Transferring from
Chabot College
My Experience
Robert Irwin
My Story
Attended HS in Jamaica (Caribbean)
 Started at Chabot Aug 2005 (20 years old)
 Took 3 years to transfer
 Worked for 2 years while at Chabot (15-20 hrs/wk)
 Married in 2006

Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 2
Why Engineering?
Enjoy working with my hands
o Like making things
o Enjoyed science in HS
o Very inquisitive about how things work
o Looked for ways to improve things
o
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 3
3 Years at Chabot
Fall 2005
Calculus 1
Course No.
MATH 1
Reading and Composition
ENGL 1A
Fundamentals/speech communication SPCH 1
Introduction to Engineering
ENGR 10
Total Units
Fall 2006
Multivariable Calculus
Engineering Statics
General College Chemistry
Course No.
MATH 3
ENGR 36
CHEM 1A
Total Units
Fall 2007
Critical Thinking/Writing Lit.
Physical Education-soccer
General Physics
Intro programming C++
Political science
Total Units
Course No.
ENGL 4
PHED 2SC
PHYS 4C
CSCI 14
Poli 1
Units Spring 2006
5
Calculus 2
Computational Methods For
3
Engineers
3
General College Physics
2
13
Units
5
3
5
13
Units
3
1
5
4
3
Course No.
MATH 2
Units
5
ENGR 25
PHYS 4A
3
5
Course No.
PHED 2SC
ENGR 45
PHYS 4B
ENGR 22
13
Units
1
3
5
3
Course No.
MATH 6
MATH 4
HIST 7
ENGR 43
PHED 2SC
12
Units
3
3
3
4
1
Total Units
Spring 2007
Physical Education-soccer
Engineering Materials
General Physics
Engineering Design Graphics
Total Units
Spring 2008
Elementary Linear Algebra
Differential equations
US History Post-reconstruction
Engineering Circuit Analysis
Physical Education-soccer
16
Total Units
Final GPA: 3.64
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 4
14
Advice for Chabot Students
Work hard in ALL math classes (practice, practice,
practice)
 Do Not Procrastinate in ENGR & Physics classes
(stay ahead if possible)
 Do NOT take classes with “easy” teachers, take
them with good professors even if they are tougher.
Suggested: Math: Mr. Batchelor, Ms. Chaudhuri
Physics: Mr. Hildreth
ENGR: Mr. Mayer (not much choice,
but that’s good!)

Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 5
Continued…
Take 15+ units (Simulates pressure of
upper division)
 Study Now, Party Later.
 Write your personal statement to UCs
the summer before submitting
application

Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 6
Berkeley Course Schedule
Fall 2008
Course No.
Units Spring 2009
Course No.
Engineering Mechanics II
ME 104
3
Circuits bridging course
Thermodynamics
ME 105
3
Fluid Mechanics
Mechanics of Materials
CE 130
3
Mechanical Behavior of Materials
4
ME design (Solid Works)
Several lecture series
History: Russia 1917-1981
DeCal (Welding)
Total Units
Fall 2009
13
Course No.
E 147
1
ME 106
3
ME C124
3
ME 128
3
HIST 171C
4
CE 198
4
Total Units
Units Spring 2010
Units
18
Course No.
Experimentation and Measurement
ME107A
3
Mechanical Engineering Lab
Mechanical Engineering Design
ME 102
3
Elective
3
Heat Transfer
ME109
3
Elective
3
3
Elective
3
Elective
Total Units
12
ME107B
Units
Total Units
Summer 09
Engineering
American Studies
Independent research
GPA after summer ‘09: 3.3
Total Units
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 7
3
12
Course No.
Units
E 190
3
Am Stud 178AC 3
E 199
3
9
Displaying GoldRush
Chassis Testing
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 8
This
could
be you!
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 9
Why did I join?
•Gives depth to class work
•Lots of fun
•Meet fellow engineers (make connections)
•Feel a sense of belonging (makes Cal a smaller place)
•Valuable experience in engineering application
Website: calsol.berkeley.edu/
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 10
Summer Research:
lenticular-shaped carbon fiber boom
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 11
Testing apparatus
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 12
Finding boom stiffness
Force vs Deflection (all data points)
y = 366.68x
R² = 0.9727
300
250
Force (N)
200
150
100
50
0
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
Deflection (mm)
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 13
0.6
0.7
0.8
Results
#
1
EI
(N-m^2)
302
E
EI/m
Stiffness
(GPa) (N/m-Kg)
(N/m)
66
10,400
480,000
2
286
62
10,000
347,000
34.85
3
295
64
10,500
375,000
32.20
4
295
64
10,500
374,000
33.98
•Possibly change material used in commercial and scientific
satellites in the near future
•Great work experience for resume
•Graduate school reference
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 14
Stress
(MPa)
12.15
CalFootball
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 15
Questions?

Email me with questions:
robertirwin@berkeley.edu
Robert Irwin * Aug09 * Sld 16