Engineering at Stanford: Exploring the Future, One Prototype at a Time

Last summer, I spent two weeks at the Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Summer Institute, diving into the world of engineering through their Introduction to Engineering program. It wasn’t just about learning what engineers do, it was about thinking like one, across disciplines.

Over the course of the program, I explored:

• Biomedical Engineering — designing medical tools and learning how to improve patient care with tech

• Computer Engineering — exploring logic gates and programming for real-world systems

• Civil Engineering — testing structural design principles with real loads

• Environmental Engineering — analyzing sustainable systems and modeling clean energy solutions
  

What Made It Special

One of the best parts of the program was how much it focused on teamwork and creative problem-solving. Every challenge was tackled in groups from designing mock prosthetics to optimizing traffic flows and we ended each project with team presentations, pitching our ideas to professors and peers.

According to my final evaluation, I was recognized for bringing:

“Positive energy, a high level of creativity, commitment to every project, and leadership.”

That feedback meant a lot to me because that’s exactly how I felt every day of the program. Energized, engaged, and excited to figure things out with others.

What It Left Me With

Stanford gave me a glimpse into the many paths engineering can take, and how engineers think across disciplines to solve global challenges. It deepened my passion for applying technical skills to problems that actually matter from accessibility to sustainability.

It also confirmed that I’m not just interested in one kind of engineering. I’m interested in engineering as a way of thinking designing, testing, iterating, and collaborating.