Student Spotlight:
Andrew Sorge

What makes Washington State University’s Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture stand out from the crowd for those looking to get a degree?

We ask computer science major Andrew Sorge for his thoughts on what makes WSU such a special place.

What made you decide to attend WSU?

I chose to attend WSU after touring the campus. The makerspaces in Dana Hall, along with the student clubs that I saw there, were really interesting and unlike anything I had seen at other universities. I chose computer science because it sparks my curiosity, and allows me to experiment and build, which I really enjoy doing.

What has been your favorite class or program that you’ve been involved with at WSU, and why?

My favorite classes were CptS 121 and 122 with Andy O’Fallon. Professor Andy is an amazing teacher, and does a great job keeping lectures understandable and very informational. Those classes gave me a very solid base for my future computer science coursework, and helped me build the knowledge needed for outside projects, both personally and through clubs.

What clubs are you involved in on campus?

I have been involved in the Cybersecurity Group and Palouse RoboSub.

Cybersecurity Group gave me the opportunity to compete in the VICEROY Gilded Guardian competition, for which my team traveled to Virginia, and ultimately won.

I am primarily involved in Palouse RoboSub, and have been since my first week on campus. I worked as one of the lead robotics programmers last year, and I am now the treasurer as well. Experiences through both of these clubs have helped me build many skills not taught in the classroom.

Please describe which experience mattered most to you, what challenged you the most, or what are you proud of during your time as a student at WSU.

My answer to all three of the above is Palouse RoboSub. Building an autonomous submarine from scratch is no easy task, and I am so proud to have worked on the project with such amazing people. Working on the project forced me to learn aspects of other engineering disciplines and apply them to solve complex problems at the system level, which is huge for any engineering student. I’m extremely proud of our performance in Irvine at competition this year, and look forward to the next few years excitedly.

Why would you recommend attending Washington State University?

I really like the “small school” feeling. The engineering program is a really tight-knit community, and it’s easy to find your place in it. Compared to a larger school, you get a lot of opportunities for hands-on experience in engineering without having to compete with hundreds of other students. This is really beneficial for developing skills and building experience that will be useful in careers.

What’s one thing that you didn’t know about your major before you came to WSU?

I didn’t know how closely computer science borders electrical and computer engineering, how much interdisciplinary knowledge it’s possible to pick up, and how far that can take you. I’ve learned that “computer science” is a massive umbrella, and there are so many ways to specialize and adapt to what you specifically want to do with it. This has become one of my favorite parts of my major, both learning new areas to apply it to, and working to combine it with other engineering majors.

What advice do you have for fellow or prospective students?

The best advice I can give someone is to take what you learn in class, and apply it outside of class as much as possible. Getting involved in clubs and doing personal projects is a really great way to learn how in-class skills translate into your field, and allows you to build experience and knowledge that sets you apart from other students. Participating in clubs also helps you build a support system of people in your program, which is helpful for challenging degrees.

What do you want to do with your degree after you graduate?

After graduation, I want to continue studying and working on robotics. I have really enjoyed all the work I’ve done for Palouse RoboSub, and want to keep growing and gaining experience. I also think that robotics has the potential to do a lot of good for a lot of people, and I want to help drive that.