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Isabel Salmi is a third-year student in the Information Technology major, taught in Finnish and Swedish. In her free time, she hits the gym, plays drums in a band, or hangs out with friends. She can also occasionally be found at the activities of , the Swedish-language student nation, or the . 

How did you end up studying Information Technology at Aalto University? 

I took a somewhat unusual path. I have a strong background in drawing, and in high school I became interested in gaming and graphic design. When I was researching universities, I decided that I wanted to go ºÚÁÏÍø because of its great location and great reputation. 

Naturally, I initially applied ºÚÁÏÍø ARTS' Visual Communication Design programme. My preliminary assignments were rejected, so, riled up, I thought about what would be an even cooler thing to study than graphic design. I'd heard rumours that those with coding skills from Aalto University could apply for jobs in the gaming industry. At this point I realised I could try to get into technical studies. 

My matriculation examination grades in advanced mathematics and physics weren't good enough for me to get into university, and I didn't want to retake those. Fortunately that's not the only way – I applied through the Open University path, available in Finnish and Swedish. 

The courses in math and physics showed me that studying in tech was actually perfect for me. In high school I really wanted to be good at these subjects, but lost my motivation when my grades weren't very good. At university, I realised that my issue had been not having the right study technique. I got a lot of help from and math exercise groups, and finally learned how to properly study for exams. This made math actually fun! 

Despite not getting top grades in high school, I had always been interested in science, technology, and problem-solving. Now I know that I wouldn't have been able to utilise my full potential in just the creative field. 

I chose Information Technology because it offers a path into the gaming industry. I was also impressed by the diversity of courses: in addition to programming, you can also study stuff like telecommunications, acoustics, or signal processing. 

What has been the best thing about your studies? 

The best thing is that no one is expected to know everything. Exercise groups and Laskutupa provide help with mathematics, and the early programming courses cover the basics in an understandable way. 

I also feel that many courses take accessibility into account. Due to Asperger's I struggle with overload and exhaustion – so I appreciate accommodations like getting help with making a study plan, and extra time for assignments and exams. 

What has been your favourite course? 

Y1, the first programming course, was my first introduction to the wonderful world of coding. During the course I realised I really like programming, especially in the Python language. 

I feel that in addition to studying technology, it's useful to study languages – especially if you aim to work in an international environment. I've always enjoyed studying languages, so I chose a lot of German courses for my electives. I especially liked the German 6 course, since it focused more on conversation and strengthening speaking skills than on grammar. 

What is student life like at Aalto? 

The best thing about student life is its diversity! Aalto University features hundreds of different student organisations for those interested in sports, music, art, or pretty much anything. Through these organisations I have participated in band practice and reading circles. I strongly believe that at Aalto, everyone can find a place or community where they belong. 

In primary and high school, I didn’t have many friends and I felt like I didn’t really belong. At Aalto, I have made a lot of new friends and met many like-minded people. I’m not much of a party animal, but that hasn’t stopped me – I've found friends through courses. My experience, at least among my fellow technical students, is that Aaltonians are very open. It's easy to go up and talk to other students, and for those encounters to blossom into friendships. 

What does your future look like? 

After my bachelor's degree, I can choose a master's programme to specialise in. I am currently interested in Human-Computer Interaction, and Game Design and Development. Those would provide me with good skills for the future, as I would like to have a job that combines creativity and technology. If I get into the gaming industry, I would love to contribute to developing large-scale adventure and action games – something like Red Dead Redemption 2 or The Last of Us. 

Who would you recommend Information Technology to? 

To anyone even slightly interested in the field! Don't worry about whether your math skills are good enough. I'm no math genius myself, and yet I feel like studying Information Technology is the perfect choice for me.