Richard Hsu (BACS 2009)

Why did you decide to major in computer science?

I was taking classes in several disciplines not exactly sure which major to go with yet. I realized that the classes that I not only did well in, but enjoyed the most were in CS. I am not sure if A caused B or B caused A, but they’re most likely related.

Looking back, what were the most worthwhile things you did while you were a student?

What really helped me out with the interview process was having a wealth of experience to talk about. Getting involved with undergraduate research and having several years of internships gave me a lot to work with. Having interviewed several students seeking employment, there is nothing more disappointing than talking to a candidate without anything more to talk about than their coursework.

Are there any things you wish you did more or less of as a student?

I only got involved with the ACM Programming contest for a single year. I had a lot of fun doing it and wish I had gotten involved earlier so I could’ve competed for more than one year.

I also wish that I had gotten more involved with my classmates and the community. It would’ve been much easier to have built a larger professional network while still at school.

What have you been doing since graduating?

I am currently working a full time job at a scientific consulting company in Reston, VA. The range of work varies depending on the contract, but lately I’ve been involved in building the autonomy of Unmanned Underwater Autonomous Vehicles.

While working, I am also currently enrolled as a part-time student at Johns Hopkins for a Master in Computer Science through the Engineering Professional Program.

After graduating from UVa, I took a summer off to bike across the country with a non-profit charity organization to raise money for the fight against cancer. After the ride, I was elected to join the Board of Directors for the 4K for Cancer. I am in charge of IT and manage our website and technologies throughout the organization.

Do you have any advice for current computer science students?

Get to know your professors. They are an invaluable resource for advice, opportunities, and connections. Take your coursework seriously, some of the things you learn may seem useless, out of date, or inapplicable, but you’d be surprised how useful some of this is later in your career.