Pranav Upreti (2T8)
- What are you interested in: Photonics and quantum computing
- Fun facts, hobbies, or interests outside of school: I have a dog named Milo. We enjoy hiking and the occasional run. I started rock climbing which is similarly enjoyable.
Why did you choose EngSci?
I chose EngSci because I thought it was the most research-focused program in Canada, and for whatever reason I really wanted to do research. I was also originally drawn to the Robo major but was not ready to commit. Choosing EngSci allowed me to procrastinate a choice for two more years : D. This was helpful because I ended up choosing EngPhys. This is not the perfect major but it’s extremely customizable. I chose it since it let me do the ECE courses I enjoyed while giving me some foundations in experimental physics (with advanced physics lab course) which I hope is a good choice.
What has been the most rewarding experience in EngSci?
Meeting people who are much smarter and harder-working than me. This is not exclusive to EngSci but being in such an environment can push you to be better.
How do you have fun while managing an intense course load?
Don’t mix leisure time with work time. For instance, I used to scroll reels/YouTube shorts/Pokemon Unite and instantly respond to any message. That cooked my attention span and simple things took forever (because I kept checking my phone). Time limiting Instagram and blocking notifications during the school day saved my sanity. I found it more productive for me to be locked in for the school day and rewind for a couple hours at night instead of being consistently distracted by my phone.
What are your tips for doing well in your classes?
Try to be curious and try to learn a subject deeply for the sake of learning, not for your transcript. Just thinking of questions, and answering them, is helping develop my problem-solving skills. This is important to incubate since it is transferable to any engineering exam and probably most things you will do. It develops a strong foundation for future courses and broadly teaches you how to think. My marks increased a bit once I stopped stressing over my marks.
What do you wish you had known before starting EngSci?
How being addicted to my phone held me back, both in time lost doing meaningless things and my fried attention span that I’m slowing building back up.
What would you like to say to incoming EngSci students?
GOOD LUCK!!! It’ll be fun (at least sometimes) trust!!