Testimony : Matea Gjika BX23

Could you please introduce yourself ?

My name is Matea and I am a third year student in the Bachelor of Science Program at Ecole
Polytechnique, where I study Mathematics and Computer Science. I’m from Tirana, Albania, but I
completed my A Level studies in Canterbury UK. For the past two years, I have served as academic
representative for my double major.

Why did you choose the Bachelor of Science of Ecole Polytechnique?

I knew from the start that I wanted to study Computer Science, but maths has always been a passion of mine, so this program allowed me to fully emerge myself in both domains. However, I think the Bachelor is unique in many ways that set it apart from other programs. Because the class sizes are so small, we, as students, get a lot of individual attention, both from the pedagogical staff, and the administration, and most importantly, we really get to form great bonds with each other. This
program is very selective, so you really are surrounded by some very talented students, and the
atmosphere is very energizing, encouraging and collaborative.

Could you tell us how the third year is going ?

The third year is definitely a very decisive one. I began this year at King’s College London, as part of
the Bachelor’s exchange program. The semester abroad is another amazing feature of this program,
as I found it really allowed me to gain perspective on what I want for my master’s studies, and it
allowed me to acclimate to new methods of teaching and learning styles.
When I returned to Palaiseau in January, I began working on my bachelor thesis, which comprises a 2 month-long research internship, dissertation and defense. I completed my internship at LIX, the
Informatics Lab at Polytechnique. It’s an amazing opportunity for students who are interested in
research and industry alike, as you get to work alongside world-class scientists researching areas that you are passionate about. And, of course, the main topic during year 3 is master’s applications. It is definitely a busy year, but after four semesters in the Bachelor, we have become quite adept at
juggling multiple tasks at once.

Do you have a favorite course?

I really enjoyed Introduction to Analysis in Year 1. It was a daunting course at first, as the approach is very different to the way you learn things in high school. The first midterm was brutal, but once I
figured out how to effectively understand the material, I was very satisfied with my progress in the
course, and now analysis tends to be my favorite course every semester. The lecturer, Frank Pacard, is very motivated to support all students throughout the course, and he would spend time one-on-one with a lot of students who asked for help to help us solve more difficult exercises. I also enjoyed Quadratic Forms and Applications, led by Annalaura Stingo, who is one of my favorite professors here.

What would be a great memory of your third year in the Program that you would like to share with future students?

Getting my master’s admissions results was one of the best moments of this year. This can be a tough
program at times, and it requires you to build a lot of character and perseverance, and succeeding in
my master’s applications was a confirmation that all the hard work paid off.

What are your ambitions for the future?

Next year I will be starting my Master’s of Business Analytics at MIT, a joint program between the
Sloan School of Management and the MIT Operations Research Center. I hope to return to Europe,
and eventually branch out into the startup realm, specifically in fintech. I also hope to pursue and
launch initiatives promoting and regulating the ethical use of data.

Any piece of advice to future Bachelor students that you would like to share?

I would say the most important thing is to be decisive. You will be faced with a lot of choices during
the Bachelor, from picking your double major in the first year, your exchange university in your
second year and finally, your graduate programs in your third year. It’s important to come up with a
clear vision of what you want for yourself, and whenever faced with a difficult decision, try to figure
out how each choice factors into your long-term plans. The Bachelor offers a lot of opportunities for
you to explore your interests, like summer research internships and the semester abroad, but you
have to be careful about being selective with your time and energy. When in doubt, the year officers
and the Dean are always willing to help talk you through your options, provide extra insights, and
help you make a final decision, so do not hesitate to ask for help!