college essay computer engineering

Computer Science Essay Examples

Explore 15+ Brilliant Computer Science Essay Examples: Tips Included

Published on: May 5, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024

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Do you struggle with writing computer science essays that get you the grades you deserve?

If so, you're not alone!

Crafting a top-notch essay can be a daunting task, but it's crucial to your success in the field of computer science.

For that, CollegeEssay.org has a solution for you!

In this comprehensive guide, we'll provide you with inspiring examples of computer science essays. You'll learn everything you need to know to write effective and compelling essays that impress your professors and get you the grades you deserve.

So, let's dive in and discover the secrets to writing amazing computer science essays!

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Computer Science Essays: Understanding the Basics

A computer science essay is a piece of writing that explores a topic related to computer science. It may take different forms, such as an argumentative essay, a research paper, a case study, or a reflection paper. 

Just like any other essay, it should be well-researched, clear, concise, and effectively communicate the writer's ideas and arguments.

Computer essay examples encompass a wide range of topics and types, providing students with a diverse set of writing opportunities. 

Here, we will explore some common types of computer science essays:

Middle School Computer Science Essay Example

College Essay Example Computer Science

University Computer Science Essay Example

Computer Science Extended Essay Example

Uiuc Computer Science Essay Example [

Computer Science Essay Examples For Different Fields

Computer science is a broad field that encompasses many different areas of study. For that, given below are some examples of computer science essays for some of the most popular fields within the discipline. 

By exploring these examples, you can gain insight into the different types of essays within this field.

College Application Essay Examples Computer Science

The Future of Computers Technology

Historical Development of Computer Science

Young Children and Technology: Building Computer Literacy

Computer Science And Artificial Intelligence

Looking for more examples of computer science essays? Given below are some additional examples of computer science essays for readers to explore and gain further inspiration from. 

Computer Science – My Choice for Future Career

My Motivation to Pursue Undergraduate Studies in Computer Engineering

Abstract Computer Science

Computer Science Personal Statement Example

Sop For Computer Science

Computer Science Essay Topics

There are countless computer science essay topics to choose from, so it can be challenging to narrow down your options. 

However, the key is to choose a topic that you are passionate about and that aligns with your assignment requirements.

Here are ten examples of computer science essay topics to get you started:

• The impact of artificial intelligence on society: benefits and drawbacks
• Cybersecurity measures in cloud computing systems
• The Ethics of big data: privacy, bias, and Transparency
• The future of quantum computing: possibilities and challenges
• The Role of computer hardware in Healthcare: current applications and potential innovations
• Programming languages: a comparative analysis of their strengths and weaknesses
• The use of machine learning in predicting human behavior
• The challenges and solutions for developing secure and reliable software
• The Role of blockchain technology in improving supply chain management
• The use of data analytics in business decision-making.

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Tips to Write an Effective Computer Science Essay

Writing an effective computer science essay requires a combination of technical expertise and strong writing skills. Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling and well-written essay:

Understand the Requirements: Make sure you understand the assignment requirements, including the essay type, format, and length.

• Choose a Topic: Select a topic that you are passionate about and that aligns with your assignment requirements.
• Create an Outline: Develop a clear and organized outline that highlights the main points and subtopics of your essay.
• Use Appropriate Language and Tone: Use technical terms and language when appropriate. But ensure your writing is clear, concise, and accessible to your target audience.
• Provide Evidence: Use relevant and credible evidence to support your claims, and ensure you cite your sources correctly.
• Edit and Proofread Your Essay: Review your essay for clarity, coherence, and accuracy. Check for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and formatting issues.

By following these tips, you can improve the quality of your computer science essay and increase your chances of success.

In conclusion, writing a computer science essay can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. 

It allows you to showcase your knowledge and skills within the field and develop your writing and critical thinking abilities. By following the examples provided in this blog, you can create an effective computer science essay, which will meet your requirements.

If you find yourself struggling with the writing process, consider seeking essay writing help online from CollegeEssay.org. 

Our AI essay writer can provide guidance and support in crafting a top-notch computer science essay.

So, what are you waiting for? Hire our computer science essay writing service today!

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How to Write the Why This Major Essay + Example

April 26, 2023

Writing the supplemental “Why this major” essay sounds like a cakewalk for approximately 4% of high school seniors—those lucky few who’ve known their purpose since kindergarten. For most, it feels more like a desperate stab at fortune-telling. How should anyone know what major they’ll choose at a school they haven’t yet been invited to attend? (Let alone what career they’d choose after graduating from said unknown institution.) In fact, if these students could flash forward two years, they’d see that a large number of sophomores will still be considering the question a week before they must pick their major.

The reality is, choosing a major often involves a lot more on-site research: visiting the offices of professors, talking to college advisors, testing out intro classes, etc. The “Why this major essay”, on the other hand, is rarely a commitment to a particular major. Rather, it’s a way for admissions officers to determine a) what subject(s) the student is interested in, b) how they’ve pursued this interest already, and c) how they would take advantage of the college’s resources while further developing in their field. Like the why this college essay, the why this major essay ultimately shows admissions officers if the student will be a good fit at their college. Yet here the scope of the essay is more focused. This makes the essay easier to tackle, so long as the student has done their research.

Researching the Why This Major Essay

Whether or not the student has already picked their intended major, it’s essential to do some preliminary research. It may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised to hear how many students dash off a why this major essay without ever visiting the college website. Most college websites will be neatly laid out, with an “Academics” page linking to the various majors and minors on offer.

For undecided students, this list of majors will spark ideas. Often, subjects not offered at the high school level simply aren’t on a high schooler’s radar. Less typical liberal arts majors might include Food Studies, Fashion, and Neuroscience. A larger university may have a whole school dedicated to Engineering, with engineering majors ranging from Biomedical Engineering to Civil Engineering. (Students applying to a particular school like this will want to read up on additional guides, such as Preparing for a Top Engineering College .)

Furthermore, students may find that a particular college combines several of their interests into one major. A major in Sustainable Development will require courses on environmental science, economics, and architecture. Some colleges even offer an independent study option, allowing students to combine several disciplines of their choice as they work on a specific senior project.

Once the student has narrowed down their interests to around 1 – 3 majors, they should take notes on any aspects of the programs that appeal to them. These can include the curriculum and courses offered, research taking place in the department, study abroad options, labs, etc. Department websites also provide insight into current and previous students’ thesis work. These notes will make drafting the why this major essay a lot easier, and will provide real evidence that the student is genuinely interested in the program.

Structuring the Why This Major Essay, Part A

Structurally, the “Why this major?” essay hinges on two complementary parts. These two halves don’t need to be equally weighted in words. Yet, they are equally valuable in forming a cohesive argument.

In part A, students describe their history with the specific subject they’ve chosen. Anecdotes provide an easy way in. A why this major engineering essay may begin with a student describing the time they fixed the science class aquarium by restructuring valves connecting to the water tank.

Next, the student should show how this interest turned into a full-fledged passion. Examples here could include specific units in high school classes, books they’ve read, internships, etc. Try to choose moments and details that together shape a journey.

Structuring the Why This Major Essay, Part B

This second part of the “Why this major?” essay is all about the future. The student must link their developed interest to their chosen major. Then, returning to their research notes, the student will show why the school they’re applying to will be unique in providing a relevant and resourceful education in that arena. Though most aspects of a program are worth mentioning, it’s best to avoid naming specific professors. Faculty can vary annually, and even tenured professors go on sabbatical.

A natural final step in Part B involves describing how the chosen major will lead to the student’s desired career. It’s normal for students to feel a bit baffled here. But remember, this essay is not a promise. Rather, talking about potential career paths will demonstrate that the student has some awareness and practical knowledge of the field, as well as some idealism about what they might accomplish in it. Look again at the department website for articles and links to alumni news for inspiration.

Make it personal, and passionate. No matter what major a student chooses, admissions officers will be impressed by a student who has taken their education into their own hands in order to pursue their interest to its fullest.

Focus in on specificity. Admissions officers will remember a student interested in mutations in indigenous tropical plants, though they may forget a student who’s simply interested in botany. Detail will also make the essay more articulate.

Common Mistakes and Lingering Questions

As mentioned above, not doing the research before writing a “Why this major?” essay can lead to serious mistakes. Imagine submitting an essay about why you intend to major in International Politics, only to learn that the college’s major is called Global Politics and Economics. Here are some other common mistakes:

1) Not committing fully to any idea. Students who shy away from definitively selecting a major may do so out of a sense of honesty. Perhaps they don’t feel it’s right to wax on about Medieval Studies when they’re also interested in Historical Preservation. While trying to give both subjects a fair chance, the student can come across as only lukewarm for both. Colleges may pass over an applicant they see as apathetic. (Plus, colleges see students’ evolution as being in their best interest, and won’t hold it against you if you change your mind.) So, throw yourself fully into one major, or both, just make sure the excitement comes through. And, consider mentioning how your second or third interest may become your minor.

2) Parroting the website. Admissions officers know what their website says. That’s their job. Students who find themselves copying or paraphrasing the website can adapt this information to themselves by answering the question, how would I take advantage of this particular feature?

3) Picking the wrong major. Students may feel pressured to pick a major that is perceived to be lucrative, or one that is less popular because they believe it gives them a statistically higher chance of getting accepted. While an applicant’s desired field of study is weighed in the admission process , attempting to “game the system” very rarely ends in success. Ultimately, choosing a major that genuinely aligns with one’s interests and accomplishments is almost always the way to go. (For more on this question, check out Should I Declare a Major on My College Application ?)

Sample Why This Major Essay Prompts

While the Common App Prompts ask for fairly lengthy responses, the why this major essay works to complement the main essay, and can be pretty short. Short essays around 100 words will require a cursory nod to each eventful moment in the student’s life that has led them to choose their major. Medium-sized essays (250-400 words) will allow the student to sharpen each experience with more detail.

Let’s take a look at several examples:

Purdue University asks students to “Respond in 100 words or fewer. Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected.” The brevity of the prompt invites the writer to be straightforward and concise in kind.

Students applying to Princeton as B.S.E. degree applicants will find that the “why this major” engineering prompt is equally straightforward. However, it asks for more specificity. It reads: “Please describe why you are interested in studying engineering at Princeton. Include any of your experiences in or exposure to engineering, and how you think the programs offered at the University suit your particular interests. (Please respond in 250 words or fewer.)”

Why This Major Essay Example

Lastly, let’s see how one engineering student answered both Purdue and Princeton’s why this major essay/why this major essay engineering prompts. You’ll notice that the student recycled various information, but condensed and adapted the essay the second time around.

Why This Major Essay Engineering: Princeton

I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig while learning to drive. Afterward, I hoped my mom’s Volvo would break down so I could put the engine back together, as I had with a lawn mower. I love rebuilding things to understand each part. In Electronics, I wrote code to make a robot move, yet was left dissatisfied.

I’d begun to see how our climate crisis is caused by greenhouse gases, a byproduct of technology. I felt deceived by misconceived notions of “progress,” by cars and engines. Only when building an Arduino-based automated watering system to measure moisture in our school garden did I realize how technology might fix our mistakes. A complex watering system might reforest our planet, though it would be an immense undertaking. As Pirsig wrote: “Steel can be any shape you want if you are skilled enough, and any shape but the one you want if you are not.”

I wish to major in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University to develop the skills necessary to design technologies that will restore our planet’s balance. I’m inspired by the recent laser-based sensing drone developed by Princeton researchers, which can pinpoint greenhouse gas leaks. With a concentration in Energy and the Environment, I would learn about remote methane sensors using chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy. I plan to develop an independent project on vapor isotope analyzers. After obtaining my B.S.E., I hope to improve the water cycles in urban environments.

Why This Major Essay Engineering: Purdue

While building an Arduino-based automated watering system for my school garden to measure moisture, I realized that human technology does not only destroy environments, but can work to reverse the effects of climate change. Majoring in Multidisciplinary Engineering with a Humanitarian Engineering Concentration at Purdue University would enable me to explore and combine various engineering disciplines in order to design technology that engenders sustainable living solutions for our species while supporting biodiversity on the planet. I plan to construct my own vapor isotope analyzer as my thesis to study and ultimately improve the water cycle of urban environments.

Why this Major Essay – Additional Resources

Looking for advice on other aspects of the college essay writing process? You may also find the following blogs to be of interest:

• How to Write the Overcoming Challenges Essay
• 2023-24 Common App Essay Prompts
• Check out over 50 school-specific supplemental prompts and tips
• College Essay

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With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, struggling with the 'why computer science' essay - help.

Hey everyone, I'm stuck trying to write an essay in just 100 words on why I want to major in computer science. Anyone have advice or guidance on what I should focus on when writing, or tips on how to make my essay stand out? Thanks!

Hi there! Writing a concise 100-word essay can be tricky, but it's possible to create something that stands out. Here are a few tips to help you:

1. Be personal: Share an anecdote or a moment that sparked your interest in computer science. This makes your essay unique and memorable.

2. Show passion: Demonstrate your enthusiasm by mentioning a specific project, programming language, or computer science concept that you find particularly captivating.

3. Highlight achievements: Briefly touch on any accomplishments or experiences that have deepened your interest in computer science, such as awards, internships, or coding competitions.

4. Talk about goals: Explain what you hope to achieve with a computer science degree, focusing on how your career aspirations align with your passions and interests.

5. Stay concise: With only 100 words, it's crucial to be clear and concise. Edit your essay to remove any irrelevant details and ensure that you get straight to the point.

Remember, the key to making your essay stand out is to infuse it with your personal perspective and genuine excitement for the subject. Good luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Computers — Computer Science

Essays on Computer Science

The importance of open and closed questions in academic research, why i chose computer science essay, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

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The Ethics of Social Media: The Exploitation of User Data by Facebook

Computer science – my choice for future career, the future of computers technology, my motivation to pursue undergraduate studies in computer engineering, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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How Computer Engineering Will Help Shape The Future of Technology

3d holographic projection technology: designing a prototype, abstract computer science, historical development of computer science, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

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My Motivation to Pursue Higher Education in Computer Science in Germany

Motivation letter for computer science scholarship, what motivates me to do my masters in computer science at florida state university, the eniac project: its significance in computer science and society, my goal to pursue a career in computer science and engineering, how the movie hackers got me interested in computer science, personal experience in the computer science education, computer science - a stepping stone to your career, why i have decided to apply for the master of computer science program at colorado state university, how mathematics curiosity has brought me to computer science, the role of experimentation in computer science, computer systems and architecture, my fascination for science and technology, my desire to continue learning computer engineering, my goals of becoming a computer scientist for nasa, the role of computers in financial accounting, a research of contemporary issues, opportunities, trends, challenges and innovations within ict industry connected with google company, computing exponentially faster: implementing a non-deterministic universal turing machine using dna, the types of programming languages and the language of a game engine, the possibility of machines to be able to think and feel.

Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to practical disciplines (including the design and implementation of hardware and software).

The four areas of computer science are: theory of computation, algorithms and data structures, programming methodology and languages, and computer elements and architecture. CSAB also identifies fields such as software engineering, artificial intelligence, computer networking and communication, database systems, parallel computation, distributed computation, human-computer interaction, computer graphics, operating systems, and numerical and symbolic computation as being important areas of computer science.

Alan Turing (the “father of modern computing”), Tim Berners-Lee (inventor of the World Wide Web), John McCarthy, Grace Hopper, Julian Assange, Steve Wozniak, etc.

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• Artificial Intelligence

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32 Best Topics For An Engineering Essay

If a regular college student was told to come up with a list of the most difficult academic disciplines to deal with, we bet that engineering would be deservedly mentioned. Yes, this discipline is quite challenging to get around, which is especially true of home assignments in engineering so some students are forced to ask someone to  write my essay . This delicate problem often prompts some students to apply for help to online services, asking, “ do my engineering homework .” But it’s not only homework assignments in engineering that give college kids a hard time – another big burden connected with this discipline is academic writing.

In engineering paper writing, the first and most exasperating obstacle is settling on the topic. At first sight, choosing a paper topic seems to be quite easy. In reality, given the complexity of the discipline, developing a topic for an engineering discipline is a rigorous process. For this reason, we decided to put pen to paper and provide you with the greatest engineering essay topics!

Software Engineering Essay Topics

• The rapid evolution of neural networks
• Computer-assisted education as an innovative solution to the traditional academic system
• The implementation of machine learning in today’s digital industry
• The risks of using virus-infected computer software
• Virtual reality and human perception
• AI in modern digital marketing
• The challenges of database management
• The interactions between humans and machines
• The problem of ethical hacking today
• The development of biometric systems for computers

Biomedical Engineering Essay Topics

• The critical importance of modeling diseases through engineering
• The ways of improving medical imaging methods
• The outlook for structural health monitoring
• Genetic engineering as one of the most popular fields of biomedical engineering
• The use of biomedical engineering in handling the COVID-19 situation
• Biorobotics in disease detection
• The authentication systems based on biorobotics
• The treatment of cardiac diseases with the help of biomedical engineering

Structural Engineering Essay Topics

• The use of software in modeling experiments
• How to study the vulnerability of a particular area
• Self-healing: core principles
• The utilization of probabilistic methods in structural engineering

Mechanical Engineering Essay Topics

• Marine shipping and air pollution
• The history of mechanical engineering
• Parallel kinematic machines
• Manufacturing systems: performance analysis
• Electricity production mechanisms used at nuclear power plants
• The technology of solid-liquid separation
• The mechanical engineering of the smart auto-reeling mechanism
• Perpetual motion machines: the outlook
• The implementation of oil depletion
• The use of mechanical engineering in metallurgy

Engineering Writing Is Easy!

Developed by our top engineering specialists, these longed-for paper topics are for all students who fail to develop a good idea for their engineering papers. As you can now see, creating a solid engineering paper topic is not as big a deal as some college students believe it to be. Equipped with these 32 brilliant paper topics, you no longer have to torment yourself with the tedious procedure of seeking inspiration for your academic paper. Make sure to select the best topic from our top list developed by the leading experts in engineering!

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How to Write a Great Engineering School Personal Statement

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You have spent months researching and identifying the best engineering schools, studying for and completing the SATs, GRE, or other standardized tests, and filling out tedious college applications. You are on the verge of burnout when it hits you: you have to write a personal statement.

How important is it to write a great personal statement? Ask the admissions committee, and they’ll tell you that writing a personal statement is like applying for a job. Stephen J Aguilar, an assistant professor of education at USC, reported in 2020 to Inside Higher Ed that a personal statement should be less revealing and more persuasive. At its core, the personal statement needs to answer these two questions:

• Why are you applying here?
• How do your interests and experiences align with the program or the faculty you’ve identified?

However, the importance of reading and understanding the question prompts cannot be overstated. For example, the University of Iowa College of Engineering, which places 97 percent of its undergraduates in jobs post-graduation and currently has 284 master’s and doctoral students, goes one step further to differentiate personal statements from statements of purpose .

This institution wants to know in the statement of purpose , “Why is this program a good fit for you?” By contrast, the personal statement elicits answers to the question: “Who are you?” and allows applicants to explain themselves to admissions committees regarding academic achievements and life events that have shaped them and will positively influence the campus community.

That said, a personal statement is not just an essay. It has to be intelligent, engaging, typo-free, and capable of convincing admissions reviewers that you are a better fit for their program. Fret not. With lots of research and preparation, you can submit a college essay that reflects your passion and capabilities.

Read on to learn the what, the why, and the how-to of writing great personal statements to gain admission into engineering school.

How Is a Personal Statement Evaluated?

The title "personal statement" is generally synonymous with college essays. However, some admissions professionals use it to refer more specifically to written statements that explore applicants’ program readiness and intentions if admitted. The purpose of these statements for engineering school applicants is three-fold.

First, colleges want to know that they can write well, and not just from a technical perspective. Of course, grammar matters, but perhaps more important is the ability to communicate ideas.

Second, engineering schools want to know who a student is—the nuggets that are not conveyed through a conventional application or school transcripts. This is the written equivalent of the interview question “tell us about yourself” and is the applicant’s chance to share who they are, what they want to do, and how gaining admission to this program will be mutually beneficial.

Finally, colleges want to ensure applicants are familiar with and committed to the program. The best personal statements fulfill these goals, often in 700 words or less.

Does this sound like a tall order? Here are some tips for getting it right.

Six Tips for Writing a Stellar Engineering School Personal Statement

1. Do the research

It may sound simplistic, but one of the most important (and often overlooked) steps toward getting into the right school is taking the time to research a prospective engineering program, review its admissions policies and—this cannot be overstated—read and reread its application essay prompt. Candidates who don’t sufficiently answer an institution’s question or convey some misunderstanding about the prompt or its expectations are unlikely to be admitted.

Prospective students completing the Common Application should take the time to contact each engineering school they are applying to inquire about additional admissions requirements. The Princeton Review emphasizes that a personal statement should not repeat a previously discussed part of your application, nor should its information contradict another part.

2. Go deep, not broad

Personal statement prompts tend to be targeted. Engineering schools want to know what specific qualities or experiences make each student a good fit for their programs. Common inquiries include recalling a time you solved a problem, explaining why you applied, describing your academic goals and intentions, and addressing any extenuating circumstances that might have impacted your school record. Rather than offering a broad synopsis of your life, choose the experience or intent most relevant to the question and explore it in depth.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Graduate School offers advice for writing an in-depth personal statement for engineering schools using the “qualified match” approach. The steps include:

• Make a statement that fits the essay prompt, like “I am a dedicated and hard-working student.”
• Quantify your statement with specific details about your life. You might, for example, discuss how many hours per week you spend on school work and how you overcome any obstacles to committing that time.
• Interpret how those details make you a stronger applicant. To continue with the above example, that might include writing about the knowledge you gained during your studies, your time-management skills, your passion for learning, and your commitment to succeed despite challenges.

3. Be relevant

If a personal statement has only one goal, it is to be shown to a review committee that you are the right fit for its school. That’s why applicants to Stanford University’s Institute for Computational & Mathematical Engineering are asked to specify their personal and professional goals in their statement of purpose, as well as discuss their developments and intentions for study and life beyond their doctoral program.

Read the mission statements of each program to get a feel for what they are looking for and keep that in mind as you write. Rather than getting carried away detailing the hours you log volunteering each week, discuss experiences and activities as they relate to your academic and career goals or scientific interests. Also, be sure not to waste valuable ink rehashing information available elsewhere on your application, such as extracurricular activities or your stellar GPA.

4. Avoid gimmicks and cliches

Did you love playing with Legos as a kid? Did those plastic bricks lay the foundation for your drive to be an engineer? If so, the College of Engineering at the University of Washington suggests you are in good company, but not in a good way. Every year, the committee reads personal essays on how Legos were the building blocks of a student's career in engineering.

To stand out, engineering school applicants should avoid using cliches in their statements. Of course, setting yourself apart from other applicants is imperative, but you must do so in a meaningful and unique way. Admissions review panels have seen it all and are unlikely to be moved by creative gimmicks and attention-grabbers that do not get to the heart of what makes you a great candidate.

5. Mind your mechanics

This tip refers more to the mechanics of writing than any scientific drive, though the latter undoubtedly has a place in an engineering school personal statement. Remember when we said one of the goals of college essays is verifying applicants can communicate effectively? Applicants should consider the following elements as they prepare their outline (more on that next):

• Voice – Is your voice appropriate for the task? Is it too formal or casual? Are you using active language rather than passive and wishy-washy statements? Do you come across as academic?
• Structure – Do your ideas flow logically and support one main idea? If you are unsure where to start, know that following the reliable five-paragraph essay format is perfectly acceptable: introduction, three supporting paragraphs, and a tidy conclusion.
• Length – Engineering schools usually have a good reason for requesting personal statements with a specific word count. Those that are too short have too little to say, and those that are too long are likely to repeat the same concepts.
• Grammar – College students are expected to know and use basic grammar. Edit, edit, and then edit again.
• Completeness – Have you addressed the admissions essay prompt in full? What about any supplemental school or department-specific requests?

6. Edit, edit, edit

Writing a personal statement may seem like a herculean task, so it is tempting to push it aside when you type that final period and not look back. This is a mistake—and perhaps the biggest one you can make. Sometimes we get so caught up in our thoughts and ideas that we miss lapses in our writing, whether grammatical or contextual. To avoid this:

• Begin with an outline.
• Write the first draft.
• Write a second draft.
• Read the essay out loud.
• Review your essay again a day or two later.
• Ask parents, friends, teachers, and others to read your work.

There is never any excuse for typos, and even the slightest error can turn a committee review member off. Ask a friend or family member to review your essay for grammatical mistakes when in doubt. It may be intimidating, but the process is an excellent way to identify missing words or ideas. What's more, applicants today are blessed with the power of technology. Online tools like Grammarly are free to use and quickly catch any glaring typos.

Starting Your Engineering School Admissions Essay

One of the biggest challenges to writing a stellar college essay is simply getting started in the first place. Personal statements are, by design, personal, and that can be intimidating. Applicants also put significant pressure on themselves to write the perfect essay.

Fortunately, many colleges try to ease the burden by providing tips online. Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab offers examples of successful personal statements. Some engineering schools even post examples of successful personal statements, including MIT , Johns Hopkins University , and Cornell University . While your essay should be wholly original, these resources can guide you through creating a unique and inspirational narrative to impress admissions committees.

Aimee Hosler is a long-time journalist specializing in education and technology. She is an advocate for experiential learning among all ages and serves as the director of communications for a non-profit community makerspace. She holds a degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

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Computer Engineering vs. Software Engineering: Which Is Right For You

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What’s Covered:

Computer engineering vs software engineering, preparing for computer engineering and software engineering in high school, the college experience, after college, final thoughts.

With new technology being created every day, the need for engineers keeps growing. Two similar majors in the field, computer engineering, and software engineering focus on working with computers and their systems.

While the majors share a lot of similarities, there are some big differences that can help lead you to the major that’s right for you and your interests. 

As a computer engineering major, you’ll focus on topics such as hardware, software, electrical engineering, and how to design, develop, and analyze these topics. You’ll use skills-based in mathematics, physics, and computer science. The computer engineering major is broad, so be sure to narrow down your focus to something more specific, such as microprocessors or electronic circuits.  

Those who choose to major in software engineering will learn different aspects of designing, analyzing, and maintaining software. As a software engineer, you’ll need to have good problem-solving and research skills, mathematical modeling and analytic skills, know multiple coding languages and work well in a team.

The main difference between the two is that computer engineering focuses more on the physical hardware systems, while software engineering focuses more on implementing, testing, and maintaining software.

As you prepare for these majors in high school, a lot of the recommended classwork will be similar. You should focus on classes that revolve around math and science. Consider taking higher-level physics or calculus courses to refine your theoretical thinking. Remember that if you can take AP classes, and do well in them, those will be impressive additions to your profile. Additionally, if your high school offers any programming or computer system classes, such as CompSci, these classes will be a big boost to your college application.

If your school doesn’t offer programming/computer system classes, there are a variety of free courses online that you can take yourself. Some great options include edX and Coursera.

For extracurriculars, you should try and participate in any engineering-related or computer-related clubs or activities. If your high school does not offer such opportunities, you should look into starting your own! Not only will this show that you’re interested in the field, but also that you’re a leader who takes initiative.

You may also be able to find internships or STEM-related programs in your area. Some examples include CalTech’s Da Vinci Camp and MIT’s Research Science Institute . Another option is to shadow any professionals in the computer or software engineering fields. This opportunity would give you an idea of what the field is like and if it’s the right fit.

Before you can actually major in computer or software engineering , you need to find the right school to pursue this interest. You can use CollegeVine’s free chancing engine and school search tool to filter for schools by computer or software engineering majors and see your chances of acceptance. You can also indicate your preferences for size, location, diversity, and more.

Computer Engineering 

When you study computer engineering in college, you’ll continue to take math and science courses like in high school, but you’ll also take more advanced courses related to computer engineering. For example, at the University of California Irvine, computer engineering students take programming, network analysis, electronics classes, and more.

Software Engineering

The software engineering major also features some math classes, such as statistics and algebra. As a whole though, the courses for this major tend to be more focused on programming, data, and development. The University of California Irvine requires software engineering majors to take classes such as programming languages, software design, and data structure and analysis. 

For both computer engineering and software engineering, it’s important to select a college that has other ways to get involved in your major outside of class. Related clubs, research projects, hackathons, or internships are a great way to build your resume and get experience in the field. Some examples of these clubs and organizations at colleges include the MIT Society of Women Engineers and Carnegie Mellon’s Build18 Hackathon .

It’s also important to network with your professors and attend any professional development events, as these can be important connections for finding a job in the future.

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Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

Grad School

While it’s not necessary to go to grad school for computer engineering or software engineering, it can open the door to more high-paying opportunities and managerial roles. If you think grad school is something you want to pursue, it’s important to maintain a high GPA in college, especially in your STEM classes.

Computer Engineering: Career

With a computer engineering degree, there are plenty of career options. Career paths can range from hardware engineering, which includes designing, testing or analyzing computer hardware, to information security which focuses on keeping data safe from hackers and malware.

The average salary for a computer engineer in the United States in 2021 was $92,045. Another thing that’s important when looking at computer engineering jobs is the city you’ll work in. Some of the highest paying cities for computer engineers include San Jose, California, Oakland, California, and Tanaina, Arkansas.

Software Engineering: Career

As a software engineer, your career options often focus on data and programming. These roles can include mobile app developer, front-end engineer which focuses on the user interface for a website or application, or game engineer.

The average salary for a software engineer in the United State in 2021 was $99,729. The highest paying cities for software engineers are the same cities as computer engineers: San Jose, California, Oakland, California, and Tanaina, Arkansas.

Computer engineering and software engineering are very similar majors. If you prefer to work with physical systems and hardware, then computer engineering may be the better track for you, whereas if you prefer to work with data and building and maintaining systems try software engineering. If you’re not sure which right be might for you, try consulting with your teachers and professionals in the field.

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Students: Alex Clevenger & Michael Speckhart

Project: A Programming Platform for Numerical Analysis and Visualization

Major: Computer Science and Engineering

Advisor: Arielle Carr

We live in a fast-paced world. This is a world where the pace is driven not only by the competitive market, but also by our rapidly advancing technologies. As a society, we are at the gateway of innovation with the rise of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, medical imaging, and robotic automation. The performance of these technologies all rely on one thing: fast computation. Most modern services deal with an astronomical amount of data, and organizing these data in specific matrix formats is becoming an industry norm. We present a comprehensive, user-friendly platform for performing numerical analysis and matrix operations. Advanced matrix operations and numerical systems are at the forefront of our most sophisticated advancements today, and there is much room for improvement in optimizing these computations. Our software supports matrix operations in both dense and sparse formats, and we offer multiple approaches for solving linear systems, including direct methods, iterative methods, preconditioning techniques, and Krylov methods. We employ finite difference methods to estimate option prices for the Black Scholes Merton and Heston models. Amongst these mathematical models and iterative methods, some have not been parallelized with modern API’s, as this is a relatively new space. In a high performance computing environment, parallelizing code is an essential component of fast computation, and we aspire to develop a powerful library that is capable of enhancing the technologies of today.

About Alex Clevenger

Alex Clevenger is a senior at Lehigh University, majoring in computer science. Outside of the classroom, he is also a Division I Track & Field athlete. His capstone project requires a strong comprehension of low-level programming and mathematical theory, where he primarily focuses on establishing the server architecture and concurrent primitives. Alex aspires to publish his work to the SIAM conference before he graduates. Aside from his capstone work, he is also an active participant in Lehigh’s Scalable Systems and Software (SSS) research group. The focus of his undergraduate research is exploring the overlap between remote direct memory access and randomized binary consensus algorithms. He has plans to publish the findings of this specialized consensus algorithm to NSDI. After graduation, Alex will be a part of Lehigh’s computer science Ph.D. program.

About Michael Speckhart

Michael Speckhart is a senior at Lehigh University majoring in Computer Science and Engineering. Michael is currently a researcher in the Scalable Systems Software (SSS) group under Professor Arielle Carr. His research with Professor Carr focuses on numerical analysis, specifically iterative and multigrid methods and sparse matrices. Additionally, Michael is interested in high performance computing and low level programming. Michael is part of Theta Chi Fraternity where he served as Vice President and then the Judicial Chair of the Interfraternity Council. Michael likes to run, play tennis, and fishing.

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Professor Kirsten Strandjord at ECE Spring 2024 Colloquium

Navigation in challenged environments.

The lecture will present an overview of Professor Strandjord’s area of research in Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Signal of Opportunity (SOP) technology and applications for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). One of the primary lecture topics will highlight the challenges for positioning in urban environments and the algorithms and techniques studied to improve the use of these signals in this environment. Similarly, another topic of interest related to urban navigation is research that investigates the use of long-term evolution (LTE) signals, typically used for communication purposes, as signals of opportunity for navigation. Another GNSS-challenged environment will be presented related to navigating regions of space beyond the altitudes of GNSS constellation orbits and into cis-lunar space.

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Kumar Receives ACM SIGMOBILE Rockstar Award

Swarun Kumar, the Sathaye Family Foundation Career Development Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been awarded the ACM SIGMOBILE 2024 Rockstar Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the design of novel techniques to extend the range of low-power networks and the development of the area of programmable targeted wireless energy delivery.

The Award recognizes an individual who has made recent outstanding research or product contributions to the field of mobile computing during the early part of their career.

Kumar’s research focuses on building next-generation wireless network protocols. In a recent project, a team of researchers, led by Kumar, developed the Wireless Actuation for Soft Electronics-free Robots (WASER) platform where the soft robot can be controlled in a non-line-of-sight context using wireless energy. The signal they use can carry through blockages like wood and walls, similar to Wi-Fi signals that we use for cell phones.

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Innovation Unveiled: ECEE Engineering Students to Showcase Design Projects

This year, team projects impact critical areas in sustainability, assistive technologies, communications, microgrid power distribution and new sensing technologies.

The ECEE Capstone Design course is a two-semester course for every senior in the department. Students collaborate as teams to design a product from concept to prototype. Each team partners with a sponsoring organization to define a product, determine suitable technology options and create a design from proof to final custom hardware and software. 

Through these hands-on experiences, students gain essential career skills into practice as professional engineers. 

Capstone Design, led by Scholar in Residence Eric Bogatin, has 10 industry sponsors and four faculty sponsors. Their organization sponsors include: Medtronic, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the Colorado Space Grant Consortium, Line Vision, Microchip Technologies, SparkFun, Fieldline, LUUM, Quality Life Plus and Augustus Aerospace.

Projects you will see at the Expo 2024 include: 

Team The Band is designing and building  a new product for SparkFun Electronics — a home air quality monitor. A small sensor box will sit in your home, and an app on your smartphone will give you access to the current air quality and a recorded history. Features in the user interface will be suitable for the casual user and the scientist inside all of us.

Team Formula 10 is designing and building an automatic room air purifier working off of a 48-volt microgrid. This system will monitor the indoor air quality, such as particle count, temperature, humidity and CO2 level. When it exceeds a threshold, the purifier activates a fan with a filter and UV purification lights. Since it is powered by a microgrid, the efficiency of the power delivery system is monitored and new power conversion technologies are demonstrated. 

Team JALATT is working with JPL to design and build a self-aligning connector system for autonomous, self-assembling CubeSats. A custom test bed will help  evaluate the contact resistance, leakage and signal bandwidth for power and data flow between CubeSats. This test bed will initially be demonstrated with a prototype connector design, which JPL will use to test future connector technologies. 

In collaboration with the Colorado Space Grant Consortium, Team Oval is designing a prototype Luna Sat sensor network. This is a collection of small, solar-powered circuit boards that will self-assemble into a wireless network of sensor nodes. This initial version will be used on Earth and distributed as a kit to 9-12th grade students around the world as part of the Great Lunar Expedition for Everyone (GLEE) project . This will give students a chance to explore remote data acquisition experiments.

Professor Dragan Maksimovic is sponsoring a project on air quality monitoring and controls.

Assistant Professor Marco Nicotra is sponsoring a project on using a laser link to control a remote drone.

Professor Al Gasiewski is sponsoring a project on remote sensing to map atmospheric emissions in the k-band

Distinguished Professor Zoya Popovic is sponsoring a project on transmitting useful power to a ground station from a drone. 

Professor Scott Diddams is advising a team using an atomic clock to stabilize a grandfather clock. 

Check out all student teams on April 26 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the CU Indoor Practice Facility !

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