From musician to engineer
Alex Carney ’22 entered Skidmore interested in music. He ended up pursuing a triple major with a degree in mathematics and physics from Skidmore and a Bachelor of Engineering from Dartmouth College as part of a dual-degree program.
Currently enrolled in a Dartmouth doctoral program, he is also the chief technical
engineer behind a high-tech microscope that promises to revolutionize healthcare across
the globe.
We asked him about his experience in the 3-2 engineering program with Dartmouth and his takeaways from living and learning on two campuses.
How did you choose Skidmore?
I toured many liberal arts schools in New England, but it was Skidmore's strong music program that set it apart from the rest. I didn’t end up pursuing it formally, but continued
to play classical piano while I was a student.
What did you enjoy most about Skidmore academically and socially?
I absolutely loved my time at Skidmore. I miss my years there all the time, mainly
because of the tightknit community and the unique combination of social and academic
culture. Most of the classes I took at Skidmore, especially the upper-level physics
and math courses, were very small, consisting of only a few students. The professors
of these courses took full advantage of this, and each class essentially became one
big group learning session.
Everyone in my courses knew each other well and became friends, and often, we would
plan activities outside of class. I have fond memories of hosting house parties for
my PY348 Quantum Mechanics class and holding homework sessions with the entirety of
the PY331 Math and Computational Methods course as we all worked together to figure
out why nobody's code would work properly.
What about Skidmore professors?
My academic experience was especially bolstered by the incredible faculty at Skidmore.
With small class and department sizes, nearly every math and physics professor knew
each student and they were not only outstanding lecturers but also supportive mentors.
Also, most professors taught multiple courses, so it was very likely to have the same
professor twice during my degree track. One of my favorite experiences at Skidmore
was having the same professor during my first and senior years. This happened four
times and my professors were able to see me grow and mature as a scientist. I was
also able to learn the most advanced content both departments had to offer from people
who had been supporting me throughout.
Which 3-2 path would you recommend?
I highly recommend the 2-1-1-1 path (two years at Skidmore, junior year at Dartmouth,
senior year at Skidmore, and another year at Dartmouth). Your junior year at Dartmouth
is an opportunity to use the foundations built at Skidmore to explore any technical
path Dartmouth has to offer. Six out of the nine courses you take must be engineering,
but the last three can be from any discipline, including from its incredible computer
science department (which I also recommend). The classes you take your junior year
transfer back to Skidmore and can fulfill degree requirements here. Because of this,
many of my peers managed to double major at Skidmore (some in physics and computer
science, some in physics and math). For anyone interested in a breadth of technical
knowledge, the dual-degree program is unrivaled.
Who should pursue the program?
The dual-degree program with Dartmouth is perfect for students who aren't entirely sure what type of career to pursue. I
entered Dartmouth expecting to pursue mechanical engineering, which changed as soon
as I took my first computer science course. During my junior year, I studied the fundamentals
of multiple disciplines in engineering, became a proficient software developer, and
even took a course in quantum computing (which I am now pursuing at a graduate level).
Armed with this coursework, I was able to make the most out of my senior year at Skidmore, complete
my majors, and mentor students with similar career goals. As a fifth-year student,
I worked as a software engineer and a teaching assistant while pursuing research and
coursework.
Other tips?
There are many prerequisite courses to the dual-degree program but, if you can, take MA
270: Differential Equations and MA 200: Linear Algebra at Skidmore before going to
Dartmouth. Having this background will help tremendously in engineering courses. Learn
to code before going to Dartmouth, especially in Matlab or Mathematica. This will
be your greatest asset while studying engineering.
Would you do it again?
If I could start college over, I would always take the 3-2 path, and always with the
2-1-1-1 plan — I couldn't imagine not spending my senior year at Skidmore. It gave
me the opportunity to study at two colleges and get the best of both — rigorous interdisciplinary
academics, expanded alumni network, additional on-campus clubs and job opportunities,
and new friends and experiences. Plus, you get to have two first-day-of-college experiences
and two graduations.
Read more about Alex Carney ’22 and his work on SmartScope.