Success Stories

Eli Goreta, of Trenton, Michigan, is majoring in computer engineering at Michigan Engineering. “I initially got interested in computer engineering during my senior year of high school when I participated in the Trenton High School FRC Robotics Competition,” says Goreta. “I was in charge of programming our robot and we ended up winning the state championship. It was an absolute blast.”

It was also during his high school years that Goreta was introduced to the University of Michigan’s applied computing and embedded design opportunities in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. “This gave me a clear idea of what I wanted to study in college. I really like the intersection of hardware and software in designing and constructing computing systems, so it seemed like the perfect fit for me. And I like the versatility of the major. You can go into any field,” he says.

Discovering Possibility

Although Goreta had decided on his focus of college study, he still had concerns about how his family would handle the costs. By chance, he learned about the Go Blue Guarantee while chatting with a high school friend. “We were talking about financial aid opportunities at different colleges. When we started to talk about the University of Michigan, he told me they offered tuition-free options for certain income brackets,” says Goreta. “I didn’t know about this. Not long after that conversation, I applied to U-M and was accepted.”

More good news followed. “I found out I qualified for the Go Blue Guarantee when I was in second-hour band class during my senior year of high school,” he says. “We were rehearsing and I got an email notification that my financial aid status had been updated. So I pulled out my phone and checked my financial aid on Wolverine Access. I was absolutely thrilled to see that I had received this support. It was a pretty memorable day, especially when I told my mom. She couldn’t believe it either.”

Goreta says the Go Blue Guarantee has allowed him to spend more time and energy on his academic studies. “A lot of people who come to U-M don't have to worry about finances and are able to study more freely and enjoy their time more,” he says. “With the Go Blue Guarantee, I feel I can do the same. I don't have to worry about having the burden of debt after college.”

Challenging Coursework

Goreta notes that U-M offers a variety of great upper-level courses specific to computer engineering. “Advanced Embedded Systems [EECS 473] is a course that requires students to build and apply embedded computer systems,” he notes. “For example, some students have built fully autonomous robots or automatic watering systems in this class.”

His greatest challenge so far has been Data Structures and Algorithms [EECS 281], a course in the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science. “It's a notoriously difficult class, but I learned a lot. The hours I put in were monumental compared to every other class,” says Goreta. “I learned fundamental programming skills essential to anything you’d want to do software-related. Most importantly, I learned how to efficiently and effectively problem-solve. You absolutely get out of this class what you put in.”

Last year, Goreta got involved with Michigan Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (MAAV), a student-run group at U-M that competes in the Student Unmanned Aerial Systems Competition. Students engage in the design, building, and testing of an autonomous unmanned aerial system while furthering multiple areas of computer science/engineering and aerospace engineering research. “I joined the embedded systems subteam. We built a drone that will compete against other university teams in the annual competition in Maryland. I’m currently the team’s systems integration lead,” says Goreta.

Embracing Collaboration

Among the invaluable insights Goreta has derived from his time on campus, he has learned that he works most effectively with other people, in groups. “U-M really pushed me to get comfortable working with other students in group settings. Through this, I learned I can do my best work in these collaborative spaces,” he says. “One of my best memories was studying for the differential equations final with a group of students during my first semester. The work was stressful and difficult, but collaborating with others really helped me make sense of the material. Having different perspectives on complex course concepts was invaluable. I definitely would not have performed as well without studying with this group.”

Other Pastimes

A man of many talents, Goreta has played the saxophone most of his life. He is part of the U-M Campus Jazz Ensemble, a premier performing experience offered by the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance, with membership by audition only, where he plays lead alto saxophone.

Moving the Future Forward

“The quality of education at the University of Michigan is outstanding. I feel that I already understand the world around me better, after just two years here. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything,” says Goreta. “My dream job would be to work in either robotics or computer architecture design at places like Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, or Boston Dynamics. I’d especially like to work with computer vision for mobile robotics, designing the controllers for robots so they can move through their physical environments. It’s a great option because it has so many applications.”