Caleb McKinney (he/him)
Junior, Will Rice College
Major: BS in Computer Science<
Kind, Driven, Optimistic
What is something you’re proud of this year?
Last fall, fellow RESPie Jonathan Thomas and I joined forces with two other friends to compete in HackRice 12. There, we had the chance to apply skills we learned in the classroom, getting a 72 hour glimpse into the entire software lifecycle including conception, planning, programming, testing, and presenting. Our project AuthentiCadence went on to win both the Safety and Security Track and the Data Science Prize. Then, into the spring, our team won 1st overall in the Rice Datathon with our data science project Meet and Receipt capable of matching receipt images to records with over 95% accuracy. This year was a big step for me in terms of both technical and teamwork skills, and it was a blast along the way.
What is an accomplishment that you achieved this year?
I’m proud to have persevered past a demoralizing internship recruiting season and several rounds of interviews to receive an invitation to Uber’s UberSTAR program as a Software Engineering intern in NYC. This internship marks my first industry experience and offers an opportunity to connect with a number of software engineers and learn more about different paths available in my career.
What advice would you give to your freshman self?
Don’t talk yourself out of pushing yourself. Sign up for classes that you think you might do poorly in, and apply to positions you feel unqualified for.
How have you utilized RESP this year? How has RESP been beneficial for you this year?
Last summer, I took advantage of RESP’s second summer program, which greatly improved the accessibility of summer research. I chose to work with the Rice Neuroengineering Institute in the BRC. I wound up enjoying my research experience so much that I continued it into the school year. Additionally, tutoring with RESP has given me the opportunity to offer students who may be intimidated by the crowds at typical COMP office hours a more individualized learning experience.
What advice would you give to other Rice students?
This is kind of like asking a genie for more wishes, but my biggest piece of advice is to continually seek advice. Among your RESP cohort or within your residential college, you’re surrounded by dozens of people who are going through exactly the same situation that you are. Further, Rice has an impressively tight-knit alumni network, so if you think your question would be best answered by someone more industry-seasoned, find such a person and ask them!