Student Profile: Colin Wasiloff
Colin Wasiloff chose his physics major because of its versatility in the professional word. He used what he learned at his internship at CD-Adapco, a computational fluid dynamics software company in Plymouth, Mich.
“I have already seen the positive influence of my physics education at Alma,” the Farmington Hills senior says. “The physics knowledge I have learned so far has been something I routinely apply to my internship. Recently I have been working to design an academic course to be distributed with the software to universities and colleges. The course re-teaches mechanics and dynamics principles, which I have learned at Alma.”
He also appreciates the small size of the program, which allows him and other majors to get to know one another and set their own schedule.
“Our classes are scheduled around each other, so we have the luxury of ‘picking’ our own class meetings, something many majors don’t get to do,” he says. “Perhaps the most important feature of physics at Alma is that it is very hands on and the faculty is always willing to help.”
The math minor plans to pursue a career in engineering and credits the liberal arts education at Alma with his confidence in his career path.
“I knew the physical sciences at Alma were excellent,” he says, “and I have been very impressed with the value of a degree from Alma.”
One if his favorite experiences at Alma was a spring term trip he took to Key West, Fla. studying the writing of Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams.
“It was very cool to read famous Key West authors like Hemingway while actually living like he had,” he says. “Opportunities like that are what sets Alma apart and a definite perk of the well rounded education one can get at this college.”
Wasiloff was originally attracted to Alma by the small size and campus. He takes advantage of involvement opportunities by being the sports editor of the Almanian, a graphic designer for the Student Union, the general manager of the Duck WQAC (the student radio station), and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
“It is hard to find a nice small campus with a balance of worthwhile course work and a great social life, and that is something that has kept me around at Alma,” he says.
