Mechanical Engineering Student Profiles

Noelle Ray

Name: Noelle Ray

Email: nray1@umbc.edu

Transfer Institution: Anne Arundel Community College (AACC)

Other Majors/Minors: N/A

On-Campus Affiliations: S-STEM, MDSGC, ME Teaching Fellow, Note Taker

Internships: STEM Department at USNA, Regal Beloit

On-Campus Research: Dusty Plasma Lab with Dr. Carlos Romero-Talamas, Biomechanical Lab with Dr. L.D.T. Topoleski

Difficulties: I didn’t know enough about engineering or what I needed to do to complete my schooling. Coming to UMBC, I was unable to register in engineering courses to stay on track to graduate in 4 years.

What helped you with these difficulties: Talking to professors, advisors, and experienced students to find out what I should do or what my options were. I sought out faculty that I heard about, introduced myself, and started asking questions.

Advice to incoming transfer students: Don’t quit because you don’t know what you’re doing! Ask questions at every opportunity, even if it’s a very generic question. Go to every office hour for every professor. Try to get involved on campus or find a group of people to study with, and reach out to students that have already taken the courses you’re in or who have had similar paths to you (i.e. the people in these profiles!). There is no perfect path or clear-cut outline for how to get a degree, so you have to choose your own adventure, but you aren’t alone–reach out and ask for help!

Scores:

How do I feel about being an engineer: 67%

Aspects:

  • Relating to people in my class or activities: 63%
  • Fitting into an engineering career and being treated fairly: 62%
  • Dealing with or overcoming problems and difficulties: 77%

How motivated am I to study engineering: 46%

Aspects:

How I value engineering: 69%

I’m motivated to study engineering because of:

  • Financial rewards: 44%
  • Parental Influence: 0%
  • Improvements to the welfare of society: 89%
  • Mentor Influence: 42%
  • It’s own purpose: 100%
  • It’s practical uses: 100%

How do I Value Necessary Engineering Skills: 86%

Aspects:

  • How essential professional and interpersonal skills are: 83%
  • How essential math and science skills are: 89%

 

Josie Aquino

Name: Josie Aquino

Email: jaquino2@umbc.edu

Transfer Institution: Harford Community College (HCC)

Other Majors/Minors: N/A

On-Campus Affiliations: S-STEM, Charlotte W. Newcombe Scholar, ME Teaching Fellow, Peer Facilitator for TRS201

Internships: Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. – MEP Group

On-Campus Research: Engineering education research with Professor Jamie Gurganus

Difficulties: One of the greatest difficulties I faced during my first few semesters at UMBC was making connections, both with my peers and the ME department. The transfer student experience is so unique, which can be isolating at times. I struggled to connect with faculty, as I felt that somehow, as a transfer student, they weren’t available to me in the same way as they were to native students. However, most of these thoughts and feelings stemmed from a lack of self-confidence on my part. I placed limitations on myself that did not exist, spending far too much time worrying about where I “did” or “did not” belong.

What helped you with these difficulties: During my first semester at UMBC, I was enrolled in a 1-credit transfer student seminar (TRS) course for mechanical engineering students. It had been recommended to me at orientation, so I thought, “Why not?” Taking that class ended up being a catalyst for me. It helped me to make valuable connections with ME faculty and other students. I was asked to serve as a peer facilitator for the class that upcoming spring, a position I accepted. I learned that I loved to teach and that public speaking—one of my greatest fears—could actually be fun and exciting. Currently, I work as a Teaching Fellow for ENME217. On-campus involvement, volunteer work and internship experiences have significantly influenced how I view myself as an engineer.

Advice to incoming transfer students: Get involved on campus! There are so many opportunities at UMBC for involvement. It may take some time to find the organization or activity that is the right fit for you, but it is well worth it. Challenge yourself in new ways as often as you can. Reach out for help when you need it. And, finally, know your degree audit inside and out! Things rarely fall into place perfectly, as far as scheduling goes. Meticulous academic planning WILL save you time and money.

Scores:

How do I feel about being an engineer: 75%

Aspects:

  • Relating to people in my class or activities: 71%
  • Fitting into an engineering career and being treated fairly: 76%
  • Dealing with or overcoming problems and difficulties: 77%

How motivated am I to study engineering: 65%

Aspects:

How I value engineering: 94%

I’m motivated to study engineering because of:

  • Financial rewards: 78%
  • Parental Influence: 0%
  • Improvements to the welfare of society: 78%
  • Mentor Influence: 25%
  • It’s own purpose: 100%
  • It’s practical uses: 83%

How do I Value Necessary Engineering Skills: 67%

Aspects:

  • How essential professional and interpersonal skills are: 67%
  • How essential math and science skills are: 67%

 

John Jenkins

Randy Deinlein