Computer EngineeringThis was my first major at RIT and the main reason (among others such as location and the co-op program) why I chose to come here. Anyone who excelled in science courses in high school were encouraged to go into the engineering field, and since "Computer" engineering seemed to be my kind of thing, I ruled out any school that did not offer it as a major. Little did I know that it was not what I wanted... Far too much physics and calculus and modula-2 programming and not enough hands on with computers.
Electrical Engineering Technology
In the middle of a horrifying winter quarter, in which the computer engineering classwork was making me miserable, I discovered a major called Electrical Engineering Technology, which (I thought) was going to be the perfect major
because it was so hands on and applied, and the required physics and calculus were special "applied" versions of the subject matter rather than the deep theory that was driving me nuts in the CE curriculum.
Work
During these quarters, work was my main activity. For further details, look at the job that I was currently at during the quarter in question.
Summer Project
During this summer, I was in Daytona Beach, FL on a Summer Project with
Campus Crusade for Christ. My mission was more self-growth and introspective than evangelistic (as was the theme of the event). A summer well-spent.
Electrical Technology
This was a last ditch effort to make the time in college that I had spent
in CE and EET worthwhile before getting a degree and running away from RIT.
By this time, EET had revealed itself to me to be little more than sitting
in front of circuit boards and doing mathematical calculations on ever-more confusing diagrams of wired up components. It was within my realm of ability, but ultimately NOT what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. So I went to RIT's conseling service and took some "interest inventories" to find out what kind of person I was and really what kinds of jobs I'd be best suited towards.
Ultimately, the test showed that Engineering and highly technical careers were rock bottom on my list, and human oriented jobs like Education and Social Work were at the top. Now, I realize that my test was probably skewed by how disappointed I had become with my Engineering majors, but I definitely thought that Education had hit the nail right on the head, so I set about to leave RIT and go into the field of Elementary Education... (applying to Penn State (a Pennsylvania college which would have been much cheaper than RIT) to enter in the Fall). I decided to get an Associates in Electrical Technology (a related
field to EET) before I left, but that required a few specific courses, so I
took the last few courses I needed this quarter. And I was on my way! (or was I?)
Information Technology
This was it! The major that I had always wanted, even when I first started in Computer Engineering, problem is: it didn't even exist then. I first learned about the Information Technology program from professor Carol Richardson who was my Applied Electronics for Communication professor back in spring of the previous year. It stayed in my mind until the fall of that year when I was floundering around looking for work in Rochester (although admittedly in a half-hearted way -- Plan A (Elementary Education) and Plan B (Working full time for Wallace Library) had both fallen through).
I went to meet with a professor in the Information Technology program (can't recall who), and was very excited about the program. It was both computer and people oriented, and they had all the great buzzwords like multimedia, virtual reality, and interface design. Since starting courses that Winter quarter, I have remained completely thrilled by the whole Information Technology program and field. So finally, at the end of six years, I had my BS degree in Information Technology (and an Associates degree in Electrical Technology)!
Cooperative Education
Whatever job I was currently at was actually my coop experience for the quarter.
MS in Information Technology
Well, here I am, continuing on to Graduate School. But what on earth am I doing at the SAME school and in the SAME (practically) major and why NOW? That's not how graduate school works, is it? Beats me. There are a few reasons why (in no particular order): 1. I actually like RIT. To some people here, that's unfathomable, but to be honest, I like the place. 2. The degree is only offered here. No other college has a Master's in Information Technology. 3. I'm doing it now, because I don't want to come back to school after I'm married and have children. I want to get as much education as I can, NOW. 4. It's economically practical. As long as I'm still in school at least 1/2 time, my loans defer, meanwhile, I can pay for my education with the courses I teach. 5. I have an exceptionally great living arrangement. I couldn't ask for a better situation. My rent is great, the people I live with are great, the amenities of life are great. 6. My field is changing very rapidly. I don't feel like I'm missing the bandwagon, because I'm preparing myself to be even MORE valuable in a couple of years. The information explosion is huge.