Student Reviews
In this space, you will find opinions from second- and third-year students (as of 2020) whom we asked to answer some questions.
We hope you enjoy this space and find it useful. We sincerely appreciate the willingness and goodwill of the interviewed students.
Aline Zamora
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Where did you study, where are you from, and what year of your degree are you in?
I studied at Colegio Simón Bolívar in Quillota, the city where I live, and I am currently in my second year of Civil Mathematical Engineering. -
What led you to study Civil Mathematical Engineering?
I always knew I wanted to study mathematics, but I didn't know exactly which career to pursue. I considered options like Architecture and Mathematics Education, but they didn't fully convince me. After doing some research, I found the Civil Mathematical Engineering program. I liked its curriculum and job prospects, so I decided to study it. -
What is the best (and worst) part of studying Civil Mathematical Engineering?
The best thing about this degree is its broad job market. The worst is that there is a big leap from high school mathematics to the mathematics in this program. Since it involves advanced mathematics, the new material and the high school content are seen from a completely different perspective. Despite this, it is not difficult to get the hang of it after some time. -
What has been the most difficult course you have taken so far?
Introduction to Algorithms. I started with only the basic programming knowledge I had learned in a previous programming course, and not only did I have to program algorithms, but I also had to prove why they worked using mathematical foundations. Without a doubt, it has been the hardest course so far. -
What does Civil Mathematical Engineering mean to you?
For me, Civil Mathematical Engineering is a degree that I greatly enjoy studying. It is a qualification where I can focus my future personal and professional projects, and it also serves as a bridge connecting me to society through mathematics.
Bárbara Olave
- Where did you study, where are you from, and what year of your degree are you in?
Good morning, my name is Bárbara Olave. I studied at Colegio Los Cipreses in Lo Miranda, a locality about 30 minutes from Rancagua. I am currently in my second year of the program. - What led you to study Civil Mathematical Engineering?
At first, it was simply curiosity. While researching what degrees I could study after finishing high school, I discovered this program. I didn't even know its name, so I started looking into it and found out that it offered job opportunities in various fields, such as schools, factories, companies, and even hospitals. - What is the best (and worst) part of studying Civil Mathematical Engineering?
What I like most about this engineering field is that we can take real-world problems, translate them into a mathematical model, solve them, and then apply the solutions back to real life. The worst part is that doing this is complex and challenging. - What has been the most difficult course you have taken so far?
Introduction to Algorithms. It was challenging because I had never encountered the material before, unlike other subjects where I had already seen the content in high school. In this course, I received the worst grade of my life. However, by changing my study methods and organizing myself better, I was able to overcome the difficulty and passed the course with excellent grades. - What does Civil Mathematical Engineering mean to you?
For me, Civil Mathematical Engineering is like a new world filled with concepts that are both highly complex and very simple. These concepts are quite efficient for solving real-life problems. That is essentially what an engineer in this field does—identifies a problem, translates it into a mathematical model, finds a solution, and applies it effectively in real life.
Carla Silva
- Where did you study, where are you from, and what year of your degree are you in?
Hello, I'm Carla Silva, a Civil Mathematical Engineering student. I studied at Colegio Quillota Terranova, currently live in La Cruz in the Valparaíso Region, and I am in my third year of the program. - What led you to study Civil Mathematical Engineering?
I've always been very interested in mathematics. It was my favorite subject in high school. In my senior year, I was determined to study something related to mathematics but wasn’t sure which program to choose. The only program I found that focused entirely on mathematics was Mathematics Education, but I wasn’t particularly interested in it. Then I discovered this program, saw its curriculum, and realized it was entirely about mathematics, which I really liked. - What is the best (and worst) part of studying Civil Mathematical Engineering?
The best thing about studying Civil Mathematical Engineering at the University of Valparaíso is the professors because they care about each student throughout the program. The worst part is the difficulty of the program—it is challenging, but at the same time, it is achievable. If you love and are passionate about mathematics, you can succeed. - What has been the most difficult course you have taken so far?
The hardest course I have taken so far has been Introduction to Algorithms. It was very challenging for me because it combines programming with mathematics, and having to program mathematical problems was very difficult. - What does Civil Mathematical Engineering mean to you?
Civil Mathematical Engineering is the degree I was looking for. Its job market is what interests me the most because, in addition to being broad, I find that the connection between mathematics and real life is truly fascinating. Throughout the program, you begin to see this connection between mathematics and everyday life—things we experience daily without realizing that mathematics is present every single day.
Johnny Huincahue
- Where did you study, where are you from, and what year of your degree are you in?
I studied at Colegio Polivalente Patricio Mekis in Maipú. I’m from Maipú, Santiago. I’m currently 21 years old and in my third year of the program. - What led you to study Civil Mathematical Engineering?
I had considered studying a degree in Mathematics or Physics. Then I realized that physics wasn’t for me and that I enjoyed mathematics much more. I chose Civil Mathematical Engineering because of its more applied approach. - What is the best part of studying Civil Mathematical Engineering?
The best part of this program is, without a doubt, the close relationship we have with the professors. Another great thing is the faculty—there are usually parties on Thursdays, which is a nice break for us. - What is the worst part of studying Civil Mathematical Engineering?
The so-called worst part is the difficulty of the program. In general, a mathematics-based degree is difficult because it takes time to fully internalize mathematics. But once you do, everything is fine. - What has been the most difficult course you have taken so far?
So far, the most challenging courses have been Linear Algebra and Real Analysis. Linear Algebra was particularly tough because it introduced proofs, which were quite difficult. However, once you understand the mechanics of how to prove things, the course becomes more manageable. Real Analysis is also complex because we are constantly proving statements, and the difficulty level increases significantly. - What does Civil Mathematical Engineering mean to you?
Civil Mathematical Engineering is a degree that allows us to work with mathematics in various fields, such as finance, data analysis, and even environmental sciences. That’s what Civil Mathematical Engineering means to me.
Omar Guerra
- Where did you study, where are you from, and what year of your degree are you in?
Hello, my name is Omar Guerra. I’m from a small town called Lo Calvo, which belongs to Los Andes. I studied at Liceo Maximiliano Salas Marchán and I’m in my third year of Civil Mathematical Engineering. - What led you to study Civil Mathematical Engineering?
What led me to study Civil Mathematical Engineering was, first, my love for mathematics because it is present in everything, and second, my interest in engineering. I see engineering as taking mathematics and applying it to the real world to solve truly important problems—like predicting the weather. - What is the best (and worst) part of studying Civil Mathematical Engineering?
The best part is the diversity of paths and the vast amount of knowledge you discover. The worst part is sacrificing many of the things you enjoy because studying requires a lot of time. - What has been the most difficult course you have taken so far?
The most difficult courses I have taken are Real Analysis and Qualitative Differential Equations. The latter is still ongoing, but so far, it has been quite difficult. - What does Civil Mathematical Engineering mean to you?
To me, Civil Mathematical Engineering is a degree that allows me to contribute to society, whether in finance, environmental sciences, or academia through research. The most important thing about learning is sharing what you've learned.