Jake Hoffman

Why did you pick WashU?
I noticed that WashU continues to update its engineering buildings and programs. Unlike other schools, WashU reinvests tuition money into the studies I was interested in, which was really reassuring when choosing colleges.

Who is your favorite instructor and why?
I am honestly not too close with any of my professors, but I’d have to say that Schaefer's teaching style was my favorite to learn from, especially as a freshman.

What advice would you give to a new student?
When first arriving at WashU, finding a community where you can be yourself is important. I see so many students at other universities feeling isolated, so I want to urge new students to join clubs. As a queer student interested in music, I have not only found community within the oSTEM chapter here at WashU (which is for LGBT+ students in STEM), but I have also found a place to be myself in WashU’s a cappella culture!

What is your favorite thing about St. Louis?
This one is funny, but compared to NYC Ubers being silent drives to your location, St. Louis Ubers are the most warm, hospitable experiences known to man. I like to joke that instead of therapy, just order an Uber and talk it out.

What campus activities or groups would you recommend to a new student?
For queer McKelvey students, I highly recommend oSTEM as it is a large and fruitful organization that really focuses on social events (so you can get to know and make friends with others), as well as professional events (like resume and interview prep to kickstart your future)!

What are your plans for the future?
My goal is to integrate my knowledge of computer science to enhance the work I love! Whether it be in fields like social media, cybersecurity, or mathematics, bringing in the understanding of data science and algorithms that I have learned at WashU, as well as the professional experience I have gained from oSTEM conferences, will put me in a position to do work with what I love and love what I do for work.