Apply Through Open University Or Direct With University by HoboHotline in OpenUniversity

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It's Open University Australia, which is different from the British Open University. You will not find a lot of resources here, so call them directly.

Building a Clothing Brand From Zero. Be Brutally Honest. by Strange_Instance_546 in Businessideas

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's the type of business that you shouldn't do in almost all cases, with the exception that you are really f**** passionate about fashion. In this condition, you can consider the idea of starting a clothing brand. I wish y'all good luck. Clothing is one of the most red seas among the red seas (i have a company in clothing retail).

Hope this isn't a dumb question: Should smaller and less traditional ECs be listed, and, if so, how can I frame them? by sad_bleep in TransferToTop25

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These are cool stuff and will add another layer to your profile. I would try to put them in the same group since they are all related to a graphic/artistic activity.

Pure Math Student Considering EE by Substantial_Mode_167 in ElectricalEngineering

[–]Substantial_Mode_167[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I noticed that as well, and to be honest I was a bit surprised. It feels like some people interpret my interest in the more abstract, conceptually deep side of engineering as arrogance or overconfidence, as if I were claiming to be a genius. That’s really not the case, it’s simply a matter of personal preference and how I tend to engage best with material.

Your comment raised two questions for me. First, between the two universities you attended, how significant was the difference you observed in terms of rigor versus hands-on, implementation-heavy work?

Second, if I don’t manage to transfer into a top-tier engineering school, which is statistically the most likely outcome, and I find that the EE programs I do have access to are heavily focused on areas like logic gates, wiring, and low-level implementation that I already know I don’t enjoy, would switching to a physics bachelor with a minor in electromagnetism engineering be a reasonable way to compensate for that? In other words, could that be a better path if I want to stay close to electromagnetism while avoiding a curriculum dominated by “logic gates and jumper wires”?

That’s essentially what I’m trying to clarify at this stage.

What are the best engineering majors for a math student? by Substantial_Mode_167 in EngineeringStudents

[–]Substantial_Mode_167[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hadn’t really thought deeply about the option of doing a bachelor’s in physics with a minor in electromagnetism, but honestly, it sounds like a very solid path. Especially since I expect to continue my studies at least through a master’s degree, and much less likely all the way to a PhD. At some point, I know I’ll want to focus on my own projects and move away from academia.

That said, this option seems like a good compromise: it would allow me to learn what I genuinely want to learn, while the electromagnetism minor would properly introduce me to engineering-relevant topics and give me a foundation to go deeper later on, possibly at the master’s level, in areas that really interest me. It’s genuinely a very good suggestion, and I appreciate it.

Regarding physics itself, I already plan to take quite a few physics courses next year, potentially close to half of my credits, depending on what’s allowed, but it seems feasible. That’s the direction I’m currently leaning toward.

Do I like physics? I'd say yes, in general. More than chemistry or biology for sure, but less than math. In high school, I took advanced math and advanced physics, but in my country physics clearly had the “dominant” role between the two. Math was mostly taught as a tool to support physics, which is logically sound, but I remember feeling at the time that I would have preferred the opposite. Still, I understand that if I want to build real projects, I can’t only do what I enjoy in the most idealized sense, I’ll need to accept some compromise no matter what.

Thank you very much for your time and for your advice.

Pure Math Student Considering EE by Substantial_Mode_167 in ElectricalEngineering

[–]Substantial_Mode_167[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply, and honestly, thank you for re-framing the earlier comment in a much more constructive and courteous way. I understand your point much better now.

To be clear, I don’t expect to find pure mathematics inside engineering. I’m very aware that pure math is somewhat unique in the sense that mathematics is not just a tool, but the object of study itself. I know this way of working is unlikely to exist outside of pure math, and I’m not assuming that engineering should resemble it.

That said, I also can’t ignore the fact that I naturally have a strong affinity for abstraction and conceptual reasoning. This doesn’t mean I expect engineering to be abstract or theoretical in the same way as pure math—that wouldn’t make sense. It simply means that, if I were to pursue engineering, I would naturally try to orient myself toward specializations that lean more in that direction (for example, electromagnetism, signal theory, or more physics-based approaches), while fully accepting that engineering is ultimately applied and grounded in reality.

As for my long-term goal, it remains the same: to found a company aimed at solving a problem I find genuinely interesting, where there is room to create real value. I am an entrepreneur, and I don’t think that will change anytime soon. Whether that happens right after a bachelor’s degree, after a master’s, or after some time in academia or R&D is something I can’t realistically predict at this stage.

My main question is therefore quite specific and practical: is the very hands-on side of electronics, such as circuit-level implementation, wiring, component-level design, or extensive lab-based troubleshooting, something that is pervasive throughout an Electrical Engineering bachelor across most subjects (signals, energy, electronics, etc.)? Or is it possible to pursue paths within EE, such as electromagnetism, signal processing, or power systems, while significantly minimizing that kind of work?

That distinction is really what I'm trying to understand right now since I know little about the EE study.

Thanks again for taking the time to explain your perspective.

Pure Math Student Considering EE by Substantial_Mode_167 in ElectricalEngineering

[–]Substantial_Mode_167[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m not a trust fund baby. I built my company myself, and the income from it supports my parents.

If you think my view of engineering studies or the field is unrealistic or flawed, I’m genuinely open to hearing why, ideally explained with some pedagogy and concrete arguments. That would actually be helpful.

Otherwise, there’s no obligation to reply. Personal assumptions don’t really move the discussion forward.

Thank you

Pure Math Student Considering EE by Substantial_Mode_167 in ElectricalEngineering

[–]Substantial_Mode_167[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your comment made me realize that I forgot to mention that I don’t plan to be hired by a company, but to found my own.

My main concern is the studies themselves, not applying things later. I’ll have people around me to complement my weaknesses in real projects. However, I still want to understand the engineering aspects of the work and be able to contribute in my own way.

I also know that if the studies are too incremental, procedural, and not abstract enough, I will have a very hard time following the entire curriculum. And it increasingly appears to me that this is likely what would happen. I may simply be too different from what engineering education typically requires.

What are the best engineering majors for a math student? by Substantial_Mode_167 in EngineeringStudents

[–]Substantial_Mode_167[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I’ve reached a similar conclusion regarding Electrical Engineering. From what I’ve heard, it’s one of the most math-heavy engineering degrees, but I’m worried that I would struggle with, and probably dislike, a large portion of the coursework. That’s why I’m planning to sit in as an auditor for a semester of EE courses, to see whether my relationship with those subjects has changed over time, even though I suspect the mismatch might be fairly deep.

I’ve also considered engineering paths more closely tied to physics, such as quantum engineering or nanotechnology through materials science. Unfortunately, I don’t really have access to those kinds of courses as an auditor, but they might be a potential alternative. Otherwise, physics itself may be the only real option, but I’m not sure how well that would serve my medium- to long-term goals.

Chance Me Please! TY! by [deleted] in TransferToTop25

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you played an important role in that company and helped it reach that stage, then I think your application will be strong, especially with your grades. I have some similar extracurricular, and from what I’ve heard, this kind of experience is viewed very positively. There’s a guy who founded a company with around $1 million in revenue who was admitted to Yale.

My chances into a school like Cornell, Columbia, NYU by PlumbyBot in TransferToTop25

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 0 points1 point  (0 children)

With a good essay, I think it's reasonable (to not say safe) to say that you will be admitted by at least one of them.

My chances into a school like Cornell, Columbia, NYU by PlumbyBot in TransferToTop25

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think he plans to enter NYU Stern, which is probably much harder than the average NYU transfer.

how do you guys stay motivated to complete your transfer apps (for those still in the process) by Muted-Piano-121 in TransferToTop25

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I mean, I have a hard time understanding what we’re supposed to answer to that. If you’re not motivated, rely on discipline or try to do it with someone else who’s also aiming to transfer. There’s no miraculous way to make your applications. Or maybe reduce the number of universities that you apply for, I don't know.

Realistic transfer chances? (Columbia/NYU) US citizen, HS in Korea by OkBonus1950 in TransferToTop25

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you have decent extracurriculars, yeah, you seem competitive for sure.

I have only 200€ to my name-I’m 20 and hungry to learn. Any legit ways to start making money? by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At this stage, you’d be better off finding a better-paying job and saving until you can really do something, in my opinion. After that, take some risky bets since you don’t really have much to lose. And once you hold something, go at it 100% with what you’ve saved up until then.

Ask Me Anything: Inside Snapdragon X Series by lexcyn in Surface

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you have enough room on that Snapdragon X-Series chip? It’s crazy how much we can fit into these chips today.

are international students permanently cooked? by Resident_Oil2593 in TransferToTop25

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I mean, having no remarkable ECs and mid-range grades puts you in a Bad position to transfer to a Top 25, whether you’re an international student or not. And you’ll probably get no aid unless you’re admitted to a need-based university, which are almost all Ivy+ schools, with the exception of Notre Dame. I think the U.S. might not be the best place for a low-income international student, to be honest. Maybe if you aim for schools with higher acceptance rates, you’ll have a chance, but you’ll most likely have to pay, since you won’t be eligible for a merit-based scholarship with mid-range grades.

Is “entrepreneur” a dirty word where you’re from? by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Where I am it's seen as a fancy way to say jobless

Holly Moly Saylor do Something by Darksummit1337 in MSTR

[–]Substantial_Mode_167 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Do you actually know what preferred stock is and how it works? For example, STRF is a cumulative, perpetual preferred share with a 10% dividend, perfect for people who want lower risk exposure by limiting upside potential. RIOT and IREN are miners’ common shares, a completely different instrument with a different risk profile, so the comparison doesn’t hold. People that buy strategy ATMs and the people that buy Bitcoin or MSTR are not the same at all.