American High School
Tech/Engineering/Math Majors
Includes: Computer Science/Engineering, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Physics, Bio/Chem Engineering, Statistics/Data Science
*For Finance, Accounting, and Economics, visit the Business tab
Computer Science/Engineering
College: UCLA
Preferred Contact: shaankaranmathur@gmail.com
Major: Computer Science
High school activities: Water Polo, Swimming
Interested in: Computer Science (theoretical and broadly), Mathematics, Machine Learning, teaching, piano, Kingdom Hearts, Star Wars, Marvel, and Rocket League!
Willing to help with: College application process, Internship advice, Portfolio/resume review, High school advice regarding academics, General life advice, Anything!
Points of advice regarding applying to college, taking a gap year, or joining the military/workforce: I know it's a cliché, but waive that for a moment and really think about this. You do NOT need to know what you're going to be doing for the rest of your life at 18. I thought I was going to do business, then fell in love with programming, then fell harder for math and theoretical computer science, am now delving into machine learning, and may circle around and start a business! When I was 18, I thought I had my whole life planned out... and I was deeply satisfied with it! Then life knocked me down, tore me apart, and forced me to pick up the pieces and begin anew. As I get older, I realize more and more that over-planning my life in such a turbulent world is meaningless. Human journeys are burdened with emotion: you will love something or someone, and will have your heart broken; you will be inspired, just as you will be discouraged; and you will triumph over adversary, and fail despite your best efforts. Life is not some fantastic crescendo, nor is it some dismal affliction. It's a fluid that fluctuates on all parts of the spectrum. If you persevere through its ugliness and relish its beauty, I promise you will find your happiness.
Links for students to use: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaan-mathur/
Shaan Mathur (c/o 15)
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Mechanical Engineering
Andrew Chen (c/o 19)
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College: UCLA
Preferred Contact: andrewchen2001@gmail.com (but preferably just on facebook messenger)
Major: Mechanical Engineering
High school activities: Varsity Basketball, AHSPA, AHS Tufaan Bollywood Dance Team
Interested in: Academics: Aerospace, Product Design Hobbies: basketball, dancing, acting, drawing, saxophone
Willing to help with: High school advice regarding academics, High school advice regarding extracurriculars, Volunteering advice, Leadership advice, Time management/organization, General life advice, Anything!, Honestly anything besides the actual college app process LOL I kinda suck at that part :/
Points of advice regarding applying to college, taking a gap year, or joining the military/workforce: For people applying to college, don't do activities/extra curriculars only because "it will look good on college apps." Do activities that you genuinely enjoy and find meaning in them. That way your authenticity and passion will naturally be seen in your essays.
Links for students to use: Instagram: @andrewchenn_ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/achen2001
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Garima Raheja (c/o 15)
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College: UC Berkeley (Grad: Columbia University)
Preferred Contact: garimaraheja@berkeley.edu
Major: BS Civil and Environmental Engineering; BA Data Science
High school activities: Science and Eco Club, French Club, Science Olympiad, Math Club, idk a lot of clubs, working at the Exploratorium in SF, writing for the SJ Mercury News
Interested in: Environmental justice, tech, research, hiking, climbing, watercolor
Willing to help with: College application process, Internship advice, Essay editing, Portfolio/resume review, High school advice regarding academics, High school advice regarding extracurriculars, Volunteering advice, Leadership advice, Time management/organization, General life advice, Anything!
Points of advice regarding applying to college, taking a gap year, or joining the military/workforce: Look for opportunities outside of AHS / Fremont - they help you broaden your worldview and meet people who are different from you. Aim high when applying to college - I did not expect to get into the schools I did! Don't worry about not getting in, though - you can make incredible opportunities and connections at any school if you work hard. Don't be afraid of reaching out for advice - the worst that can happen is someone says no, but the best that can happen is that someone helps you in ways you didn't expect. A gap year can be incredible - I'm taking a post-college gap year to lead some environmental projects, before I start my PhD at Columbia University in the fall.
Links for students to use: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garimarahejaberkeley/
Physics
Sujay Kazi (c/o 17)
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College: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Preferred Contact: sujay.kazi@gmail.com (Facebook Messenger is easier, but either email or FB Messenger is OK)
Major: Physics (1st major); Mathematics with Computer Science (2nd major)
High school activities: Math Club, Science Bowl, math competitions (e.g. AMC, AIME, USAMO), USA Physics Olympiad, U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad
Interested in: academic interests: math, physics; hobbies: video games, table tennis, reading (science fiction, politics, philosophy, etc.), talking about various nerdy topics
Willing to help with: Internship advice, High school advice regarding academics, High school advice regarding extracurriculars, Volunteering advice, Time management/organization, General life advice, Anything!
Points of advice regarding applying to college, taking a gap year, or joining the military/workforce: Don't try to pick an intended major based on whether you think it will be easier for you to get in to that college. Apply for the major you actually want, because your application will be strongest if your intended major matches the activities you have done the most in high school. Presumably those are the ones you have enjoyed and match what you actually want to do in college. That's the main one I can think of right now, but I'm sure I can think of more later.
Bio/Chem Engineering
Kathryn Tarver (c/o 17)
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College: UC Davis
Preferred Contact: ktarver@ucdavis.edu
Major: Biological Systems Engineering
High school activities: Science & Eco Club (president), Girls' VEX Robotics Team (vice captain)
Interested in: I enjoy machining, robotics, spoken word poetry, salsa dancing, and humanitarian engineering work.
Willing to help with: College application process, Essay editing, Portfolio/resume review, High school advice regarding academics, General life advice
Points of advice regarding applying to college, taking a gap year, or joining the military/workforce: Community college is a great option! You can get lots of face-to-face interaction with professors and hands-on experience at a fraction of the cost of a four-year university.
Links for students to use: linkedin.com/in/kathryn-tarver
Electrical Engineering
Rebecca Abraham (c/o 16)
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College: UC Berkeley
Preferred Contact: rebeccaabraham@berkeley.edu
Major: Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Minor: Public Policy, Education
High school activities: Marching Band & a ton of other music things, class council, Math club
Interested in: music, queer justice, ways that technology can promote accessibility, inclusion & democracy
Willing to help with: Anything!
Points of advice regarding applying to college, taking a gap year, or joining the military/workforce: For folks applying to college soon ~ 1) Develop relationships with your teachers. You'll need recommendation letters eventually, but they're also people who have a lot of insight into the whole going to college and then being adult thing. 2) Don't be afraid to let your unique personality shine through on your applications! Lean into some of the experiences and activities that took up a lot of your time and shaped who you are in high school, even if they aren't all directly related to your intended academic track.
Links for students to use: https://rebec.casa
Statistics/Data Science
Ambar Mishra (c/o 19)
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College: UC Davis
Preferred Contact: ambmishra@ucdavis.edu
Major: Statistics: Data Science Track
Minor: Political Science
High school activities: Class of 2019 senator (senior yr) class council (soph,junior,senior yr) Fighting Discrimination Vice Chair for Agents of Change
Interested in: I love Data Science cuz I love Statistics and programming (only Python and R languages). Besides that, I still want to do some government job (possibly run for a position :0) so I am excited for minoring in Political Science
Willing to help with: College application process, High school advice regarding academics, High school advice regarding extracurriculars, Volunteering advice, Leadership advice, Time management/organization, General life advice
Points of advice regarding applying to college, taking a gap year, or joining the military/workforce: It is definitely a tough process but just know there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Believe in yourself and only focus on yourself (dont worry about what others are doing!) Also, if you decide to attend a 4 year university, make sure the college is a fit for you (do not only go for the name).
Links for students to use: follow me on insta @am.mishra because i have a Davis Year 1 highlight so you can kinda see how my first year went like!!!
