Industrial and Systems Engineering in My Own Words!

To me, Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) is all about efficiency and making processes efficient.

When I was a high school senior, I had never heard of ISE. In fact, I really hadn’t heard that there was anything beyond mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. But when I was a freshman at USC, and heard about ISE, it immediately sounded like something I would enjoy. There was just something that jumped out at me. It may be the fact that it combines both business and the technical engineering side, or maybe it was the idea of making things cost, time, and resource efficient. Whatever it was, it just seemed to click with me. In fact, it kind of reminded me of a project I enjoyed junior year in high school where I had to find the dimensions of a cylindrical can that would minimize surface area but maximize volume.

Officially declared my major! Information Systems Computers Track! #ViterbiLife

— Lauren Howe (@USCLauren) September 30, 2013

Now, as a sophomore, I have officially declared my major and truly love it. It really is the perfect fit for me. I get to take classes in Physics, Calculus, Statistics, Computer Science, and major-specific ISE classes, all of which I really enjoy. In my ISE classes I learn how to analyze data from real-life problems and develop solutions to these problems. Each class is exciting as I get to learn and solve problems similar to those that professionals solve everyday.

When I graduate, I am not quite sure what I want to do. I have considered trying to become a product manager or maybe even working as a Disney Imagineer, but I also know many friends that are excited to go into consulting. I guess I will have to wait a few years to find out what ends up happening!

Thanks for reading!

Lauren H.

PS: Read more about how I chose ISE!