TJ Shapiro

Per 2

Journey to Full Immersion

Part 1

Everyone wants to be part of some legacy. Some want to be a part of the history of

veterans that have served our country. Others strive to be the greatest artists in the world. As for

me, I want to be one of the great people who have left their mark on our world today. How I

have chosen to accomplish such a huge goal is through Computer Science. From a young age,

you could always find me fiddling with some new gadget or puzzle. I wanted to get my hands on

anything that had the potential of being solved. My parents noticed that I had a slight affinity for

technology, so they bought me a used MacBook in the 3rd grade. In the blink of an eye, I had

learned everything that the Mac operating system had to offer and wanted a Windows machine

instead. Of course, that thought never escaped my lips. I would spend nights on end researching

topics that interested me, expanding my knowledge of technology. That’s when I stumbled on

something that would eventually become my life goal and fuel my pursuit of Software

Engineering. I came across a video where people were experiencing virtual reality for the first

time. They displayed what was possible with this new technology that couldn’t be done before.

Talking with someone face to face even though they’re miles away, or performing surgery from

across the world. Seeing this revolutionary technology urged me to figure out how immersion

works. This led to me enrolling in multiple programming courses at Stanford, creating a VR lab

in my loft, and interning at the UCSD supercomputer center. One day, all of these skills and

interests would surmount to one huge goal, something that will change the world of technology
forever. My life goal is to create a full-dive virtual reality platform. I want to allow the world to

experience full immersion in another world. To do this, I need to know exactly what is required

of me in this journey. Should I pursue a PhD for research? What is the highest level of education

I need? Should I focus more on hardware or software? What knowledge other than software

engineering should I attain?

Part 2

I have always been more interested in creating software programs as opposed to

working with computer parts and electronic components. However, if I want to accomplish my

goal, I am going to need a thorough understanding of both software and hardware. After looking

at many of the top Computer Science universities webpages, I noticed a similar pattern regarding

thoughts on getting a Computer Science or a Computer Engineering degree. Most schools have a

consensus that Computer Science is definitely more software oriented. For example, Duke

University’s Pratt school of engineering has stated in their article ​Computer Science vs.

Electrical and Computer Engineering ​that, “Computer Science is traditionally more concerned

with the theoretical underpinnings of computation and of programming”(pratt.duke.edu). I

believe it would be a smarter option to learn the optimal amount of both hardware and software.

Therefore, by enrolling in some form of Computer Engineering course, I will be setting myself

up for success. As for whether or not I should pursue a master’s degree in this field, both

academics and industry leaders seem to have relatively similar opinions. On the academic side of

things, most universities will say it is not required for most jobs in industry; however, pursuing a
master’s degree or even a PhD will open up a huge range of opportunites in research, industry,

and upper-level management. For example, In an article by Dartmouth’s Department of

Computer Science, they have mentioned that “An MS is basically a technical degree that gives

you more interesting job opportunities. A PhD is basically a research degree, which opens up a

host of advanced and research-oriented opportunities”(cs.dartmouth.edu). After researching the

pros and cons of having a PhD, I firmly believe that the amount of work to achieve the degree

highly outweighs the benefits of achieving it. Research may not be for me in academia, but I can

still research on my own and create connections during grad school. However, is it even worth

getting a graduate degree? Many people in industry seem to have an understanding that if

possible, it would be wise to get it. In the article, ​Benefits of a Master’s Degree in Computer

Science​ by Edwin Torres, the author mentions that “Having a master’s degree in computer

science immediately elevates your tech stature at your current or prospective company. For

example, when internally debating a job offer or promotion, a company will highlight your

master’s degree as justification”(cacm.acm.org). This is a very promising outlook on what the

degree can accomplish. It seems like there are a lot of benefits without too many costs. Some

companies even offer tuition reimbursement, which is extremely helpful in industry. This is a

very highly regarded degree that I will think more about pursuing as I am completing my

undergraduate curriculum during university. In order to reach my goal, I also need to understand

what knowledge other than computer science should I attain during my time in education. Since I

want to build a fully immersive experience, I believe I am going to need knowledge of cognitive

neuroscience and possibly even psychology. Understanding the ins and outs of the mind will be

very beneficial in my research on how to fully trick the brain into being transported to another
world. In addition, I feel that keeping up with the bleeding edge of technology would be a great

way of looking out for any new technology that could prove useful in my research. Most of my

groundwork to creating my dream device will be laid out during my higher education. It will be

the connections I make that will aid me in the long run.

Part 3

Overall, I am not very surprised by what I have found. I have already committed a lot of

my time researching this topic during the time leading up to college application season.

However, by doing this research I was able to go into more depth about how it will benefit me in

the future post-graduation. I am still extremely passionate about Computer Engineering even

with all of the negative aspects I have seen. I have come to the conclusion that with a BS in

Computer Engineering I can get my foot in the door, while an MS will allow me to walk in.

After all is considered, I still need to complete my undergraduate education first. And during that

time, I believe choosing Computer Engineering over Computer Science is a very smart choice.

Since I am getting a foundation in both software and hardware, I am able to handle any job in the

tech industry. It is also wise to research some neuroscience and maintain connections from

education as well. Building this virtual reality platform is not going to be an easy task by any

means, but by having a game plan, my goal is that much more attainable.
 Works Cited

“Computer Science vs. Electrical and Computer Engineering.” ​Duke Pratt School of Engineering​, 1 June 2018, 

pratt.duke.edu/undergrad/admissions/faq/cs-vs-ce. 

“If You're Considering Graduate School in Computer Science.” ​Dartmouth Department of Computer Science​, 2018, 

web.cs.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/graduate-school-advice#1. 

Torres, Edwin. “Benefits of a Master's Degree in Computer Science.” ​ACM​, 28 Jan. 2018, 

cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm/224837-benefits-of-a-masters-degree-in-computer-science/fulltext.