After studying computer engineering at New Hampshire Technical Institute for two years, Londonderry native Samuel Sweet was ready to pursue his bachelor's degree. With a goal of becoming a software engineer and a desire to keep school within his budget, Sweet said UNH Manchester emerged as the best option.
"I looked at University of New Hampshire, but I decided to come here," Sweet, 22, says. "It was a more affordable option that still got me what I wanted in terms of academics."
It's worked out, he said, even better than he initially thought. Sweet, a senior in the Computer Information Systems program, will graduate this May with a software engineering job already lined up.
“I just got a job as a software engineer. That's what I want to do and that's what I'm doing,” Sweet said. “UNH Manchester was certainly everything it needed to be to get me the job I really wanted."
Sweet said the faculty at UNH Manchester always take the time in and out of class to ensure each student is succeeding. He said his professors have been a highlight of his academic career, in particular Michael Jonas, assistant professor of computer science.
"Professor Jonas is probably my favorite," Sweet said. "I've been through multiple classes with him. He explains things well and goes out of his way to make sure that everyone is on track and understands the material.”
Sweet, a 2011 graduate of Londonderry High School, said he's had plenty of opportunities to help out in the community, giving him practical, hands-on learning in conjunction with his courses. One particularly valuable experience, he said, was when he and his classmates were tasked with creating new survey software for the Concord-based New Hampshire Lakes Association, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting New Hampshire's lakes and their watersheds. He said experiences like these, coupled with affordability, set UNH Manchester apart.
"I would tell students looking at UNH Manchester that it's a good school. You don't have to spend as much to get the same degree as you would at [the Durham campus],” Sweet said. “For what you're getting out, it's a better choice than going to a school where you have to pay for room and board and all that."
Written by Melanie Plenda
