Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

One of the best decisions you will ever make is to attending SUNY Korea, because not only is it a top-tier university system, but it also allows you to join an exceptional community to help build a global network for your international career. Janar Osmonaliev is a CS graduate who got accepted to Meta.

Here is his story at SUNY Korea and a message to his colleagues who major in Computer Science.

Why did you choose to attend SUNY Korea?

I always wanted to study overseas, either in the United States or South Korea. So, in that sense, not only did SUNY Korea align perfectly with my goals, it also offered me the best of both worlds. It is also worth noting that SUNY Korea provided me with a scholarship and financial aid during my studies, which was very crucial.

What are some of your valuable achievements during university?

Personally, I think that successful completion of class projects with professors/students is an important one. They might seem insignificant from a macro perspective, but those small chunks of experience and knowledge helped me get where I am today.

What is your most memorable experience at SUNY Korea?

Ha-ha, I do not think it’s possible to pick only one, there are just so many. But what I can say is that all of them were shared with my close friends and the staff I have met at SUNY Korea. Also, shout out to Student Affairs and Career Center teams, you guys are amazing!

I heard that you got a job at Meta. Congratulations! What was your motivation for applying to Meta?

I guess it’s no secret that FAANG (used as a general term for top tech companies in the U.S. here) is the most sought-after place to work among engineers. It is a place where you can truly achieve your full potential and bring a positive impact to the world with your skills.

How has SUNY Korea prepared you for a career at Meta?

FAANG companies have a very competitive applicant pool. Students need a very solid expertise in the engineering field they are interested in. Luckily, I was taught by some of the most passionate professors. I want to express my gratitude to Prof. Kwon for solid algorithms/data structures foundation, Prof. Omondi for nurturing a strong sense of principles/morals, Prof. Ryoo for giving extraordinary projects that improved my problem-solving skills, and finally Prof. Kuhn for mentorship and support of my initiatives.

Meta has a reputation for asking difficult interview questions. How did you prepare for the job interview?

The job interview process was almost 2 months long - it was very challenging. I was interviewing in the Front End Engineering pipeline. Although I cannot share the details of the process, I would advise students to have an excellent understanding of JavaScript, specifically the features of ES6.

What will your job responsibility be at Meta?

I am currently going through the bootcamp process, soon to select a team to join. I am really passionate about design and overall product quality. Therefore, I want to work on user-facing products with high impact.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I think it is an inherent human nature to strive for bigger and bigger achievements. Within the next 5 years, I want to gain more ownership of a product/service that I am passionate about. Apart from career growth, I also want to grow as a person and pursue a noble goal. I hope to dedicate more time towards nurturing enthusiasm for technology within the younger generation of people in Kyrgyzstan.

Do you have a message for SUNY Korea students?

Be bold. Do not settle for mediocrity. Do not spend time trying to fit in. And finally, if you are passionate about something, try to bring something new or do it differently.