juan reyes in the computer engineering lab

Juan Reyes, Class of 2019

(Interviewed Junior year)

  • Hometown: Madera, California
  • Favorite Class: Introduction to Digital Image and Video Processing (ECE 178)
  • Senior Project: ECE 189 (Engineering Innovation in CE Award) – Hands-On Flight: a glove embedded with an array of sensors that provides intuitive real-time control over a drone
  • Organizations: Los Ingenieros
  • Last Book Read: 1984 by George Orwell
  • Hobbies: Gaming, drawing, basketball with the homies

Juan's Favorites

  • Band / Performer: Kendrick Lamar
  • TV Show: Gotham
  • Movie: The Green Mile
  • Book: The Giver by Lois Lowery
  • Sport: Basketball
  • Activity: Playing video games
  • Geeky Possession: Pokémon cards
  • Interesting Aside About You: I placed 1st in a welding competition

High School Experience

Favorite class: Calculus was my favorite class – the material was interesting and it was exciting to learn about some of its applications. My teacher made the class interesting as he showed a passion for it and didn't seem like it was just another job.

High school mentor?: My mentor was my welding instructor because he would share his experiences about college and industry for his field. It helped me learn about the possibilities it presented for him and how they could be applied to my situation that could in turn help me understand my opportunities.

Share what your college search was like: During high school, I was not planning to attend college so my search was rather short. However, I did have an idea of what I wanted to study so I did some research, and UCSB interested me.

Preparation for College

What prepared you the most to study engineering in college?: Unfortunately, my high school lacked opportunities for anything engineering related. Therefore, I did not do much related to engineering in high school, but I attempted to learn about it during my free time.

Are there any classes that you suggest EE students take before entering UCSB?: Computer Science courses since there are many resources available online. It would help a lot for the Introduction to Computer Science (CMPSC 8) since for some people, given the fast pace of college life, it can sometimes be difficult to grasp.

Favorite Things About

UCSB: The different opportunities for new experiences, whether it is academically through research and projects or socially through the clubs and organizations. There is always something new to experience which leads to meeting great people with similar interests.

CE Program: The number of courses available and the professors that make the courses challenging and interesting. Plus the TAs are some of the most chill people to get to know.

Santa Barbara: It is a nice city with some amazing views and there are plenty of things to do. It is a great place to hang out with friends and family.

Why CE / UCSB?

Why Computer Engineering?: During high school, I got into android development and it intrigued me to the point where I wanted to develop parts of it myself. I was also interested in building my own gaming PC, so I would spend hours after school watching videos and reading articles about PC hardware. I wanted a major that would incorporate both elements.

Why UCSB?: I choose UCSB’s CE program because it focused on the two main areas of study I was interested in – Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

How did you hear about UCSB's Computer Engineering program?: I heard about it when researching programs that offered an emphasis on software and hardware engineering.

Advice to students/parents about UCSB and CE

Advice on applying to UCSB: Students – Review course offerings to see if there are any subjects that might spark your interest. Also, take a look at clubs and organizations that you might enjoy since they are a great place to start meeting people with similar interests. And finally, consider the location of the school and its surrounding areas to ensure that you’ll enjoy the atmosphere and environment. Parents – I suggest being supportive of your child’s decisions. Keep up with their education while not being too involved in their social life since college is their first transition into a more independent lifestyle.

Looking back, what do you think you would have wanted your parents to know about UCSB Computer Engineering?: Being a first-generation college student, my parents were not well informed about college. However, I would have liked for them to know more about what a college education has to offer, especially within the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering disciplines.

Explain to students and parents what you can do with a computer engineering degree: There are countless opportunities to be had with a Computer Engineering degree. Some of them derive from the courses you take, the projects you work on, and the research you do and can be gained from a career, research, or academia. Also, to help you realize what you enjoy the most, it is important to take advantage of the opportunities at UCSB.

The Curriculum

What are the benefits of a program that is a cross between Computer Science and Electrical Engineering?: A cross between EE and CS is beneficial as it presents more opportunities in areas within the software and hardware aspects of engineering. CE bridges understanding between the two subjects that creates even more possibilities.

What has your experience been like taking the Math and Physics core classes?: I have really enjoyed most of the math and physics courses, although they have been difficult. I had very little physics knowledge before college so it was more difficult to learn it during college but it is not impossible. You just have to put the work in, study the material, and utilize office hours.

What was your most challenging but rewarding course?: I found the Circuits, Devices & Systems series (ECE 10A/B/C) the most challenging. The series was my first introduction to hardware and was difficult for me since the series starts off strong. What I found most helpful was working and studying with other students and receiving help from the TAs and professors.

What area do you want to specialize in?: I have not exactly decided on what I want to specialize in but I have a few ideas. I hope to refine my interests as I take more courses — right now I am thinking about something involving multimedia or robotics.

Juan's Off-campus Life

What is campus life like for Computer Engineering students?: I would say that campus life for CE students is filled with opportunities. There are always seminars, company info sessions, and events which often include free food, hosted by the UCSB clubs and organizations.

What is the social scene like for CE students?: The social scene is not that much different from others but the biggest difference is that there will be hours and hours dedicated to studying or working on assignments. With good time management, students can increase their free time.

Describe your housing situation: For your first year, I suggest trying to live on a floor that aligns with your interests. Since you will be living and spending most of your time there, it really makes all the difference to get along and know others that live there.

The Future

Do you plan to go into graduate school or industry?: I am leaning towards entering industry in something that involves hardware or multimedia and I am also researching companies in the Silicon Valley or at least California.