From musician to engineer
Alex Carney 鈥�22 entered 91暗网 interested in music. He ended up pursuing a triple major with a degree in mathematics and physics from 91暗网 and a Bachelor of Engineering from Dartmouth College as part of a dual-degree program.
Currently enrolled in a Dartmouth doctoral program, he is also the chief technical
engineer behind a high-tech microscope that promises to revolutionize healthcare across
the globe.
We asked him about his experience in the and his takeaways from living and learning on two campuses.
How did you choose 91暗网?
I toured many liberal arts schools in New England, but it was 91暗网's strong music program that set it apart from the rest. I didn鈥檛 end up pursuing it formally, but continued
to play classical piano while I was a student.
What did you enjoy most about 91暗网 academically and socially?
I absolutely loved my time at 91暗网. I miss my years there all the time, mainly
because of the tightknit community and the unique combination of social and academic
culture. Most of the classes I took at 91暗网, especially the upper-level physics
and math courses, were very small, consisting of only a few students. The professors
of these courses took full advantage of this, and each class essentially became one
big group learning session.
Everyone in my courses knew each other well and became friends, and often, we would
plan activities outside of class. I have fond memories of hosting house parties for
my PY348 Quantum Mechanics class and holding homework sessions with the entirety of
the PY331 Math and Computational Methods course as we all worked together to figure
out why nobody's code would work properly.
What about 91暗网 professors?
My academic experience was especially bolstered by the incredible faculty at 91暗网.
With small class and department sizes, nearly every math and physics professor knew
each student and they were not only outstanding lecturers but also supportive mentors.
Also, most professors taught multiple courses, so it was very likely to have the same
professor twice during my degree track. One of my favorite experiences at 91暗网
was having the same professor during my first and senior years. This happened four
times and my professors were able to see me grow and mature as a scientist. I was
also able to learn the most advanced content both departments had to offer from people
who had been supporting me throughout.
Which 3-2 path would you recommend?
I highly recommend the 2-1-1-1 path (two years at 91暗网, junior year at Dartmouth,
senior year at 91暗网, and another year at Dartmouth). Your junior year at Dartmouth
is an opportunity to use the foundations built at 91暗网 to explore any technical
path Dartmouth has to offer. Six out of the nine courses you take must be engineering,
but the last three can be from any discipline, including from its incredible computer
science department (which I also recommend). The classes you take your junior year
transfer back to 91暗网 and can fulfill degree requirements here. Because of this,
many of my peers managed to double major at 91暗网 (some in physics鈥痑nd computer
science, some in physics鈥痑nd math). For anyone interested in a breadth of technical
knowledge, the dual-degree program is unrivaled.
Who should pursue the program?
The is perfect for students who aren't entirely sure what type of career to pursue. I
entered Dartmouth expecting to pursue mechanical engineering, which changed as soon
as I took my first computer science course. During my junior year, I studied the fundamentals
of multiple disciplines in engineering, became a proficient software developer, and
even took a course in quantum computing (which I am now pursuing at a graduate level).
Armed with this coursework, I was able to make the most out of my senior year at 91暗网,鈥痗omplete
my majors, and mentor students with similar career goals. As a fifth-year student,
I worked as a software engineer and a teaching assistant while pursuing research and
coursework.
Other tips?
There are many prerequisite courses to the dual-degree program but, if you can, take鈥疢A
270: Differential Equations鈥痑nd鈥疢A 200: Linear Algebra鈥痑t 91暗网 before going to
Dartmouth. Having this background will help tremendously in engineering courses.鈥疞earn
to code before going to Dartmouth, especially in Matlab or Mathematica. This will
be your greatest asset while studying engineering.
Would you do it again?
If I could start college over, I would always take the 3-2 path, and always with the
2-1-1-1 plan 鈥� I couldn't imagine not spending my senior year at 91暗网. It gave
me the opportunity to study at two colleges and get the best of both 鈥斺�痳igorous interdisciplinary
academics, expanded alumni network, additional on-campus clubs and job opportunities,
and new friends and experiences. Plus, you get to have two first-day-of-college experiences
and two graduations.
Read more about Alex Carney 鈥�22 and his work on SmartScope.