Derya Dogan
B.S. in Computer Science

Why did you choose Franklin University?
I found Franklin on the Internet! I came to the United States from Turkey a few years ago in order to study computer science. I first attended another university and earned my associate’s degree in Computer Science. As an International student, I chose Franklin after looking around a while and found the tuition was competitive.

What kind of commitments did you have in addition to school?
I had two jobs. I was an intern computer programmer at Nationwide Insurance and I worked in the Franklin Library (I learned a lot about customer service, helping people and diplomacy). Nationwide promoted me to a full-time programmer.

How did you feel about being an adult student?
I like that everyone has responsibilities and they’re not just goofing off. We learned to work in teams, like in the real world. Also, I got my job and made a lot of friends through the people in my class. Networking was great.

Any thought about Franklin’s learning process?
It was harder than I thought it would be — but now I’m glad because I can do my job so much better. I couldn’t just sit and learn and take tests, I had to show what I knew.

I learned how to interact in a team and to deal with some people who were not responsible. It was like a real job! Going through it helped me develop leadership skills. When I interviewed for my job, they were impressed that I could explain how I handled difficult situations, lead a project, and graduate with honors.

What is your overall experience with Franklin?
I learned that communication is the main thing, even in a computer science major. I learned to write programs very well, and also to write my thoughts and speak in front of others. In the real world you must know how to get along with people, explain yourself, and write carefully because emails are seen by many people. Many decisions are made in conference calls and through chat sessions. If I hadn’t had that kind of experience at Franklin, I wouldn’t be so comfortable in my job.

What advice would you give to someone considering attending Franklin?
To major in computer science, you have to learn to be in a team. You must work hard every day and not leave everything until the last minute, or you will not make it. If you do this, you will be successful.