From Mechanical Engineering to Computer Science
Jul 22, 2023
In July 2021, I graduated from Mechanical Engineering at METU. Before my graduation, I completed several internships and gained experience in project engineering at Arçelik. Right after my graduation, I started studying for a master's degree in mechanical engineering at METU and simultaneously began working at ASELSAN as a mechanical design engineer. I worked there for around 1.5 years. During that period, I had the chance to observe the working environment, the processes of product development from beginning to end, and also the associated costs. Besides that, I had many conversations with experienced engineers about their feelings, experiences, and thoughts. After a period of information gathering and research, I decided to change my career.
During that period, I needed to decide which path to pursue. I considered stepping into software engineering, and web development seemed like a good starting point to learn. After deciding on this path, I left the master's degree program in mechanical engineering. For a while, I worked my job in the mornings and then focused on improving my web development skills in evenings through personal projects. However, despite making progress in my web development skills, I felt uncomfortable and felt like something was missing. I was well aware that there were many things to learn, and this journey will be long. But I still felt that I needed more structured learning and practice to gain the necessary knowledge. Studying only in the evenings was not sufficient, nor sustainable. Consequently, I began contemplating applying for graduate programs in computer science to deepen my understanding.
In these days, some people thinks that going to university is not necessary and might be time-consuming. These thoughts made me hesitate about applying to graduate programs. Nevertheless, after spending time reflecting on this matter, I decided to apply and started sending emails to professors. As a result, I was accepted to the MS program at Bilkent University. Now, it was time to resign from my job.
Although it might seem that I had fully decided and focused on transitioning to computer science, I still questioned this decision within myself, and I was afraid. I knew that my future wouldn't be bad if I continued my career as a mechanical engineer, and I had grown accustomed to my job and the working environment. I had developed close friendships with colleagues, and leaving them behind wouldn't be easy.
Due to my different background, I am expected to complete an academic preparation program. Currently, I am taking the last course of this preparation program, which focuses on teaching basic concepts and structures. Initially, I thought that this preparation program would take up a lot of my time, so I was not entirely enthusiastic about it. However, when I reflect on what I have learned during this process, its contribution to my knowledge is undeniable. If I hadn't joined the MS program and the preparation program, I would have learned the same things eventually, but it would have taken me more time. Without the guidance of a university program, figuring out where to start and how to proceed can be challenging. On the other hand, there may not always be a defined path or guidance available. For that reason, it is an essential skill to research and know how to learn anything.
Currently, I am thrilled with my decision, wholeheartedly immersing myself in the world of computer science and striving to excel in this new field.
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