Francisco Olmos, Class of ‘09

Mechanical Engineering

Why I Chose Stanford
I chose Stanford because I felt it fit my personality almost exactly. From talking to students and graduates, I realized it was a laid back campus that was still full of intellectual discourse. Also knowing that Stanford had one of the best Engineering departments in the country put it at the top of my list. People seemed to enjoy what they were studying and many were making breakthrough discoveries with their professors. Plus I didn’t think I could ever leave the California weather.

What I Work On
I am currently very active with SSCLES, the Stanford Society of Chicano and Latino Engineers and Scientists. Through this group I participate in design competitions where we create a proposal for a new invention, and then if we are selected as finalists we receive some funding to create a prototype. Last year we created a prototype of a magnetic blackboard and presented it at a conference in Denver. Besides working on technical projects such as these, I am also in the process of writing and editing an article on the circle and how it has influenced human experience, both physically and psychologically, throughout time.

What's Great About Studying Here
The resources available here are astounding. Professors who are experts in their respective fields are willing to help you with anything, especially if it’s something that you are pursuing that’s out of class work. The library is stocked with almost anything you would ever need, from rare books to a wide variety of DVDs. You can’t really beat the variety of people you meet here, all with their own interesting and unique life stories. This campus is full of the brightest minds and has created an atmosphere where they can really thrive. I feel honored to be a part of this community.

What I Hope to Do
I am still not quite sure what I want to do once I graduate. I am currently considering Law School, and hopefully my summer internship will give me a better idea of what to expect. Since I am so technically inclined, I feel like I would likely go into patent law and deal with new advances in technology. I am also contemplating co-terming here and receiving a Masters in Product Design. The introductory project based classes that I have taken so far have really sparked my interest in the entire product creation process, from initial idea to constant prototyping to finally creating an efficient and aesthetically pleasing working model.