Stevens Institute of Technology: Admissions Blog

Stevens Ranked 9th Nationally for Return in Investment

2013-05-07T19:06:53-04:00

Stevens Institute of Technology is a college well worth the investment, a new study on the value of higher education by PayScale reveals. In fact, Stevens ranks 9th among all colleges and universities nationally for 30-year net return on investment, with graduates grossing $1.46 million in cumulative earnings above the cost of their bachelor’s degree after 30 years in the workforce. The university jumped to 9th from 24th on the 2012 PayScale college education ROI rankings.

With the latest Payscale ranking, Stevens joins an elite group in the top ten, including California Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the placement puts Stevens ahead of prestigious institutions like Stanford University, Harvard University and Princeton University.

Read the full story.

Learn more about the Stevens ROI.

Drew Capone Turns Experience into Opportunity at L’Oreal

2013-04-17T12:41:00-04:00

When it comes to seizing opportunities, Chemical Engineering major Drew Capone offers great advice:

“Let someone else be the one who says “no” to you. Whether you are pursuing a job or anything else in life, never be the one to stop yourself from doing something.”

It is precisely that attitude that helped Drew obtain his position at L’Oreal, where he’ll begin as an Operations Associate in their Management Development Program after graduation.

Drew says that he utilized the Castle Point Careers website to secure interviews and attended the Stevens Fall Career Fair where he met many potential employers. He also worked with the Office of Career Development to refine his resume, practice interviewing skills and learn of numerous opportunities. After interviewing with several companies, he was offered the job at L’Oreal which he readily accepted.

Hailing from Long Valley, NJ, Drew already has some great professional experience on his resume. In the summer of 2010, he engaged in research through the Stevens Scholars Program. The following two summers, he held internships at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering in Fairfax, VA and then ECI Technology in NJ. Active on campus, Drew is a member of the Stevens Christian Fellowship, The Stute, Varsity Track & Field, Club Ultimate Frisbee, and serves as a freshman RA. He is a Founding Father of the Rho-Omega Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Stevens. He also traveled to Guatemala City for a week in July to distribute homemade water filters to the squatting community situated on the edges of a dangerous 40-acre garbage dump in the center of the nation’s capital, where thousands of the Latin America’s most at-risk inhabitants live and work (see related story).

Drew’s plans include earning other degrees in the future, perhaps an MBA.

The Business of Technology: Elizabeth Martin Ready for Career in Finance

2013-04-10T12:48:00-04:00

Consistently, students credit their time at Stevens with preparing them for the next step. Whether it be a challenging class, an inspiring professor, leadership experience in an organization, or exposure to professional, real-world opportunities, students always can cite something formative.

“Standing in the front of a classroom for my first big presentation and doing terribly,” recalls Elizabeth Martin when asked about her stand-out moment. “Since then, I have done everything possible to make sure I never feel like that again whether it be for another presentation, an exam, or an interview. Being prepared and confident is so important to being successful.”

Elizabeth will graduate in May with a degree in Business & Technology and a minor in Quantitative Finance. She received two job offers before accepting a position with Ernst & Young, where she will work in the Technology Advisory Program (TAP) for their Financial Services Office.

“Essentially what I will be doing is technology consulting, visiting different client sites,” Elizabeth explains. “There were a number of factors that made the choice to work for E&Y an easy one. Not to mention the position marries my academic areas of expertise perfectly, placing me within the finance industry but working with technology to optimize business processes.”

The Office of Career Development worked with Elizabeth on building her resume and helping her discover the direction she’d like to take with her career. She says together they made a list of companies to explore and the Office provided guidance on how to land interviews with these organizations. Despite interviewing with several companies, Elizabeth knew right away that Ernst & Young was somewhere she could see herself starting her career.

From Smithtown, NY, Elizabeth was on the Women’s lacrosse team and a member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. She participated in two internships, working first at TIAA-CREF on their pension product transformation effort and the following summer at BlackRock Solutions, a division of BlackRock.

“The B&T program provided a great foundation for me, giving me a technology background with a very specific interest – like finance,” Elizabeth says. “The Office of Career Development is so supportive; I think they were just as excited as I was when I got my offer! It feels really good to know people genuinely care about me succeeding.”

While Elizabeth is excited for her next step, she’s good taking it one step at a time: “I really have no idea where I see my career heading, which is perfect for me right now. It’s exciting. I’m just looking forward to seizing opportunities as they come.”

Internships Yield a Job at Goldman Sachs for Senior Caitlin Early

2013-04-03T12:44:00-04:00

Caitlin Early’s plans included focusing on internships as soon as she began her college career. She says she started the search at the Fall Career Fair just a few short months into her freshman year at Stevens. Working with the Office of Career Development, Caitlin laid the groundwork for building an impressive resume early on: at that Career Fair, she landed her first internship at AEP in Columbus, Ohio.

When she returned to Stevens as a sophomore, she was presented with the opportunity to attend an information session on campus for Goldman Sachs. After applying and having what she calls “a slightly overwhelming seven interviews,” she got the internship. That summer she was an analyst in the service division on an infrastructure planning team. She returned for a second summer the year after in project controls as a project manager.

After completing her second internship at Goldman Sachs, she received her full-time offer. She accepted the job because she had two great summer experiences with the organization and was confident the role was right for her. Caitlin will be an analyst in the Services Division when she starts in July, though her exact role has not been specified yet.

“That Information Session, hosted by the Office of Career Development, introduced what would be a large part of my life,” Caitlin states. “Who knew it would ultimately lead to my full-time position.”

Caitlin will graduate with a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, a Master’s in System Engineering, and a graduate certificate in Financial Engineering. On campus she has served as a tour guide, orientation leader, peer mentor, member of Gear and Triangle, President of Eta Kappa Nu, and took advantage of the Study Abroad program. Like Drew, she too hopes to eventually pursue an MBA.

“I have been provided with more opportunities then I ever expected at Stevens,” Caitlin asserts. “In my four years I was able to not only enjoy my time as an undergraduate on campus and in Hoboken, but I also lived in Ireland for five months while studying abroad. All that and I was still able to complete two degrees and graduate with an amazing job.”

Extracurriculars and Co-op Lead to Multiple Job Offers for Senior Isaac Cohen

2013-03-27T12:34:00-04:00

Senior Isaac Cohen took advantage of the Cooperative Education (co-op) program at Stevens. Through the program, he held two co-op assignments: the first as a project engineer at Automated Control Concepts, where he designed and programmed industrial control systems for clients; and the second as a SharePoint Designer with International Flavors and Fragrances.

“In both co-ops, I learned a tremendous amount about the industry and the technologies that were used,” Isaac says. “These co-ops exposed me to the corporate world and taught me how to manage complex projects efficiently. And as a result of such great experiences, I received full-time job offers from both companies.”

In fact, Isaac received five full-time job offers before accepting a position as an Application Developer for JP MorganChase.

“After carefully reviewing my offers, I decided to join JP MorganChase,” states Isaac. “I always had an interest in finance and was excited to start off my career with a job that would allow me to combine my knowledge of financial engineering and programming. The fast-paced environment as well as the high standard of excellence is what attracted me to JPMC.”

Like many of his peers, Isaac credits the Office of Career Development with aiding his job-search process. At the end of his junior year he attended an informal workshop where he was able to speak to seniors who had just gone through the process of acquiring a job. At the beginning of his senior year, he participated in additional workshops to prepare for interviews and perfect his resume. Because of this, he encourages future students to take advantage of the services offered on campus and to join co-op, all of which offered him experiences that set him apart from other candidates. He also recommends getting involved in clubs/organizations on campus to help with personal and professional growth.

Isaac is an Electrical Engineering major with a minor in Computer Engineering. He will also graduate with a certificate in Financial Engineering, and hopes to earn a Master’s in Financial Engineering down the road. He is the president of Hillel (the Jewish cultural group), a member of the Stevens Honor Board, the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society, Eta Kappa Nu electrical and computer engineering honor society, and the Stevens chapter of IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

It was becoming a member of the Stevens Honor Board that he says truly enriched his college experience. Isaac recently attended a conference in Texas on academic integrity and says:

“The purpose of the trip was to present how the Stevens Honor System works and to see what other schools are doing to promote academic integrity. After reviewing other school’s systems, I had a sense of pride when I grasped how well run and advanced our system is. While other universities were just starting to get students involved in their academic integrity system, we have had a completely student run integrity system for over 100 years!”

These students exemplify that while the Stevens experience can look different for each individual, several constants exist including the real-world preparation one receives and the stand-out moments that are taken with each and every graduate.

Taking Leadership Experience to Verizon

2013-03-19T19:25:05-04:00

As a soon-to-be 2013 Stevens graduate, Teddy Poppe of Quincy, Mass. will head to Washington, D.C. this summer to begin a full-time career as an affiliate engineer in Verizon’s competitive Leadership Development Program, working primarily on FIOS and wireless development.

Poppe, who will earn a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.E. in Systems Engineering this May, is ready for the challenge.

“Stevens has a great five-year master’s program that provides a well-rounded education and makes students very well-prepared for life after college,” he said.

Poppe – who was personally recommended for Verizon’s program by a university leader – impressed in many ways as a Stevens undergraduate.

The Student Government Association (SGA) president, he oversaw more than 95 student organizations and a $1.2 million budget.

“This position brought all sorts of new challenges, but I think I was able to handle them well, and I think that we truly improved the SGA as a whole during my term,” Poppe said.

He also started Stevens’ first-ever Golf Club; held positions within in the Gear & Triangle student leadership society, Order of Omega Greek leadership society, and Sigma Nu fraternity; and did charity work for Up ‘til Dawn, which raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Poppe’s volunteerism during Hurricane Sandy earned him the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Stevens Campus Police, and he was also honored for his civic engagement and leadership on campus at the 2011 Stevens Student Leadership Awards brunch.

A member of Stevens’ Cooperative Education program, Poppe also gained work experience as an employee of two companies as an undergraduate student – L’Oreal Paris and ITT Electronic Warfare Systems.

At L’Oreal, Poppe designed custom tools and processes for production machinery, led an efficiency improvement initiative, and performed other manufacturing engineering duties.

At ITT, Poppe – who, as a youth, wanted to design fighter jets – worked in the circuit card assembly division, turning blank circuit cards into anti-radar systems for military use.

Given the mark he left on so many aspects of Stevens, Poppe was the obvious choice to address the Class of 2016 at the university’s 142nd Convocation ceremony in September 2012. There, he urged incoming freshmen students to make the most of their time at Stevens.

“This is your home; it will only be as good as you make it, and you will only get out what you put in,” he said during his speech.

Now Poppe is ready to leave his Stevens “home” and embark on his future at Verizon, thanks to the excellent preparation he received at his alma mater.

“I think I’ll find myself ahead of the game in work experience and overall engineering knowledge,” Poppe said.

He hopes to one day become a leader at Verizon.

“Like many Stevens graduates before me, I see myself staying at Verizon for the long haul,” he said.

From Stevens to the Peace Corps

2013-03-11T14:08:34-04:00

Just a few weeks after she graduates in May, Katie Quish '13 will fly to Liberia, where she'll spend the next two years teaching math and science to children for the Peace Corps. While there, she'll look back on her years at Stevens as a time of learning, exploration and personal growth.

Quish, 22, grew up in Hartford, Conn. Her father is a travel agent and her mother is a teacher. She is an only child. She attended high school at University High School of Science and Engineering, a reputable magnet school affiliated with the University of Hartford. She swam, played tennis and joined the school robotics club.

Quish wanted to attend a college where she could continue to pursue her lifelong interests in science and math. She had been touring colleges throughout the northeast when her uncle, a guidance counselor in New Jersey who used to live in Hoboken, suggested she look at Stevens.

“I fell in love with it instantly,” she said about her first visit to Stevens. “The location is great, and it's the right size school for me. Everyone is involved, and everyone knows everyone, which is great. There's a lot of support around because everyone knows who you are.”

Quish said she overcame the challenge of adapting to college and academic life during her freshman year.

“The first year was rough, and I wasn't ready for it,” she said. “But through repetition I got used to it. When you're involved with things on campus, which is easy to do at Stevens, then you learn that balance. You're always busy so you learn about managing your schoolwork and organizing everything.”

Quish will graduate with a degree in Engineering Management.

“It's still a degree in engineering, but more of the business world,” she said. “I like being able to talk to people and help them manage their projects.”

During her time at Stevens, Quish served on the Entertainment Committee and helped bring events to campus. She also worked in the community with the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, and served as vice president for the Stevens chapter of Habitat for Humanity and as treasurer of the Stevens chapter of the Society of Women Entrepreneurs. She spent her senior year spring break in Portland, Ore. building houses with other Habitat volunteers.

Quish also joined the Stevens Cooperative Education program, which helped her land two internships, first with the Louis Berger Group, an engineering firm in Morristown, and then with Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of aerospace company United Technologies Corporation. She worked for Hamilton Sundstrand out its offices in Connecticut and San Diego.

Quish credits one of her professors, Teresa Zigh, with encouraging her to join the Peace Corps. “She was really supportive,” Quish said. “I told her I really want to do the Peace Corps, but I was wondering if I should find a job instead, and she said no, go for it, it's something you want to do and it's in line with your career goals.”

Quish said she's excited about her opportunity to teach abroad, in a country that is recovering from civil war.

“They're really pushing for education over there, and the kids we'll be teaching will be the next generation who will be able to improve Liberia's economy and help them grow,” she said.

She said she's preparing for the change in lifestyle.

“I know it will be really different, going from having everything readily available all the time, to going somewhere where I might not have internet for a month,” she said. “I'm sure it's going to be hard, but it's something I really want to do.”

When she returns, Quish wants to find a job that blends her expertise and interest.

“I'd like to use my engineering and project management skills for international development, and help other countries that might not be as well off,” she said.

In her spare time, Quish enjoys practicing yoga, hanging out with friends, including her sorority sisters in Theta Phi Alpha, and exploring cities like New York, Boston and Washington.

“Smart City” Project Brings Together Students, Faculty and the City of Hoboken

2013-03-05T08:56:31-05:00

Stevens Institute of Technology is partnering with the City of Hoboken on a joint research initiative focusing on the use of information technology and smart devices for improved urban service management and governance.

Smart City: Hoboken – a three-year research collaboration between the Hoboken government and Stevens faculty and students – aims to leverage sensor technologies, public data and smart devices such as smart phones and tablets to provide citizens and city decision-makers with information for improved service delivery and utilization.

As part of the project, Stevens is building a Smart City Lab on its Hoboken campus, which will leverage crowdsourcing information and environmental, emergency management, traffic and energy metering sensors to provide citizens with information about traffic situations, parking availability, energy consumption and sustainability, air and noise pollution, and emergency response.

Read the full article on the Stevens news site.

Stevens' Music & Technology Program Ranked #2 in Nation

2013-02-15T17:49:55-05:00

Stevens Institute of Technology has the second most innovative college music program in the nation, second only to the Berklee College of Music. The recent ranking comes from The Best Colleges, a website which provides independent evaluations of U.S. colleges based on publically available data and research.

The Best Colleges states that Stevens is poised to change the industry through its Music & Technology program, which prepares students for degrees in production, recording and sound design.

“Technological competency and innovation are becoming increasingly essential for success in all facets of the highly-competitive music industry, and this ranking recognizes Stevens’ leadership in providing students with the skills needed to meet these demands,” said Dr. Lisa Dolling, Dean of the College of Arts & Letters at Stevens.

In a blog post from The Best Colleges, Stevens was especially praised for its interdisciplinary curriculum and focus on providing real-world experience.

“Through physics, engineering and technology, [Stevens’ Music & Technology students] learn how the brain processes sound,” the blog post stated. “Collaborations between the music and other departments at the school turn up projects with futuristic names like, ‘A Transderivational Search Engine for Creative Analogy Generation in Mixed-Media Design.’”

The blog post also pointed to the real world experience afforded to Stevens Music & Technology students, which often serves as a valuable springboard for their future careers.

Stevens’ Music & Technology program, housed within the College of Arts & Letters, offers courses in sound recording, music theory, digital music systems and much more. Students have access to cutting-edge electronic music and recording equipment in a number of state-of-the art teaching facilities and studios. They also benefit from working with and learning from faculty who are all world-class musicians, composers and producers.

The program’s mission is to build musicianship skills and technological aptitude while cultivating the critical thinking skills necessary for implementing creative and technical innovation in music.

Stevens’ Music & Technology Program not only outranked numerous programs found at prestigious music and art-focused colleges such as Bard College Conservatory of Music, but also beat out two of the largest programs in the world: Florida State University’s College of Music, and Leeds College of Music—the largest in the UK.

Stevens Freshmen Jump Right In

2013-02-07T11:24:10-05:00

The first year of study on any university campus is full of exciting challenges. You discover your passions, hone in on your strengths, find new friends and mentors, and experience tremendous personal and professional growth.

At Stevens, freshman students stand out from the start – intellectually, socially, in the arts and athletics, and within the Hoboken community itself.

Read on about first-year students who took special advantage of the tremendous opportunities at Stevens to excel in every aspect of university life and beyond.

The Leader

Matthew Hunt of Wall Township, N.J. didn’t let his freshman status stop him from running for office. As just a freshman, the Mechanical Engineering major was elected by his fellow students to both the Student Government Association (he is a senator) and the Honor Board (he is co-chair of the Bylaw Committee).

Despite a rigorous academic workload – Hunt is in both the Cooperative Education program and the Stevens Scholars Research Program – he also is extremely active in campus life. He competes on the club volleyball team, serves as a member of the Entertainment Committee, and is rushing for Sigma Nu social fraternity and Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.

“Something I had decided going into college was that I did not want to look back on my graduation day and think, ‘I could have done more,’” Hunt said. “At Stevens, becoming involved in campus life was not a difficult process at all. It has allowed me to not only make friends on campus, but also to make the most of my experience.”

The Musician

Daniel Aleman of Kearny, N.J. is pursuing a double degree in Engineering Management and Music & Technology. In his free time, he pursues his passion for music by performing with the Stevens jazz and concert bands, working in the pit orchestra for musical theater, and volunteering for WCPR, Stevens’ official radio station. Off campus, he moonlights as a live sound and recording engineer.

“I took the initiative to join things that piqued my interests, but advice from upperclassmen and faculty definitely helped,” he said. “Joining one activity here starts a domino effect; you soon find yourself in a whole slew of stuff.”

He said engaging fully in campus life was an easy way to make the successful transition from high school to college. “The more you get involved and socialize, the more people you will meet and you’ll begin to realize a college campus is more than just a set of buildings and students; it’s another home for you,” he said.

The Athletes

Elena Piper, a Quantitative Finance major from Chesapeake, Va., is on the varsity swimming team at Stevens, which helped her develop new friendships and balance her time between practice, meets, classes, studying, socializing, and a host of other activities, including the Honor Board, the business organization Phi Beta Lamda, and the environmental club S.A.V.E.

“Stevens is the perfect college if you’re worried about the adjustment to a college campus,” Piper said. “Most of my friends are on the varsity swim team but my involvement in the Honor Board as well as other clubs has allowed me to meet new people that I otherwise wouldn’t have.”

Business Technology Management major Gavriella Risman-Jones of New Boston, N.H. came to Stevens after being recruited to join the varsity softball team. In addition to softball, she also works in the Office of Residence Life, and is applying to be a Resident Assistant and tour guide.

“I love the community feel of Stevens,” she said. “My professors and teaching assistants know me and make themselves readily available for extra help. Stevens challenges all students, which will only benefit us in the real world.”

The Renaissance Men

Jacob Vanderbilt of Davis, Cali., a Chemical Engineering major, has a great many interests, and at Stevens he found a way to pursue them all. His charitable side finds ways to give back through the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and as a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. His inner-leader serves on the student-faculty alliance and organizes student activities through the Entertainment Committee. The athlete in him competes with the Stevens Club Baseball team.

“One of the great things about Stevens is that there are people here who will share your interests,” Vanderbilt said. “I was surprised at how easy it was for me to adjust, especially living over 3,000 miles from home, but Stevens makes it easy. There is so much to do and so many terrific people to meet that you become comfortable quite quickly.”

Charles Shotmeyer of Franklin Lakes, N.J., a Biomedical Engineering major, is also involved in array of groups and activities, including the Student Government Association, the Stevens Club Soccer Team, the Stevens Christian Fellowship, the Biomedical Engineering Society, the College Republicans, and the Stevens Health Professions Club.

“Due to the size and environment of the campus, I was able to find many people who shared the same interests that I have, while at the same time I was able to try things that were not offered at my high school,” Shotmeyer said. “The possibilities are endless.”

The Performers

Molly Dugan of Morris Plains, N.J. and Trevor Batchelder of Toms River, N.J. spent their freshman years near the stage. Both theater-lovers are members of the Stevens Dramatic Society (SDS), and they have already taken part in several productions.

Dugan, who was in charge of props for the spring musical, is a Mechanical Engineering major who committed to joining the performing arts community during Pre-Orientation, when she met many students who shared her interests, including upperclassmen who encouraged her to join SDS. “Getting involved on campus exposed me to people I may not have been friendly with otherwise,” Dugan said.

In addition to his involvement in SDS, Batchelder also participates in choir and the theater fraternity Theta Alphi Phi. He is also pledging to the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. “The clubs cover a wide variety of interests and there truly is something for everyone,” said Batchelder, a Chemical Engineering major. “On the off chance that there isn’t, it is easy to create your own club.”

What Can Stevens Be for You?

These Stevens students agree that the freshman experience at Stevens is unique. It is easy to become involved, and there are countless options and opportunities to participate in clubs, activities, sports, fraternities, sororities, academic research and must more. All freshmen need to do is decide what is the best fit for them and then dive right in and take advantage.

“Stevens really does a great job of offering a variety of options for student involvement including clubs, professional associations, volunteer opportunities, fraternities and sororities,” said Holly Nelson, assistant director of Student Life. “As students get involved in one campus group, that one activity will usually lead to meeting other students, making friends, and getting involved with more activities they hear about through their friends. The best thing about being a student at Stevens is that if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you have the opportunity to start a new organization with your peers!”

The Stevens Club Fair – an event which occurs annually each fall semester at which every registered club on campus distributes information, meets with potential members, and answers questions – is one key reason. “Seeing all of the different options was really the moment that I decided I wanted to be as involved as I could be,” Hunt said. “All of the clubs actively welcome new members so it’s easy to join up,” Batchelder added.

Participating in Pre-Orientation and Orientation also greatly assists freshmen in adjusting to college life. “The Pre-Orientation experience made all the difference in the world,” Aleman said. “It gave me a family away from home and was an amazing way to start college.”

“I highly recommend doing pre-orientation,” Risman-Jones added. “I made a lot of friends in those few days who I’m still close with now. I was able to get to know my roommates before classes started, and I was also able to familiarize myself with the school earlier.”

They also credit Stevens’ relatively small undergraduate population as a huge advantage for freshmen students. “Stevens is just big enough that you are always meeting new people, which is great for a freshman, but it’s small enough that you always run into friends,” Dugan said.

“Being with students who are in the same classes, involved in the same things, and have the same struggles as you was truly what allowed me to persevere through my freshman year,” added Hunt.

Piper said the physical size of the campus is another asset. “I love already knowing where all the buildings are and really feeling like the whole campus is just my big home,” she said.

Stevens hometown, Hoboken, has also been ranked as one of the nation’s best college town, ensuring freshmen have the world at their fingertips. “There is no better location than Hoboken, and having New York only ten minutes away gives you so many things to do,” said Aleman. “There is plenty to do on campus, in Hoboken, and across the river in New York City,” added Batchelder.

And last, the great people at Stevens are perhaps its biggest advantage to first-year students. “Everyone on campus is extremely friendly and inclusive so I was able to meet upperclassman and other freshman extremely easy,” Shotmeyer said. “I was able to talk with upperclassman that had taken classes before and they were able to give me some pointers.”

“The upperclassmen, and people in general at Stevens, are really friendly and want to get you on the right track both academically and socially,” Vanderbilt said. “This friendliness is what made Stevens my first choice when I was looking at colleges, and it continues to reassure me that I made the right decision.”

“The academics here are top-notch, but it’s the people that make it really special,” added Aleman.

What advice do these stand-out students have for incoming freshmen? Jump right in and worry about the little things later.

“Keep in mind that the first few weeks of the year will be exciting and nerve-wracking and a little bit scary for everyone, but that’s normal, and as the semester continues you’ll find your niche,” Risman-Jones said.

“Be as open as possible,” Hunt added. “College is what you make it, and if you are open to everything happens, it can and will be one of the best experiences of your entire life.”

“Your first year experience is really about casting a wide net, catching a lot, and keeping what you like,” concluded Vanderbilt. “That way you can continue through your Stevens experience doing things you love with people you enjoy.”