Graduate Q&A: Tanner Vass

_{January 11, 2018}

Following is a Q&A with one of the 749 students who received a diploma Dec. 16 at UW-Stout.

Name:Tanner Vass
Hometown: Wyoming, Minn.
Major: Computer networking and information technology

Why did you choose UW-Stout?The main thing was the focus on hands-on degrees that train you for the career you want, which definitely worked out well for me. I was very interested in the small class sizes and the focus on getting started on your major right away. My dad also graduated from UW-Stout, and I grew up on stories from that time and hearing how much he loved Menomonie.

What are the biggest obstacles you faced in earning your degree?Time management was a struggle for me. I was able to coast through high school and do pretty well without any problems, but I quickly discovered that I needed to spend a lot more time on schoolwork than I had been previously. I also went through a change of major in my sophomore year, which set me back by a semester but ended up being worth it in the end.

What stands out among your college experiences?The internships were definitely the most incredible thing for me. No matter how hands-on your education is, nothing beats work experience. I was able to do two different internships because of the UW-Stout Career Conference, and these both provided me with tons of extremely useful and unique experiences.

What's next?Off to San Francisco! I took a full-time job with Cisco Meraki, where I previously interned. I wouldn't have been able to do it without Stout!

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