Silicon Valley, California

At A Glance

Term: C 2008

Project Opportunities: MQP

Housing: Shared student apartments

Co-Directors: Professors David Finkel and John Orr

Preparation: 1/6 unit PQP

Application Deadline: November 7, 2006 (before 1 p.m. for all majors)

Location

Silicon Valley, California, is home to many of the most dynamic companies in the computer industry and in other related high-technology industries. Long-established companies such as Sun, Intel and Hewlett-Packard, and research centers such as SRI International and NASA Ames Research Center, mix with recent successes such as eBay and small start-ups to provide a dynamic and exciting atmosphere. The projects will expose students to both the cutting-edge technology and the dynamic entrepreneurship of Silicon Valley.

Projects

Students participating in the Silicon Valley Project Center will participate in a Preliminary Qualifying Project (PQP) during B-Term 2007. During this PQP, the students will perform background research in the area of their project, learn about the company and the industry where they will be performing their project, and hold discussions with their company mentor about their project work.

The projects will be conducted during C-Term 2008 in Silicon Valley. The students will work full-time at the sponsor's site for approximately nine weeks, from early January through early March. They will work with a mentor from the sponsoring company and with a WPI faculty advisor. The project work will include the completion of an MQP report and presentation on the project to the sponsoring organization. Admission to the Silicon Valley Project Center is based on academic standing and performance, essay response, evidence of maturity and independence, availability of projects in a specific area, qualifications relevant to the project offered, and results of an interview.

Projects may be available in Computer Science, in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and in Interactive Media and Game Development.

Estimated Expenses:

Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses	$600 700 600 400 1,000	Travel to site (RT airfare) Local Transportation Groceries Dining out (10x term) Weekend tourist activities Estimated total out-of-pocket expenses
Expenses Included on your WPI Bill:	+ 1,200	Housing
Estimated total expenses	$4,500	(tuition and on-campus housing not included)

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