WHAT'S NEXT: Rosemary Sanchez on Four-Year Degrees
By Lydia McAllister on Friday, September 25, 2020
ROSEMARY SANCHEZ
Age: 20
Hometown: Rogers
Graduation year: 2021
Attending: University of Arkansas
Working toward: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering
End goal: Become an electrical engineer
After visiting Mexico the summer before high school, Rosemary Sanchez noticed the lack of electricity in rural communities and the widespread impact that had on the people living there. She decided then and there that it was an issue she wanted to help eradicate.
“I visited the University of Arkansas and learned about electrical engineering,” she says. “This is where I realized I could use my math and science skills to solve lack of electricity in rural communities. I then began taking engineering classes throughout high school and that really pushed me to pursue my degree in electrical engineering.”
One thing that Rosemary enjoys about attending the UA is the diversity on campus, whether it be based on major, interest, ethnicity or sexual orientation. “I love the willingness of change at the U of A, allowing for more people to call it home,” she says. “[It’s] a place that will help them push their boundaries while pursuing a degree.”
Beyond her electrical engineering classes, Rosemary is also a member of the League of United American Citizens, where she gets to meet with other Latin American non-engineering students and participate in events like the LULAC Gala that raises money for scholarships. She’s also a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers where she’s been able to connect with others who share similar passions. Rosemary has also learned valuable skills and met some of her closest friends through her participation in both the Engineering Career Awareness Program and the University of Arkansas Path Program.
When it comes to students considering a career in engineering, Rosemary suggests that students trust in themselves to pursue this challenging but rewarding career path. “Do not doubt yourself in going into the discipline because there will always be someone to help you,” she says. “Cuando hay ganas todo se puede, (which means when there is motivation, anything is possible in Spanish).”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Length of Program
Most bachelor’s degree programs are on a four-year track, but how long that takes is up to you. Take caution: An overloaded class schedule can stretch you too thin and result in bad grades.
Simultaneously, some scholarships require a certain number of credit hours per semester and only last four years. Find an on-campus academic advisor to help you plan.
Cost
The average yearly tuition and fees for in-state students enrolled full-time in a public four-year college was $21,950 for 2019-2020. Private college tuition and fees cost more — $49,870 for 2019-2020. Fortunately, scholarships, loans and grants are available wherever you go.*
► You want the traditional college experience.
► Dorm life doesn’t scare you.
► You plan to pledge or rush.
Admission Requirements
Universities typically require a high school diploma and a set minimum GPA and SAT or ACT scores. However, with the coronavirus pandemic causing many ACT and SAT tests to be cancelled or rescheduled, many colleges are not requiring ACT or SAT scores for admission in the 2020 and 2021 school years. Check with the colleges that you’re interested in to see if that’s the case.
Housing
Most four-year colleges offer multiple options including dorms and apartments.
Cool Perk
There’s just so much to experience. Think dorm living, Greek life, a wider variety of majors, sporting events, extensive career resources and networking opportunities, amazing libraries and research facilities, state-of-the-art rec centers, music and theater performances, sports, and more!
The engineering field is full of people that are self-motivated but also want to motivate others to pursue their dreams. I believe that this is what is great about the engineering field” –Rosemary
*Source: collegeboard.org
