Get the Most Out of Your Undergrad Time: Seven Tips for IE/OR Majors
I recently talked to a rising sophomore who is double-majoring in Computer Science and Operations Research. He was eager to get the most out of his experience.
Here is the advice I gave him. Hopefully, others will find this helpful.
One: Get to know your professors.
This is a tip I picked up from someone else. Your professors have conducted interesting research and know a few things. Read about what they’ve done, go to their office hours, and get to know them. (Be sure to see if any professors from your school are featured on the Subject to podcast.) Besides learning, you’ll also be at the top of mind when opportunities come around.
Two: Dig deep into problems you are interested in.
If you find an aspect of IE/OR interesting, explore it further. Let’s say you really like a particular technique (like linear programming, simulation, inventory, etc) or a case study. Build a Python example, test it with various data using Excel, ask ChatGPT a multitude of questions about it, or create educational materials to teach it to others. In other words, do more than the homework assignments and studying for the tests.
Three: Participate in COMAP’s Mathematical Contest in Modeling every January.
I love this contest. I did it as an undergrad, and it convinced me of the value of OR. It is a great opportunity to gain experience in solving a complex and realistic IE/OR problem. Read this link for my thoughts on it.
Four: Go to talks.
Your university will likely host multiple talks. Go to these. You might not understand most of them (especially if they are geared towards PhD students)— but that’s ok. You’ll pick up a few nuggets. Later, with ChatGPT, you can then ask it about the topic of the talk to help you figure out what was said.
Five: Be active in the OR community on LinkedIn
Get on LinkedIn and follow the OR community there. If you are active, the algorithm will surface ideas on things to read, people to follow, or podcasts to listen to.
Six: Get involved with INFORMS
INFORMS is the professional association for OR. Their website is a good starting point for information. They may also have a student chapter at your university or host events in your city. If you can make the annual INFORMS Analytics Conference, give it a shot.
Seven: Publish (If you are brave enough)
This last tip is inspired by the idea that you’ll learn a lot by teaching a topic. Publishing your work is like teaching it— you are communicating what you know. Publishing doesn’t have to be in a journal. It can be a blog you start, a LinkedIn post, or volunteering to present in your classes. If you take that work seriously, you will learn a lot about the topic by preparing materials for others.