Why UC Merced?
Because it was affordable. Also because it was the best school I got into.
Why Your Major?
I liked engineering software; it's cool to build things and it's an emerging field. It requires a lot of difficult intellectual work though, but in high school I found I had the ability to such work.
Inspiration and Mentors
Santosh Chandrasekhar was a huge driver for me to pursue a PhD and research as a career overall.
Memorable Academic Experience
I'm not very inclined toward big academic/social events; I just like solving problems, and the bigger the insight, the greater the enjoyment. My favorite moments were discovering big insights in research or studying via great intellectual effort, and that was usually done by myself at home.
What's Next?
I'll be applying to a lot of programs for a PhD in computer science, specializing in algorithms and complexity.
Anything else?
"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world...."
