Saavan Rijsinghani

Why did you decide to study engineering?
I came to WashU as a finance and systems engineering double major; however, after doing a few internships in finance and engineering, I found that I enjoyed the latter far more and decided to commit fully to engineering.

Why did you pick WashU?
WashU had a great business school and a great engineering school, so it seemed like the perfect place to combine these disciplines and study both. I also initially wanted to go into something like consulting or finance and there's a lot of opportunity for that here.

Who is your favorite instructor and why?
Jim Feher teaches a great class in "Introduction to Engineering Design.” I've found myself using a lot of what I learned in that class and what he taught at jobs I've worked in and other classes. I also learned a lot about how to problem-solve and debug issues when you're integrating a big project.

What advice would you give to a new student?
Don't be afraid to try new things or get involved in clubs. I regret not doing more engineering clubs such as Formula SAE or WURocketry. As a freshman, I was terrified to join these clubs as I wasn't sure I was qualified to participate. Looking back, I realize how wrong I was. No one is "qualified"; we're all learning!

What is your favorite thing about St. Louis?
Forest Park is a great spot where I find myself going on runs or just hanging out. It's a great place to get away from the stress of school occasionally.

What campus activities or groups would you recommend to a new student?
As mentioned before, the engineering clubs are a great place to start. If you end up enjoying it and getting super involved, it will be a fantastic experience and make you stand out to employers.

What are your plans for the future?
I will be starting as an avionics systems engineer at SpaceX in 2023. I have hopes to do an MS in electrical engineering or get an MBA, however, I'm not sure which one yet or what that will look like.