevens students have outpaced the national average year after year in both placement rates and job outcomes, benefitting from exceptional academic programs, world-class research experiences and unique experiential learning opportunities that prepare them to become leaders in their chosen fields.

“Between our highly-competitive academic environment, market-relevant internship opportunities, nurturing and supportive campus, and prime location minutes from Manhattan, Stevens students have everything they need to achieve personal, professional and financial success,” said Maureen Weatherall, vice president of university enrollment and administration.

Employers continue to value the quality and reputation of a Stevens education, with members of the Class of 2012 having already accepted offers from well-known companies such as Deloitte, DuPont, Goldman Sachs, Honeywell, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, UBS and United Technologies.

“Few universities can match Stevens in terms of job placement, a testament to the rigorous academic background of our students and the professional work experiences so many obtain in the most in-demand fields, well before graduation,” said Lynn Insley, director of career development.

Women at Stevens: Network, network, network

In celebration of 40 years of women undergraduates at Stevens, the Stevens Alumni Association hosted an “Alumnae of Distinction’’ panel on March 21, featuring five extraordinary alumnae who hope to inspire the next generation of female students.

One recommendation for success was repeated several times during the discussion: make connections.

“Find your connection’’ was the advice of SAA Past President and Genworth senior executive Mary Doddy ’80, who welcomed more than 65 alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff members to the panel discussion on campus this month. “If you walk around, I’m sure you can find your own ‘six degrees of separation’ in this room,’’ Doddy said, referring to the idea that everyone is approximately six steps away, by way of introduction, to any other person.

The five alumnae were invited back to Stevens to offer advice to today’s talented students and share their extraordinary stories of success. They were Angie Hankins ’95, a partner with Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, a nationally recognized law firm with practice areas in capital markets, intellectual property, labor and employment; Lisa Mascolo ’82, the Chief Executive Officer of Optimos, a strategy and enterprise IT solutions firm; Tammy Rambaldi ’92, director of information security and IT compliance at Johnson & Johnson; MaryAnne Rizk ’01, M.S. ’01, a senior director, partnership and alliance, at Medidata Solutions, and a faculty member at Stevens; and Yvette Vargas, M.S. ’88, managing director, head of talent, development and diversity at UBS Wealth Management Americas.

The panelists were asked how to define success and all shared a personal story about what success is in their lives.

“I define success as the impact that my work has done, and it can take a long time to see that,’’ said Rambaldi. “Success is also seeing what my team does and gaining the satisfaction in seeing them succeed.’’

For Vargas, success is a lifelong process. “Success is a journey that recalibrates itself. If I can go to work and make one person better at what he does, then that to me is a success,’’ she said.

The panelists offered their thoughts on strategies for women to succeed.

“Network,’’ advised Mascolo. “Make that connection. Interpersonal relationships are often overlooked. Most women miss the value of connections. For instance, I don’t play golf, but I go out on the golf course. Just because I don’t play doesn’t mean I can’t talk to people and just make my presence known.’’

Vargas echoed Mascolo’s comments.

"Peer relationships are critical. Do I go out of my way to make my peers successful? We get results through working with people. It’s about networking,’’ she said.

Mascolo also shared her three philosophies of life: listen to others, learn as much as you can, and read just about anything you get your hands on. “Reading any sort of literature opens your mind to ideas that you may have never had,’’ she advised.

Hankins shared her unconventional route to success. After high school, she enlisted in the Air Force and served for four years. She entered Stevens and belonged to the fencing team, the Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP), Khoda and was a resident assistant. After graduation, she began law school at the University of Virginia. She made partner at Stroock in 2008 and today, among the more than 300 lawyers at her firm, she is the only African-American partner. Her success came from knowing what she wanted and also asking her supervisors how to attain it. “You have to push and ask for what you want. I asked about making partner (at annual reviews). I asked them, ‘What should I be doing to be partner ready?’ ’’ Hankins said.

The five women had some ideas on how to get more girls interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) courses. Vargas suggested getting the parents of young girls interested in Stevens, which would allow for talk of the Institute in the home. Rambaldi thought girls as young as elementary age need to be reached to nurture a love of STEM. Hankins suggested partnering with civic groups such as the Girl Scouts to create interest.

Rizk, who is working on her Ph.D. at Stevens, discussed the benefits of her Stevens education. “A Stevens education (allowed me to) springboard to the next level. A technical degree is a good investment. It opens doors. It allows you to take your education and navigate it to the next level,’’ she said.

Lynn Insley, the director of Stevens’ Office of Career Development, served as moderator of the event.

Stevens Students Spring to Careers

Stevens' career fairs have always been winners. They feature top companies offering full-time employment and rewarding summer internships. This year's Spring Career Fair on March 7 was no exception. Nearly 100 top companies participated. 

Prepped and confident Stevens students took advantage of the opportunity to meet impressive companies like Alcatel-Lucent, AT&T, BASF, Colgate-Palmolive, ExxonMobil, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Tishman Construction, Unilever, and Wyndham Resorts. Organizations new to the Fair included TIAA-CREF and Toll Brothers.  

For more information about career development and professional placement at Stevens, visit: http://www.stevens.edu/sit/ocd/

 

 

 

 

Undergraduate Research Fosters Innovation

Research has been a core value of the Stevens Institute of Technology education since its founding. From the Scholars Program to Technogenesis to Senior Design, research serves as a critical foundation of the Stevens experience, where undergraduates are engaged in sophisticated research usually reserved for graduate students at other universities. Stevens students look forward to and thrive on hands-on, practical research and its applications, in many instances seeing their work published, reach the patent stage, and/or presented at conferences.

Each year, students participate in a Research Colloquium, where they are able to share their research and outcomes with their peers, faculty, and industry partners. Projects run the gamut, covering topics in each major discipline.

Jennifer Wehof, an environmental engineering major and cooperative education student currently in her fourth year at Stevens, is working on a project entitled “After the Storm: Beach Recovery” as part of the Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering department. Through the Scholars Program, she has worked with Dr. Jon Miller in the Davidson Laboratory since her freshman year. When this research opportunity became available, Jennifer wanted to work on it, but she also knew she wanted to study abroad. Dr. Miller helped her balance both, and Jennifer was able to spend this past summer in the Netherlands while continuing her research. The project has since been submitted for inclusion in the International Conference for Coastal Engineering, which will be held in Spain this coming summer. If chosen, her advisor in Holland will present their work at the conference, where Jenny hopes to join him.

“Research is so important because it helps you be innovative and learn to form your own conclusions and ideas. Instead of relying on other people to tell me what’s next, I can research and figure it out on my own,” Jennifer explains. “Working on this project has opened my mind to other opportunities – I’m now considering a Ph.D. program. I can see myself being a professor and helping students the way my professors have helped me.” Jennifer also credits Study Abroad as a key component of her Stevens experience: “Being able to do research abroad was incredible, but being immersed in another culture while continuing my studies was invaluable.”

Thomas Tritt says he has always been interested in research because his dream is to pursue medical school after graduating from Stevens. Through the Technogenesis Summer Scholars Program, Thomas, a junior biomedical engineering student, has been involved with a project (“Development and Evaluation of a Novel, Real-Time Mobile Telesonography System in Management of Abdominal Trauma”) in conjunction with Hackensack Medical Center, working under Dr. Vikki Hazelwood and Ph.D. student Marissa Gray.

“Last summer, I was developing a protocol and collecting data for the project, but this summer I will be able to go even deeper into the project, helping Marissa publish a paper for her Ph.D.,” Thomas says. “It’s partially funded by the Department of Defense, so I will get to do research and data collection for them as well.” Thomas defines his research experience as allowing him to reach a “higher level of understanding for a particular field.” He hopes to focus on research in medical school and credits Technogenesis with helping him accomplish his goals at Stevens. He is also pursuing an Entrepreneurship minor, which he feels compliments his studies and research by helping provide fundamentals: “Entrepreneurship is the spirit of Technogenesis!” he adds. “Stevens provides an excellent educational background for students and then also affords them the real-life opportunities to do research hands-on,” Thomas asserts.

On another end of the spectrum, Stevens students are also participating in research that combines science and technology with art and music. Nick Catania, who is set to graduate in May, has a double major in physics & engineering physics and music & technology. His project – “Research and Development of an Interactive Learning Display for the Liberty Science Center” – has the potential to go live in the very near future. Nick knew he wanted to do something unique that would increase his knowledge in sound design and recording but also go a step further to really allow him a chance to conduct innovative research. With the help of his advisor David Musial, he met with the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City and the idea for creating a music video production experience for school children was immediately embraced. Though there are many layers in the development of this project, Nick is proud that he has been able to have a hand in them all. His advice to other researchers: Don’t ever be afraid to explore.

“When I first looked at this project, I was not thinking about the computer science part, but I explored and taught myself the programming language,” he explains. “I never thought I’d be where I am today when this started, but I wasn’t afraid to explore. Knowing the potential result continues to drive me.” Hoping to complete the project before graduation, Nick is excited to be able to give back to a younger generation through this music video display. Nick hopes that if it is successful at the Liberty Science Center, it will be replicated at other science centers. “If it has the impact I’m hoping, it will allow children to truly see the transfer of information between science and art. It will give them something to hold onto, and be inspired.”

Another project fusing science and art is “Building Immersive Image-Based Visualization Environments” that Caroline Amaba and Zachary Moy worked on together with advisor Brian Moriarty. Caroline will receive dual degrees in computer science and art & technology when she graduates in May 2012. The project started as a way to explore new ideas for incorporating research into art & technology. Together, they built the foundation for what they’ve nicknamed EVE – Explorable Visual Environs.

“For me, research was learning in a different way. It takes it way further than the classroom; because it is so hands-on, it helps you retain what you’re learning, and I really enjoyed that,” Caroline states. “We had to make our own goals and figure out what needed to be done. That was invaluable.”

In addition, Caroline and Zak co-authored two papers with their advisor that were accepted to two conferences. Professor Moriarty will present the paper Utilizing Explorable Visual Environments for Experiential Applications at the Conference on Systems Engineering Research in St. Louis this summer and Zak presented Implementation of Explorable Visual Environments for Cultural Heritage and Experience Applications at the International Conference & Expo on Emerging Technologies for a Smarter World in Hauppauge, NY last year.

“This project gave me so many new ideas for my art & technology final project as well. It has been an incredible resume boost and is helping to guide me to where I want to go in the future,” Caroline concludes.

Internships: Each One, a Unique Journey

Every college student has heard of the importance of internships: gaining real-world experience, making valuable professional contacts, putting into practice what you’re studying, all in the hopes of standing out to future employers and landing a dream job at graduation. While all of that is true, students rarely are told that internships can also be exciting and fun, and that the development and growth isn’t only professional - it's personal, too.

Stevens is extremely successful in connecting students to summer internships with many of the world's leading companies. The Office of Career Development has relationships with hundreds of companies who recruit Stevens students precisely because of our students' track record for helping companies achieve their corporate goals.

Daniel Schaffer completed his first internship after his freshman year at Stevens. A Computer Science major set to graduate in 2014, he attended a Career Fair hosted by the Office of Career Development with the intention of securing an opportunity with an investment bank working in technology. He approached the representative from UBS and during the conversation mentioned his background in creating applications for iPhones. Though UBS typically doesn’t take interns earlier than students in their junior year, they hired Dan, who became their youngest intern ever.

“I work hard but I also got a bit lucky with my background,” Dan states. “It’s hot right now – everyone wants iPhone apps.”

UBS was no exception. While there, Dan was one of the only interns to have very specific tasks for the summer. He wrote several iPhone apps for them, including a Mobile Directory of the entire organization that he was able to demo in front of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO), two of the top executives in the company.

“At the end of the summer, there was an intern commencement ceremony, and about 1,000 interns from around the country were gathered together via conference,” Dan says. “When the CIO spoke, she called me out directly to thank me for my help with the app project and said publicly that she hopes I’ll come back and work for them again. It was such a great experience!”

Needless to say, when UBS offered Dan an internship for this coming summer, he jumped at the chance.

Some internships develop even further and eventually become full-time career opportunities.

“I’ve been working at the Macquarie Group for three years,” says Alex Hieronymi. “I started as an intern the summer after freshman year, stayed on part-time during the school years and went back full-time in the summers. Now they’ve offered me a job, so I will join the company as a full-time employee after graduation.”

Alex, a Cybersecurity major who will graduate in May this year, originally found out about this opportunity through the Cooperative Education program. His first internship required him to work on a website that calculated financial predictions, and the project was still going when the summer ended. They asked him to stay on to complete the project, and he has been part of Macquarie ever since.

“I’ve worked on two teams: the Desktop Support Team and the Service, Design & Development Team,” Alex states. “I’ve traveled to Boston, Philladelphia and Miami, helping to fix problems and integrate desktops.”

What he’s accomplished has paid off, and in May, Alex will continue to be a key member of the teams he works with. He credits his Cybersecurity background with allowing him to take everything a step further by keeping security in mind during his day-to-day tasks.

Sara Pacella, a Mechanical Engineering major who will also graduate in 2012, had a different experience during her internship at Hamilton Sundstrand. Though she values what she learned while there, it helped to validate what she really wants to do after graduation.

“I worked in mergers & acquisitions doing research on potential companies, their products, potential synergies and what contracts were already in place,” she explains. “It was a very positive experience but more on the business side. I definitely want a career where I can use my Mechanical Engineering background.”

She was introduced to this opportunity by a colleague at her part-time job who connected her with a Stevens alum employed by Hamilton Sundstrand. Sara values networking and does take away some additional lessons from her internship experience:

“There was a lot of teamwork and meetings in my group. I got to work on projects that were very meaningful to the organization. It was really interesting to witness firsthand how people in the real world work on teams and come together to get a job done.”

Sometimes internships allow students to fuse together more than one interest. For senior Kelsey Reynolds, her experience at Integra LifeSciences did just that.

“I am very interested in Marketing, but also Science. That’s why I love the Business & Technology program at Stevens – I get the best of both worlds!” Kelsey asserts.

She discovered the internship at Integra while looking for marketing/business opportunities in the medical devices and pharmaceutical industries. During the interview process, she was asked to put together a thorough business analysis and present it, and she credits the business and research background she’s received in Dr. George Calhoun’s classes with helping her land the job. 

Working in the Orthobiologics department, Kelsey says she learned a lot about the company’s products, what marketing claims were being made, how to investigate competitors and how to help the sales force. She was able to use her business education in this role and liked that she was exposed to all aspects of the process – she says she felt like much more than an intern.

This internship, which she completed in the summer of 2011, led to her current internship, where she’s working with a small start-up medical devices firm on investor presentations and website development. Kelsey isn’t sure where she’ll be after graduation this May but is investigating opportunities with both Integra and her current firm.

“What I do know is that I want to stay in the medical devices industry, hopefully becoming a product manager,” Kelsey says. “I really love promoting and growing product offerings in the healthcare industry.”

Every internship experience is different, but each holds its own value and lessons. Whether it’s helping to secure a full-time job down the road, emphasizing what you really love (or reminding you what you don’t!), or just adding another key work experience to a resume, internships help students learn and grow… and many times enjoy themselves in the process.

The Freshman Experience at Stevens

Hello college-bound friends! We recently had the opportunity to speak with a number of freshmen about their first year here at Stevens and thought you would like to know what a few of them shared.

There are so many factors in considering which college will be a good fit for you, and we know that you are most likely juggling a lot of college information in addition to staying on top of your high school course load, extracurricular activities, and other college preparation. We hope reading what some of our freshmen have to say will give you insight and perhaps some relief in your process of exploring Stevens as an option, especially if you are wondering what it is like once you’re a student here!

Tom Cruz is a computer engineering major who was sold, he said, on Stevens early on in his college search, and especially once he visited campus. He applied through Early Decision, was accepted, and got a head start on meeting fellow freshman by enrolling in the Outdoor Adventure Pre-orientation Program offered right before freshman orientation. “I went backpacking and had the time of my life,” he said. “Hiking the Adirondack Mountains with my future classmates created a bond that will last a lifetime. Coming back to campus with a group of friends I’d made during Pre-orientation made for an easy transition to the beginning of my college career. As the semester commenced, I got involved with many clubs on campus, including the Latin American Association, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and the Entertainment Committee. I also ran for Senator of the Student  Government Association (SGA) and was one of fourteen who won the election.” During his first semester here, Tom also got the opportunity to attend a SHPE conference in Anaheim, California, which included seminars on leadership and professionalism and a career fair at which companies were recruiting students for internships and co-op jobs. “I take pride in being a Stevens student,” he added. “My first semester in college was full of great memories that will stay with me forever, and I know there will be many more in store for me in the semesters to come.”

Carolina Pelaez is a chemical engineering major from Union City High School Academy for Enrichment and Advancement. She said her favorite thing about her first semester at Stevens has been learning how to balance schoolwork and other things that are important to her. “I managed to handle school, friends, family, and extracurricular activities,” she said. “It’s important to get a solid grip on how to handle all these aspects of the college experience. I imagine it’s only going to get more challenging each semester, and it wouldn’t be to my advantage at all if I only learned how to manage the coursework. We all need activities outside the classroom, and at Stevens, it's easy to get involved in all that the university has to offer. No matter what you're interested in, there's something for you.”  

Sean Balanon is a music and technology major who said he appreciates having been able to meet and learn more about his fellow music and technology classmates and his professors during freshman orientation. Like Tom, Sean also participated in Pre-orientation. He chose the Performing Arts option and along with 20 other freshmen got to write and rehearse a show that they performed for the school. “We took theatre workshops in which we learned about acting, dancing, and what goes on behind the scenes of a stage production, like sound, lighting and music,” he said. “We also jumped over to New York City to take a tour of Lincoln Center, the world’s leading performing arts center. Of course the experience wouldn’t be complete without seeing a Broadway show or two. We saw the revival of RENT at the New World Stages theatre, and How to Succeed in Business starring Daniel Radcliffe.” Sean added that his freshman experience has been fantastic. “As a music and technology major, I’m learning everything that I want to and need to from the courses I’m taking. The environment is great. Being situated so close to New York City is truly amazing. The Manhattan skyline is breathtaking, and there are so many things to do on and off campus. There is never a dull moment!”

Allison Outwater is majoring in both civil engineering and mechanical engineering. As you can probably guess, pursuing dual majors means she’s highly dedicated to her studies. That doesn't take her away, however, from other activities. “I’m originally from Wall Township High School in central New Jersey. Stevens is a huge change from high school for me, but it has been a very good change," she said. "I’ve joined the Society of Women Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, Engineers Without Borders, the Stevens Dramatic Society, Silkscreeners (a T-shirt making group), and the Entertainment Committee, student group that plans many of the large events on  campus. Through each of these groups, I have met a vast group of people and become close to so many different kinds of people. I chose Stevens for the amazing opportunities here and the close-knit community. I wanted the chance to be seen as more than a number.” Reflecting on her first semester, Allison said she “fell in love” with Stevens even more so once she got here. “For all the reasons I chose Stevens and because of what I’ve experienced first-hand now as a student – the coursework and resources, the student life, the great faculty – I’m very pleased.”

Like Sean said, there really is never a dull moment at Stevens. To learn more, visit www.stevens.edu or speak to an Admissions staff member at 800.STEVENS. We are always happy to assist!

Stevens' Early Decision II Deadline is January 15

Prospective undergraduate students, if Stevens is your top choice but you haven't yet applied, we thought you would appreciate a friendly reminder that our Early Decision II deadline, January 15, is just over a week away.

Why do nearly half of our incoming undergraduate students choose an Early Decision option? Here are a few very important reasons why:

• If you are accepted to Stevens through Early Decision II, you will know by February 15th where you’re going to college. The search comes to a pleasant end, and you can relax and enjoy the rest of your senior year.
• Upon acceptance through Early Decision, we are able to provide you an estimate of your financial aid package so you get a head start on planning for the costs of attendance.
• With the search process out of the way, you would have a chance to explore Stevens more deeply and make important connections with fellow accepted students and current students who are eager to assist you in acclimating to Stevens. You can also plan ahead to attend various faculty luncheons designed to introduce you to instructors who will most likely also serve as your mentors throughout your career at Stevens.

Just as a reminder, the Early Decision plan is “binding,” meaning if you submit a tuition deposit as an Early Decision II candidate by the stated deadline, you agree to 1) Withdraw all applications from other institutions, 2) Not initiate any new applications at other institutions, and 3) Attend Stevens in the fall 2012. Our expectation is that if accepted, you will be joining the university, and will confirm this by submitting your deposit.

Also keep in mind that if you have already applied to Stevens through regular admission but would like to switch your application to Early Decision II, you may contact our office. Stevens makes it easy for you to apply using our online application or the Common Application. Both allow you to waive the application fee. They can be accessed at www.stevens.edu/sit/admissions/apply/instructions.cfm.

We look forward to assisting you in any way!

Cooperative Education (Co-op) at Stevens

In Today's Competitive Job Market, a Degree Alone is Not Enough. Enter, Cooperative Education.

More and more, college students are realizing that top employers expect college graduates to have professional experience when they complete their degrees and apply for full-time jobs in their fields. But how does an undergraduate college student accumulate the kind of experience companies are seeking? With heavy course loads, active student lives, and limited opportunities for resume-worthy work experience, this is a tall order for the average college student.

Successfully meeting this challenge for many years, Stevens' Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program is well-known and distinct. An impressive 40 percent of our students participate, and in recent years, Stevens Co-op students have been standouts among their peers, several being honored with the national Cooperative Education Student of the Year and New Jersey Cooperative Education Student of the Year awards. 

At Stevens, Co-op students begin their first Co-op placement after their freshman year, and they then alternate semesters in class with increasingly sophisticated full-time work experience, garnering up to five placements by the time they graduate. They work with industry leaders in a particular field, testing their career goals in different companies and positions, building impressive resumes, and earning money to help pay tuition and expenses. 

While the benefits are unlimited and also unique to individual experience, a common positive outcome is that Stevens Co-op students have no problem when it comes to preparedness for career placement at the end of their educational journeys. For Co-op students like cybersecurity major Max Grifka, deciding to participate in Co-op was a "no-brainer." In fact, Stevens' Co-op program was one of the main reasons he chose Stevens when he was searching for colleges. He's completely satisfied with the result. At the start of this - his senior - academic year, Max accepted a job offer from Goldman Sachs and will begin his full-time responsibilities as an information security analyst for the company in July 2012. "Co-op is as much (if not more) about gaining experience and confidence navigating the professional work environment as it is about developing your technical knowledge and skills," he said. "I worked in several high-pressure environments and with high-level executives," he said. "This kind of experience is invaluable." 

Chelsea Bajek, senior environmental engineering student, expressed similar sentiments about her time as a Co-op student. Chelsea gave high praises for the "meaningful work" she did in five placements at Hazen & Sawyer, a private environmental engineering consulting company in New York City. "As an undergraduate, and early on, it was the same level of work they give entry-level engineers who already have a degree," she said. "Being entrusted with serious projects feels great. It builds confidence and a kind of knowledge you just can't learn in coursework alone." Writing detailed specifications for clients, working with outside vendors, and analyzing current technical processes for cost savings and other benefits are some of the responsibilities she exemplified as critical experiences for her career development. Among many advantages, her Co-op work validated her interest and passion for creating innovative solutions for water and waste water treatment. "We're always going to need access to clean drinking water," she said. "Even more so in the future. My Co-op work experience and my senior design project leverage me on the forefront of innovation, working toward energy conservation and cost savings associated with water treatment technology. I am truly grateful." Chelsea will also earn a master's degree in environmental engineering at Stevens by the time she graduates this spring.

Co-op student Daniel Bolella had placements in three different companies, and he validated that his Co-op duties were anything but "busy work."  At ADP, Hess, and the Burgiss Group, all companies in the metro area, Daniel's analytical, programming, and coding skills, for example, were put to use to solve sophisticated problems with tremendous outcomes. Professionals at Hess are still using his solution for better estimating future electricity prices, he said. Applying what he learned as a computer science major at Stevens and, in turn, bringing knowledge from the workplace back to his coursework and class projects added great value to his education. One of his biggest take-aways as a Co-op student was learning discipline, he added. "With coding, for example, it's one thing to learn how to do it from a book or course, and another thing when you're on a real project for a real company. The expectations are high, the problems are complex, and while there are great mentors and mangers there, you've got to direct your own process too," he said. "My Co-op placements really taught me how to be a professional software engineer." At Stevens, Daniel is also working toward a minor in history, is the music chair of the Student Government Association's entertainment committee, and is collaborating with a multidisciplinary team as head computer engineer developing the artificial intelligence for an Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) to be entered for the second year in a national competition sponsored by the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Office of Naval Research.  

Emily Hesselbacher is a senior biomedical engineering major whose four Co-op placements at Stryker Orthopaedic and L'Oreal helped advance her on a path to success. At the beginning of the school year, Emily was happy to accept a full-time job offer from L'Oreal. She will be joining the company in an elite, fast-paced management development program right after graduation this spring. At L'Oreal, three leadership rotations, each for one year, will expose Emily to manufacturing, supply chain, and finance areas of the company, positioning her for a high-level management position upon completion. "My presentation of results from the Co-op project I worked on at L'Oreal ended up being part of my job interview for a full-time position there," she said. "It was great because I was confident about my presentation, and I was genuinely excited because I liked and was proud of my work, and I knew the L'Oreal team well." While her first Co-op placement at Stryker Orthopaedic was in research and development (R & D), it was the experience in manufacturing at L'Oreal that piqued her interest the most. Emily is glad to have had the opportunity to explore different areas of focus and different companies while a Co-op student, well before graduation. Biomedical engineering is a growing major, she said, adding that few universities offer it. Stevens was on the top of her list when it came time to look at colleges not only because Stevens offers biomedical engineering, but also because of the university's location and size. Experiencing a smaller university and program was a bonus, she said. "Professors at Stevens know you by name. My Co-op adviser was always available. Plus, I got to work in groups on projects with my peers and on serious design projects. In the real world, engineers work in groups on multi-disciplinary teams. I'm lucky to have had that experience in my Co-op jobs but also at Stevens."  Among other positives she experienced as a student at Stevens, Emily said she's also grateful for the opportunity to have taken a break from engineering one summer to take part in an exciting archaeological dig in Genzano, Italy, near Rome. She was also pleased to have served as chair of Stevens' chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, helping to enhance programs and increase participation in this important legacy at Stevens.

Engineering management major Steven Koch, who's also earning a minor in economics and a concentration in systems engineering, is finishing up his senior coursework and is another Co-op student already celebrating a full-time position awaiting after graduation. Steven recently accepted a job offer from Johnson & Johnson and will start there in June, 2012, as an associate analyst in the company's Information Technology Leadership Development Program. Steven is actually one of a special group of Stevens students who entertain more than one job offer. He also received an offer from Ernst & Young. Of his four Co-op placements and one internship experience, Steven said he enjoyed getting exposure to his field from a practical stand point, noting that Co-op made him "grow up" professionally and in other ways. Hands-on experience at the Movado Group, Research in Motion, and Crestron Electronics, for example, allowed him to apply the theory and concepts he learned in class to solving real problems. In addition, the experiences fostered important qualities like independence, determination, and even management of personal finances, he added. "Essentially, Co-op allowed my learning to extend beyond the text book," he said. "My work included work all along the information technology (IT) supply chain. I oversaw all steps in the distribution process, including software, cost saving, developing, and reporting performance metrics," he said. "For me, Co-op was an agent for a lot of change, professionally and personally."

Paul Peskosky set his sights on Stevens mainly due to the Co-op program's excellent reputation, he said. Five Co-op placements later, Paul is now wrapping up his senior year as a civil engineering major and said he truly enjoyed the "trial by fire" and "down and dirty" experience he was exposed to in the Co-op placements. Paul's area of expertise and interest is construction and structural engineering, and he's thankful for his Co-op jobs at Hayward Baker and Boswell Engineering. He is especially fond of his work at Hayward Baker, a specialized geotechnical, large-scale construction company based in New Jersey. "It's the best work you'll never see," Paul joked. "The pilings and such for skyscrapers. The construction that has to withstand forces like earthquakes and hurricanes and in all kinds of terrain, and on budget and on schedule."  At Hayward Baker, Paul served as a field engineer and took on project engineer responsibilities when the opportunity arose one month into one of his Co-op placements there. He enjoyed the work so much, he even took on a night shift for a period of time to learn more. There's nothing about Co-op Paul sees as too much of a challenge. In fact, he said he's like the Co-op ambassador, if such a role existed. "I truly think Co-op is the best thing at Stevens," he said. "Not that everything else isn't great, but I mean I just can't see students not at least exploring it if they can." During his career at Stevens, Paul also found time to be invovled on campus. For example, he helped rejuvinate Stevens' chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, promoting civil engineering across campus with intriguing events like a tower building contest in which winners received iPod shuffles.   

 

Senior civil engineering major and Co-op student Michael Consoli is also earning his master's degree in construction management. One of the great advantages of being a Co-op student at Stevens, he noted, was that he was allowed to take night classes even during the alternating semesters he was working full-time on Co-op assignment. Like many students, this allowed him to maximize his time at Stevens, and it paid off. Michael began his career at Stevens as a mechanical engineering student, but his first mechanical engineering Co-op job made him realize that civil engineering was more in line with his interests, and he had the flexibility at Stevens to change his major. "Getting your feet wet in the field before it's too late to change your mind is really key," Michael said. "I'm glad I was able to test the waters with mechanical engineering and then change my path very easily. My remaining Co-op placements were in civil engineering, and it was clear then that I'd made the right choice." Like other Co-op students, Michael said that doing work that affects a real business is very rewarding and builds confidence. His experience at Tishman Construction was especially rewarding, and he's still employed part-time there as he finishes up his senior year at Stevens. "Being involved in the life of an entire project for a company is amazing," he said. "I even inherited roles at the company that became available as their regular employees moved on or into new ones. Essentially, I truly felt like an integral part of the organization, learning about and affecting the day-to-day work and getting a feel for what it's really like on the job. It's important to experience the successes and failures of the business firsthand and to actually apply what you've learned in class," he said. Michael highlighted how rewarding it is that the Co-op experiences and his coursework at Stevens reinforced each other. It's a win, he said, all around. "At Stevens, you have amazing professors, great design and course work, and at the same time, you get a solid career-orientation and worldliness you don't get at other schools," he said. "Especially as Co-op student."  

Erik Thompson joins his Co-op peers in noting that he was treated like any other full-time employee (and paid well) at his Co-op placements. He made major contributions and even earned employee benefits. A senior electrical engineering major who will also leave Stevens with a graduate certificate in wireless communication, Erik will be entering a career in electrical engineering with a highly sophisticated resume due to his Co-op work. At SafeFlight, for example, he was involved in sophisticated problem solving in all aspects of the development of a new "Angle of Attack" sensor, which is a mechanism that keeps airplanes from stalling. And Picatinny Arsenal gave him a chance to hone his computer programming skills. He made a major contribution by translating code he'd found on an open source library into the company's programming language and earned much respect for doing so. "The reality is, employers expect something beyond the classroom," Erik said. "Knowing that, Stevens' Co-op program and the design spine in the engineering programs were the top reasons I chose Stevens. These are especially great advantages for Stevens students. If I look at my before and after resume alone, I see an amazing transformation." Erik's sights are set on a career in wireless communication research for the defense industry.  At Stevens, Erik was also busy serving as the radio station's program manager. His senior design project involves implementing a repeater on Steven's Howe Center, a device that extends the range of weaker radio signals in and around Hoboken. A member of the Anime and Hobby Robotics clubs and the Gaming Society at Stevens, Erik also started up an amateur radio club.

You can learn more about applying to Stevens by Clicking Here. We look forward to showing you all that Stevens has to offer!

From Here to Career

Early Job Offers: Stevens Seniors Find a Great Return on Investment

College-bound students are attracted to Stevens Institute of Technology for many reasons, not the least of which is Stevens' excellent career placement record. By commencement this spring, for example, 80% of the Stevens Class of 2011 had received job offers, and this percentage increased to 85% in a snapshot taken only three months out from graduation. What's more, the average starting salary of a Stevens graduate stands above the national average across the board.

As a college-bound student, you can predict that getting a healthy return on your investment in higher education (your money, time, hard work, passion) is extremely rewarding. But imagine how especially satisfying it would be to accept an exciting job offer in your field even before you finish the first semester of your final year! 

Meet several Stevens seniors who've done just that. Their stories reflect the success of many Stevens students in the context of an outstanding legacy of broad-based, hands-on education and opportunity afforded our students for generations.