Carl
Selinger’s “Stuff you don’t learn in
engineering school”
Tau Beta Pi
District 2 Convention -- Cornell –
2/23/02
Session Evaluation
Tabulation
The comments to the 2-1/2 hour seminar are presented below –
with key issues mentioned and in no particular order. The 21 respondents comprised about 3/4 students and 1/4
professionals.
1.
How would you rate today’s session?
0 Poor 3
Fair 10 Good 8 Excellent
2.
What was most helpful about the session?
- Being
forced to make decisions and not being afraid of it.
- To
see the range of issues to be faced by a professional in the real world of
today.
- Questions
to ask to help prioritize (focusing questions).
- Real
world topics.
- Talking
about making decisions.
- Good
complete overview of strategies for a successful life.
- It is
very relevant to my current situation.
I think I’ll be better prepared to make decisions by looking at all
my options and not being afraid to make a mistake.
- Prioritizing
decisions and how urgency and importance play key factors.
- Importance
of public speaking and communicating.
- Conducting
meetings.
- Getting
the chance to apply points personally.
- Tips
for organizing priorities.
- Relevant
advice and examples from real-world application.
- Decision-making
and setting priorities.
- It’s
helped me to clarify how to make a decision and “dealing with stress”.
- The
decision-making part; I need to make decisions faster.
- Reminding
us the individual is most important and we are ultimately responsible for
ourselves.
- The
attitude you have about ‘just doing it.”
When a situation comes up – just take care of it.
- Thought
a lot about my life & decisions & what’s important to me in
deciding (grad school).
3.
What concerns you most about the “real world”?
- Not
being able to handle all the pressure.
- Not
having time to have fun.
- Relationship
of ethics/morals and professional activities …really about business
ethics.
- Not
being able to make the most of my time.
- Lack
of people to chill with.
- Remaining
competitive with my peers.
- People
that lack initiative.
- I do
not want to get caught up in unimportant worries.
- Dealing
with ineffective superiors
- How I
realize how much the real world sucks.
- Balancing
all aspects of my life.
- If I
am fully prepared.
- Lack
of time and ferocious competition.
- Politics.
- My
real job – can hold me for years.
- Teamwork
à
working with people I don’t like.
- I’m
concerned that I'll hate it and run back to academia.
- I’ve
a set image of my future & career, and afraid I won’t live up to
standards I’ve set for myself.
- That
it’s all downhill after college and I’ll be bored with my job and
engineering.
4.
Which areas covered do you need to develop the most?
- Speaking
[mentioned 6 times]
- Scheduling
issues.
- Organizing.
- Gonna
have to think about that one.
- Decision-making
[mentioned 3 times]
- Team
issues not taken very seriously.
- Dealing
with ineffective superiors
- Distinguishing
urgent from important [in setting priorities]
- Being
assertive when up against intimidating people.
- Setting
priorities. [mentioned 4 times]
- Creativity.
- Writing
skills.
- I
need to make decisions faster.
- I
have to learn to speak up and ask questions when I need help – I can’t
worry about what someone else will think.
- Organizing
things that I need to get done better and prioritizing them.
5.
What other comments do you have?
- Outstanding. Very accurate account of what it is
like in the real world. Thank you
for taking time to talk to Tau Beta Pi members about this important
subject.
- I
enjoyed the presentation, thanks.
- Very
necessary information for entry-level job seekers.
- GREAT
JOB.
- Thank
you. I think this was a great
session, very worth my time -- unlike some meetings J
- Nice
enthusiasm.
- Thanks,
very helpful!
- Good,
helpful presentation.
- Overall,
well presented and organized. Very
persuasive in presenting.
- I
think more people should hear your presentation.
- Thank
you!
- I
liked not dwelling on topics. By
whetting people’s appetites, you have them more interested.
- You’re
very good. I can’t remember the
last time I sat through a 2-1/2 hour presentation and didn’t get bored.
- Happy
I came.
Contact
Carl Selinger at selinger99@aol if there
are any questions about this seminar.