Electrical and Computer Engineering

ECE at UVA is demanding, but it gives you a foundation that opens a lot of doors. Doing EE and CpE together means you get circuits, signals, and electromagnetics alongside digital design, embedded systems, and programming, so you can go toward hardware, software, or anything in between. The workload is real, especially when labs and problem sets stack up, so time management matters from day one. My advice: get involved outside class early. Joining or starting clubs like IEEE and taking an internship gave me hands-on context that made coursework click, and it helped me figure out that I want to work in semiconductors and FPGA design. Use office hours, find a study group, and don’t be afraid to build side projects. If you like understanding how things actually work, this major is worth it.

Once you get to the classes that are specific to your type of engineering the course content becomes much harder to understand but at the same type it is extremely rewarding since you are studying what you love , and you will see how everything you previously studied will connect to your future career as an engineer.

I wish I had known more about the difference between electrical and computer engineering prior to declaring

Pay attention and really nail the foundations, as they will matter in your later years. Use your resources, whether its websites, professors, or peers.

I love my work because I love problem solving and helping people! So worth it!