IT | Undergraduate Student Testimonials

Jacob Hollis

July 17, 2020

Portrait of Jacob Hollis

Jacob Hollis

Name
Jacob Hollis

Hometown
Columbia, MO

Why did you choose to attend Mizzou for the IT program?
I originally came to Mizzou to study mechanical engineering, but after my first semester I saw the relatively new IT program and felt like it would be a better fit. What intrigued me about the IT program was the faculty and the selection of combined computer science and IT courses to choose from.

Tell us about your educational experiences.
I decided to focus on software development, primarily because I enjoyed coding and the logical methods of designing applications. Some of my favorite classes were CS 3380 Database Systems and Applications (now INFOTC 3380), which gave me experience with SQL and also helped me with my later internship. My other favorite class was INFOTC 4400 C#/.NET Development, which was my first introduction to my favorite computer language that I’ve used the most since then.

Where will you work after graduation? How did the IT program prepare you?
After graduation I’ll be working at MidwayUSA in Columbia as an application developer. The IT program’s wide variety of classes, especially the team-project oriented classes, prepared me for working in an IT industry that values this team-based work ethic.

Did you have an internship or other opportunities during your time at Mizzou?
I worked briefly for Shelter Insurance as a part-time software developer. I also interned at MidwayUSA as a database administrator intern and later on an application developer intern. The internship with Midway turned into full-time work. Both experiences taught me a great deal of software development principles and the work experience was invaluable.

Would you recommend the IT program?
I’d recommend the IT program to anyone who wants a flexible, comprehensive program that blends computer science and systems with business processes. The faculty are amazing to learn from and the students are great to work with. The experience is the perfect preparation for becoming an IT professional, and I highly recommend it.