Meet the Major: Varshini, Computer Science

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Why did you decide to come to the University of Massachusetts Amherst?

I decided to come to UMass Amherst initially because I knew I would be able to find the unique community that I was looking for as a college student. When I was choosing a college as a high school senior, one of the most important aspects for me, aside from an academic perspective, was being able to choose my own community and connections, rather than having to force myself into a small group I wasn’t interested in. I wanted to come to a school where I would be getting a great education while also having new experiences with lots of new people. UMass was one of the only schools that I knew would have large, diverse communities, where I could meet students from all different backgrounds.

Why did you choose your major?

I took two computer science classes in high school to see if it was a field that interested me. I was nervous because it was one of my first times writing code, but my teacher made me feel comfortable and told me that this is a skill I shouldn’t let go. I had such a great time learning new languages and skills with my friends from the class, and found myself with a new passion. That’s when I realized this field truly interests me, and I wanted to continue this passion in college. I knew that computer science was a popular major and there were a rapidly increasing number of opportunities every single year. I was excited to know that I could get incredible work experience while being a student for four years, then enter the industry right when I graduate from college.

What are your classes like? Do you have any favorites?

I’m really happy to say that so far, I’ve had a very different experience in every single one of my classes. Some of my classes have been 15 students in an intimate classroom setting, but I’ve also had class in 100-person and 350-person lecture halls, and pretty much everything in between. Personally, the largest classes are my favorites because the energy is always so high, and it's a room filled with hundreds of students who are doing exactly what I am during that one class, but go off in all different directions afterwards — which I found pretty cool. The best part about all of my classes is that my professors are always willing to help if I reach out and ask for it. That support has made my learning experience exponentially better. So far from being a college student, I learned that you will always learn more and get more worth from the class the more effort you put into it. My current course plan consists of mainly computer science, math, and general education classes. A few of my favorite classes so far include: CS 187 (Programming with Data Structures), and STAT 515 (Statistics I). CS 187 taught me a lot of core Java concepts to develop my coding skills, and my statistics class introduced me to some really interesting concepts that I enjoyed learning about, and also gave me useful knowledge for my future CS courses.

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What are the professors like?

During my first year, I was definitely nervous to approach my professors, but I pushed myself to do it and it always paid off. My professors have always been amazing to me by providing ample resources, spending time after class and during office hours to answer questions, or even just to talk about life. Specifically as classes started to get more difficult, I found myself attending every single office hour, every single week, just to gain all the info I could get from them. From those times, I learned a lot from my professors, and they learned about me. One current professor, Marius Minea, teaches Programming Methodology (CS 220), and has been available to help me and other students virtually at all times of the day. He is willing to provide advice, give you extra resources, and explain exactly where you’re going right or wrong. Like Professor Minea, there are hundreds of other professors who are willing to do the exact same thing for their students. Even throughout the online semesters, my professors have been extremely resourceful and responsive to questions through office hours and emails.

How do you plan to use your degree? How have you prepared for this path?

After UMass Amherst, I plan to work at a tech company as a software engineer. I’ve learned that it takes a lot of work and preparation to get to that point, but every step I take is one step closer to the end goal. I'm preparing in all sorts of ways: taking my college classes, learning technical and professional skills outside of college, getting involved with internships and research, and connecting with professors, peers and current engineers in the industry to learn about their experiences.

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Any tips for incoming students within the major?

I was nervous, but even more excited to be coming into college as a freshman, taking computer science classes in huge lecture halls with strangers. That opens the door to so many different opportunities, at such a young age. Even if it's a little outside of your comfort zone, put in your best effort to try new things and meet new people. Learning about other people is one of the best ways to grow as a new college student. Before coming to college, everyone always told me to go to office hours for help in classes, and they were definitely right. Make sure you take advantage of all of the resources that are available to you.

Most importantly, your classes might be more difficult than you’re used to, so take time to organize your schedule every week, setting out time to rest and relax, to hang out with friends, and to have some spontaneous adventures! Your time at UMass is only four years long, and your first year will fly by. Remember to always stay positive and strive to make every day worth it.