Why study Systems Engineering?

Systems is probably the most difficult type of engineering at Penn to explain to your family over Thanksgiving Dinner, or even Penn Engineering students outside the systems department. Because systems engineering can be applied to so many different engineering fields and industries; such as information technology, finance, computer science, and manufacturing; the definition can be different for almost any student. However, after three years as a student in the systems department, the easiest blanket definition that comes to my mind is optimizing outputs, given complex inputs.

I applied to Penn Engineering because I was good at math and science in high school, and I knew engineers were capable of making huge contributions to improving quality of life on a huge scale. When considering which major I was interested in pursuing, I wasn’t sure exactly what systems engineering involved, but the wide range of possibilities seemed like the right fit for me since I liked physics, math and innovation more than lab work.

My freshman year in systems was similar to other engineers at Penn, in that I had the same type of general engineering requirements like calculus, physics, computer science and chemistry.  First semester of sophomore year, I quickened my pace even more, and really started the systems curriculum with classes like circuits, dynamic systems, and statistics.

When the middle of my sophomore year came around, I wanted to start my summer internship search. Even though I had experienced some core systems classes, I struggled to decide how I would apply this knowledge. I knew my skills could be widely applicable and I am a fast learner, but my industry choices were not as clearly defined as some other engineering majors who traditionally conduct research in labs or work for chemical companies for internship experience. Systems engineers do everything from work on Wall Street, to build water systems in developing countries, to design airplane routing systems, to developing systems for alternative energy. Confused about where to start, I began by looking for internship postings for companies that looked exciting and enjoyable for me, with an exciting, motivating atmosphere. I applied to many different companies, but ended up receiving an offer from my all-time favorite retail company, based in Philadelphia. I was placed in the Information Technology department, and wasn’t sure exactly what I would be doing in the IT Department of a retail company, but decided that it would be a new and exciting experience even though it was definitely a non-traditional internship for a Penn engineer. Throughout the summer, I was able to visit the distribution centers, learn about their global supply chain, and build models in different software programs to optimize their inventory needs. I never would have dreamed that I would be working in retail, especially for a company that I have been a loyal patron of since I was about 12 years old, but the experience opened my eyes as to how useful and applicable systems (and an engineering education) is. I used skills from Penn classes such as statistics, critical analysis, optimization, project management, and, of course, the ability to think on my feet and be proactive.

After my summer experience, I continued through my junior year, taking core systems classes, but choosing electives that would deepen my understanding of my summer work and also help me learn about different applications of systems engineering as well. The core systems classes like dynamic systems, stochastic systems and control systems are hard to understand before you take them. Dynamic systems involved modeling systems with memory mathematically, like, for example, how an elevator works. Stochastic systems involved modeling systems that behave randomly, using statistics. Controls uses more advanced math to model controllers such as airplane motors and control systems. These core classes give students the fundamentals to develop solutions to general engineering problems. Electives I have enjoyed include classes in Wharton classes like Global Supply Chain and Business Programming, as well as Engineering electives like Product Design and Project Management. These classes are focused on group work and business applications, which I enjoy a lot.

As a rising senior, I am still discovering new applications of my systems education and look forward to taking new electives during my senior year to explore which industry is best for me. I’m glad that the systems curriculum is challenging but gives students the opportunity to choose electives and discover what type of systems fits their skills sets and interests (though, I wish more transportation and manufacturing classes would be offered!). With the constantly changing global environment and economy, systems engineering is a good choice because of the endless opportunities to apply your systems-thinking skills. It has not been an easy run so far, but I’m confident that it is, and will be, worth the challenge. Because, after all, life is a never-ending series of new, complex problems, right?

Questions for Hilary?  Contact her at awe@seas.upenn.edu

Reflections from a Senior

Last week I had the great pleasure of watching the 2012 Senior Design Project Competition, which is a series of presentations from the design winners from each of the six engineering departments at Penn.   My mind was totally blown when I was watching some of these presentations and in many cases, demos of really cool products.   I’ve been in Penn Engineering for four years, but I had never seen anything like these before.  Some design projects are extremely innovative.  The winning project this year was called “PVS: Pacemaker Verification System,” from a group of male and female electrical engineering students.  These students designed the hardware and circuitry for a model of a heart, which could be hooked up to a pacemaker to be able to study the effects of a pacemaker on the heart and vice versa.  A lot of the products have great potential for commercial success, and in fact, a handful of Penn Engineering grads each year are known to pursue their senior design projects as entrepreneurs.

To the prospective students who may be reading this, every Penn Engineering student is required to work on a design project their senior year.  To some, it feels like a requirement, but to others, it’s an opportunity to be creative and work on a project you’re passionate about and are 100% in charge of.  Senior design project requirements vary based on the major, but in essence, all senior design projects are innovative and viable product or process design.  The goal of most design projects is to make a product, but in my major specifically, CBE (Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering), many of the projects are designs of chemical processes.

To give you some background on me, I’m a senior in CBE, and I’m getting ready to graduate and leave Penn in less than three weeks.  Saying that Penn has treated me well would be a vast understatement.  I’ve had an amazing four years at Penn, and there have definitely have been a few things that have shaped my experience.  The first would be the community within Penn Engineering.  Most Penn Engineers I’ve met are very friendly, helpful people who happen to be extremely bright and hard working.  Yes, engineering is a lot of work and yes, it’s challenging.  But don’t let that scare you out of a social life and extracurriculars!  Penn Engineers are involved in so many different things at Penn and in the Philadelphia community.  I myself am a singer in Counterparts, a co-ed jazz and pop a cappella group.  Whether or not you sing/dance/act, the performing arts shows at Penn are a lot of fun to attend each weekend.  I’ve also gone on three life changing community service trips through Alternate Spring Break, a service organization at Penn that you should check out.

Within the Penn Engineering community, I’m especially grateful to the amazing community of women that I’ve been so lucky to be a part of.  Before Penn officially started, I did the AWE Pre-Orientation (Pre-O) program.  It was a great way to meet and get to know other female engineers, many of whom I’m still friends with as a graduating senior.   Pre-O was also a great way to learn about Penn Engineering and all the different clubs within the Engineering Student Activities Council.  I loved AWE Pre-O so much that I applied for the Board, and I’ve been on the Board organizing AWE events ever since.  In addition, a counselor for AWE Pre-O told me about SWE, The Society of Women Engineers, and I decided to get involved by attending the first general body meeting.  I learned a lot as a Board member of SWE, especially as President last year.  SWE gave me a lot of career resources I’m so thankful for, and a SWE alumna actually helped me get my dream job!

Disclaimer:  Learning IS important, too, of course!  Don’t spend all your time doing extracurriculars and going out with friends.  A Penn education is too valuable to waste. But remember that it’s not only about the tests and problem sets; it’s about what you take away from Penn.  The knowledge and skills you’ll gain from the Penn Engineering curriculum as well as your classmates, mentors, and Professors that you’ll hopefully keep in touch with will be far more valuable to you than any high exam grade.

Okay, I’m finally done rambling about how much I love Penn Engineering, so thanks for reading!  To all the prospective Penn engineering students – if you decide to come to Penn, I’ll see you as an alumna!

[Sheetal Rajagopal, CBE 2012]

Study Abroad: Go for it!

Life as an engineering student has many characteristics: early morning labs, late nights working on problem sets, watching the sunrise from the lounge. One of the most well-known aspects of the educational endeavors of an engineering student is the rigid structure of the curriculum. This makes for tight-knit majors and bonding experiences, and it is often used to excuse engineers from taking say, language courses.  

People still find ways to have abroad experiences though; they just need to be a bit more innovative in their approach. I know people who have gone to Africa with Engineers Without Borders, backpacked through Nepal in the name of research, and taken a gap year from Penn to study and work in Germany.

Why do people go to such lengths to find ways to go abroad? Because it is so, so worth it.

I can only attest to my own experience, but I will say this I have never heard a negative account of an abroad experience whether it be academic, research, or industry-related.

My personal abroad experience occurred last summer in Ulsan, South Korea. I did research at a University, which in itself is no more spectacular than how many Penn students spend their summers. But in the U.S. I would not have been able to learn innovative communications skills to overcome language barriers or feel the full effects of a rainy season.

I would never have had the chance to witness the workings of a young university (the oldest class were juniors); to see tall uniform glass building and comparing them with the multicolored brick buildings of Penn the product of decades of building and rebuilding. It was a different setting, a university with mostly associate and assistant professors; faculty and students alike, all beginners. It was a completely different environment, one I will most likely never be able to experience again.

Academics aside, the cultural education I received abroad was just as amazing. I rode on a high speed rail to Seoul to see old palaces, street markets and a Cat Café (a café with cats, everywhere). I sat cross-legged on the floor at a meal for four with the table covered in at least 20 dishes. I introduced the concept of care packages to stressed lab mates studying for finals and was in turn introduced to the tradition of writing farewell messages anonymously on rolled up sheets of paper.

College years are when we are the most mobile, with fewer things to tie us down. The ten weeks I spent in Korea will be forever preserved in my mind. So when it comes time of year to start thinking about what to do this summer, take full advantage of abroad opportunities. It really is worth it.

Questions for Melissa?  Contact her at awe@seas.upenn.edu

Advice for Incoming Freshman on Extracurriculars

Here at Penn, there are countless organizations – student run or not – that students can sign up for.  At http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/osa/orgmain.html, you can view over 200 organizations for students ranging from Recreational Sports to Cultural Student Associations to groups addressing Political Issues.  If you have an extracurricular activity or hobby from your high school years that you really want to continue, chances are you’ll find an already thriving organization for that specific activity that is eagerly searching for new members.  And if you come here and aren’t able to find exactly what you’re searching for? This is the perfect chance to look into starting up a group of your own!  As long as you adhere to these guidelines (http://sacfunded.net/sample-page/) when forming it, you’re golden!  Or maybe you weren’t really involved in anything in high school.  Well, why not try something new?

I remember walking up Locust Walk in the first week of school during the Activities Fair.  It’s exhilarating, astounding, and perhaps a tad overwhelming.  Lined along the entire walk are tables with representatives from every group on campus.  People are handing out flyers for auditions, playing music from their last recorded CD, dancing for their groups, or giving catchy spiels detailing exciting features of their groups.  Now, the tradition as a freshman is to just sign up for anything and everything that might seem remotely interesting.   I highly encourage this.  Sure, your email inbox will be filled with emails from every one of those organizations but that’s how you figure out which one you want to be a part of.  My only word of advice: actually try to narrow it down to a number that is manageable with your workload.  Enjoy your exploration but don’t spread yourself too thin, especially in your first year at college.  And while finding fun things to do in your free time that will enrich your time at Penn is very important, so is your actual education. (Surprising, I know…)

Let me tell you something about my own experiences.  This past weekend, I participated in my final show as a member of my a cappella group, Quaker Notes.  It was filled with speeches and videos about the other three seniors and myself, as well as former members returning to watch the show and remarking on how well they remember when they were seniors and I was just a freshman.  It’s amazing how much this group has become a huge part of my time at Penn.  The girls I met through it (it’s an all-female group) were people that I might have never met otherwise because they ranged from Nursing to English to Business students.  And twice a week, we got together to celebrate the love of music we all share regardless of what our majors are.  And outside of that time, we got together anyways to chat about our lives, homework sets, musical problems, and everything else we could think of.  Also in Quaker Notes, I had the opportunity to be music director, a position equal to presidency but dealing with ensuring the musical quality of the group rather than our public presence.  This leadership position is an experience that I can truly draw on that will help me as a leader in the future.

Singing isn’t something that I will do professionally in life.  But I got the chance to perform twice a year for my friends and family and explore my talent which may never happen again.  I never took voice lessons and I only took choir for a few years.  However, I had an interest in singing when I got to Penn, I auditioned, and I became a part of a group of extraordinary women with whom I shared experiences that I won’t forget.

Use the opportunities you have readily available to you at Penn.  Try something new, something different because you don’t know how much it may add to your life.  So, good luck with your many choices and welcome to Penn.

Questions for Kathleen? e-mail her at awe@seas.upenn.edu

Inside Scoop from an Engineering School Tour Guide

For the last two years, I have led tours of Penn Engineering, or as some of us call it “Penngineering.” Maybe you’ve seen me drag nervous high schoolers and their nervous parents through the Engineering Quad, or maybe you’ve been on one of my tours! I love guiding tours and answering questions of prospective students. I joined the Advancing Women in Engineering Board to help improve Penn Engineering by giving advice (for what its worth) to younger female students and plan useful and fun events for women in engineering.  I’ve had tours with two people and I’ve had tours with more than thirty people and I hear a lot of the same questions. I wanted to take the chance to answer some of these frequently asked questions here!

What programs are offered here?

There are six engineering departments: Bioengineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Electrical and Systems Engineering, Material Science Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Within these different departments, there are different majors that are either Bachelor of Science in Engineering, BSE, or Bachelor of Applied Science, BAS, degrees. Bachelor of Science in Engineering degrees have more required engineering/major specific coursework and are accredited engineering programs while Bachelor of Applied Science allow you to take a more flexible engineering schedule. For a complete list check out: http://www.seas.upenn.edu/undergraduate/degrees/index.php

What’s M&T? How do I apply for M&T?

            M&T Program is the Management and Technology Program. Students enrolled in this program take coursework in Engineering and in Wharton (Penn’s undergraduate business school). Some students get out in four years, others it takes longer, but you take all the courses at the same time.  For more information: http://www.upenn.edu/fisher/index.html

Can you manage pre-med and BSE in Bioengineering?

As a Bioengineering major, many of my friends are interested in pursuing a degree in medicine. While I have decided to wait to apply to medical school, many of my senior friends have been admitted to medical schools already! The bioengineering BAS and BSE degrees both overlap significantly with pre-med coursework. You will just have to take organic chemistry I, II, laboratory, and an extra English course.

I know the job market is tough these days. Does anyone have jobs here?

Almost everyone I know in Engineering has plans for after graduation, which is quite different than my friends in the College of Arts and Sciences. Many people use On Campus Recruiting and Career Services to find summer jobs and jobs for after graduation. Penn Engineering puts on its own Career Fairs for engineering specific positions. In addition to traditional industry engineering jobs, there are plenty of opportunities such as graduate school, research, consulting, and finance that you should look into once you’re here. Check out this link to surveys about what people do after Penn: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/undergrad/reports.html

What’s the class size like?

It depends on what year you are. Freshman year, class sizes are larger as you are laying the groundwork for upper level engineering coursework with courses such as physics, chemistry, and math. These courses are often shared with students in the College of Arts and Sciences, although there are some engineering specific sections. These courses can range from fifty to over one hundred students. Each of these courses has a smaller recitation section of ten to fifteen students so that individual questions can be answered. As classes become major specific, the class size is smaller and you will get to know your professors very well.

Can you do anything else besides work as an engineer?

I get this question all the time. Everyone I know does something besides just homework. Time management is something that you will get good at as an engineer, as engineers definitely have the most amount of work and arguably the most numbers of class time per week out of the Wharton, College of Arts and Sciences, and Nursing students. I was in an a cappella group, on the AWE Board, a member of a community service organization, and in a sorority during my four years here.

Do people do research as undergrads and how do they get into that?

Tons of engineers participate in research as undergraduates. You can do research in any department at Penn whether its engineering or the medical school or the biology department.  CURF, the Center for Undergraduate Research, has lists of research teams and laboratories at Penn as well as contact information. I always encourage people to read through some of the research blurbs and see what sparks your interest. Also, if the lab you are interested in cannot pay you, then try an independent study! If you can identify a topic and come up with a research proposal, you can try to count your research as a course for a semester. Here’s the link to the CURF website if you’re interested: http://www.upenn.edu/curf/

Is there an engineering dorm?

There is no engineering specific dorm, but a lot of engineers choose to live at Hill because it’s across the street from the Engineering Quad. There is also a Science and Technology Wing (STWING) in Kings Court-English House if you are interested in living around engineers and other science nerds like me. Check out STWING here: http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/

How many hours of sleep do you get?

As a freshman, I think I got 2 hours of sleep total, but that was because I was so excited to be here! There are certain semesters when life gets very busy and you will only get about five-six hours a night on average. Early classes and late nights of work can interrupt your sleep cycle. But now that I am a senior, I am sleeping at least eight hours every night!

Penn Engineering has been a wonderful, challenging environment for me. I hope this blog post has answered a few of the questions you may have had about Penn Engineering. Hope to see you on a tour soon! 

More questions for Catherine?  Contact her at awe@seas.upenn.edu!

Sexism and Computer Science

What is a “brogrammer” and why is it offensive, anyways? 


This is the question a group of computer science students tried to answer earlier this week at an Open Forum discussion.  Tess, one of the freshmen attendees gives a great summary of the event and attempts to answer the question of why anyone should care about sexist language anyway.  Read Tess' thoughts here and an article from the DP here

Writing and the Engineer

When I was in high school, I loved to read, but was never particularly concerned with developing my writing skills beyond reasonable proficiency, or what was required for the SAT subject test.  I always knew I'd be studying math or engineering, and because I was pigeonholed by some of my teachers as a "math" kid, I figured, why bother?  The fact that my undergraduate university was an engineering school that didn't even offer majors in English, History, or Literature but rather a broad and nebulous  "Humanities" department, just reinforced my apathy.  I impressed my friends by figuring out a way to work the system and fulfill my school's "humanities" major with a bunch of paper-free Economics theory courses.  Of course I opted for the non-thesis option in my major.  By midway through college, I figured I was home free.  Why waste time developing my writing skills when I could work on becoming a better coder or take another math class?     

It wasn't until I was an upperclassman in undergrad that I began to question my attitude.  At some point in junior year, I suddenly found myself suffocating under an avalanche of writing tasks.  Every opportunity I wanted to pursue -- from graduate school, to fellowships, to study abroad opportunities, to cover letters for jobs -- required thousands of words worth of essays.  As I delved more deeply into my undergraduate research project and my work became more sophisticated, I found that others expected to write up my own results for conferences, posters, and journals in complete paper form -- tasks I'd always assumed would fall to my supervisor.  I started to struggle with anxiety about applying for anything or pushing forth with various aspects of my education because I lacked confidence in my ability to express myself.  My weak foundation had become a liability.

As one of my college professors told me, "Even in engineering, what you say is often less important than how you say it."  Now that I am working towards a Ph.D., I see my professor's wisdom in action every day.  No matter how impressive your accomplishments, anyone reviewing your cover letter or essay making the case for your acceptance may be unable to look past poor syntax and grammar, or an unsophisticated vocabulary.   Similarly, incoherent writing that lacks structure, and even pretentious writing, can obscure the meaning of one's results, causing the reader to miss the essential point.  Once I realized how vitally important self-expression is, I took steps during college to strengthen my writing:

1) I started writing for various campus publications.  I wrote for a human rights publication and became an editor for my university's undergraduate research journal.  I found learning to deal with strict deadlines taught me to write in a time-efficient and focused way.  As a Penn student, you are in luck, because of the sheer number of extracurricular organizations that publish newsletters or journals offers myriad opportunities to get involved.  I believe that it really doesn't matter what you are writing, as long as your activity forces you to exercise your "writer's muscle." 

2) I took two first-rate writing seminars that greatly improved my written output.  The first was a course on reading and writing the essay, and the second was technical writing course geared towards students writing theses.  Having my writing critiqued by my classmates in an intimate setting was terribly intimidating at first, but knowing several pairs of eyes judging my work at close range motivated me to do my very best work each time.

3) I made extensive use of the resources offered by my school's writing tutors, course TAs, and writing center to review papers for classes and research write-ups before I presented them to my research advisor.  I have been told both as an undergrad and during my time here at Penn that these resources are consistently underused by engineering and science students, who either lack confidence in their work and feel going to the writing center would be an imposition, or just don't know about these sources of support.

4) I started a personal journal online in which I have kept a record of every major academic undertaking since college, which I still maintain.  Not only do I have a complete record of my important academic experiences, research progress, and life milestones to look back on, but I also have a consistent tool for improving my writing, even when I am not doing any formal writing for school.    

I have benefited immensely from these activities, not only as a student, but also during stints in the corporate world.  In my experience, good writing habits should be an essential part of any engineer’s tool chest, and we should all prioritize improving our writing.

Questions for Shaudi?  E-mail her at awe@seas.upenn.edu