Student Spotlight

Arya Swamy | Design Innovation and Society + Mechanical Engineering (dual major) | "My favorite classes so far have been the Design Studios that are part of the Design, Innovation & Society side of my major. These courses let me approach problems through a creative and human-centered lens. I enjoy how the studios encourage collaboration, prototyping, and critical thinking, while also connecting design decisions to real-world social and environmental contexts. They’ve challenged me to think beyond technical problem-solving and consider the broader impact of the solutions I create, which is exactly the balance I hope to bring into my career."

Bhoomi Patni | Cognitive Science + Computer Science (dual major) | "My project is a Python-based simulation of the Monty Hall Problem, developed under the supervision of Professor Bram Van Heuveln in the Cognitive Science Department. I am using machine learning techniques to create an interactive, data-driven tool that helps students better understand probability concepts. This simulation is designed to let users experiment with different strategies, visualize outcomes, and gain intuition about the counterintuitive nature of probability. Through this project, I have gained experience in research design, programming, and applying computational methods to cognitive science education."

Marco St Denis '27 | Economics + Communication, Media and Design (dual major) | "CoMD and any HASS major for that matter are excellent ways to channel your intellect into something timeless and passionate through art. I highly recommend everyone should at least minor in a HASS field they enjoy or try to express themselves through an artistic means as I believe it helps tremendously with finding out who your are especially during these pivotal years of our lives :)"

Jasmin Chen | Games, Simulation Arts and Science | "My favorite class so far has been Introduction to Game Design. Professor Brace taught me several memorable lessons on not only the basic ideas of creating games, but valuable advice on how to navigate the industry. It felt so thrilling to be able to develop something substantial with peers for the first time."

Shashwat Srivastava | Economics BS + MS | I'm an international student from India at RPI. I am an Economics - STSO dual major. I chose economics as my major as I was always interested in learning about businesses, firm decision-making & performance indicators and global economy. After graduation, I am looking forward to work as an Investment Banker, hopefully at a renowned company! | Favorite Class: My favourite class so far was Intermediate Macroeconomics Theory. I loved that class it gave me much broader application and knowledge of economics beyond households and firms. Learning about national and global economy with emphasis on factors like policies, Fed involvement, budget, etc. was both interesting and valuable for building my foundational base in economics.

Rhea Vurghese | Electronic Arts | "For incoming students, my advice is this: be open to changing your path! Things don't always go exactly to plan, interests can change, and new opportunities can be found in the most unlikely of places; it’s all natural and nothing to be afraid of."