Can't shake bad feelings about Case.

casegirl
Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:10:33 +0000

I personally learned some C++ in high school, and JAVA in ENGR 131 (a core class that all engineers take usually in the first year). I heard that ENGR 131 is being switched to Matlab, although I have seen no solid evidence to back that up, just heard it from a fellow-student (so he may have actually meant it as a conjecture). I personally have never actually used JAVA since ENGR 131 (and never used C++). I don’t really know much about the programming that other engineers use (or even other BMEs), other than the fact that many don’t use Matlab exclusively and I’m sure Electrical Engineers/Comp Sci would use a lot more programming than I do. In the BME curriculum–as it was when I entered Case–Signals and Systems, a 3rd year class (I took it sophomore year)is the first time you would officially learn Matlab. It was a great (and pretty intense) introduction, I was a programming dunce and now I’m fairly proficient. But if you are a BME and work in a lab before then you will most likely have some exposure to Matlab, and although I complain about it, it’s a great language to know and not that difficult to pick up on. I program mostly to process signals and images, which Matlab is great for, so…

Internships/co-ops…yes they are available. I personally did not do one so am not the best authority on them. However, I have done research in a professor’s lab, as do tons of students at Case, professors are usually pretty approachable. I’m really happy with what I do, my professor tries to make my work stimulating and challenging so I’m not just a little errand-girl/test-tube cleaner-type. I have heard doing a co-op is a little scary since Case doesn’t provide great administrative support with that (as in, you have to arrange it with the company yoursel), but if I had done one I am sure I could have gotten some advice from professors or my advisor. And I know tons of people who have done internships/co-ops so I could always get advice from them.

Does anybody you know work with NASA? I feel like someone I know was an intern there or co-oped or something, but I can’t think of who.
A car…I’m a rising senior and don’t have one. It would be nice, but I wouldn’t use all that much and insurance for me would be a lot and I’m a girl and don’t want to deal with the problems that I just KNOW would happen with my car. If I had it, I would probably only use it 2-3X a week, maybe more, but for those things I can usually get a ride anyhow.

Winters…depends where you’re from. Then again my friends from Texas seem to do just fine. I’m from an area that gets cold, but usually never snows more than 6 inches at a time, often 3 in or less. Winters do stink and they’re cold and miserable but if you get a good pair of boots, and bundle up it’s not all that bad. And at least businesses are used to snow, as in, stores don’t close with a measly 10 inches of snow. Most of the snow is in the 2nd semester, if that makes a difference at all, it can sometimes get a little depressing if it’s been freezing for a couple months. Ehh, you’ll live (you may not always feel like you will, but…) and it makes hot cocoa taste that much better Seriously, though, I think the weather is a good thing to consider, maybe go to the history on weather.com or check this out [Cleveland snowfall totals year by year Cleveland Ohio Statistics & Demographics | Data Central - cleveland.com](Cleveland snowfall totals year by year - cleveland.com)
if you’re the type that gets depressed when it’s super cold, Case is a bad place to be. On the other hand, if you like snow-ball fights or snow-football or any other snow game you’ll have an awesome time here.
Hope this helps, feel free to ask more questions or message me.