3 Signs You Actually Have the Skills to Build It In-House

Julianna Schneider, a senior at MIT, exemplifies how technology can be harnessed to address community challenges through her diverse projects ranging from robotics to app development.

From Piano to Programming: A Unique Journey

Before discovering her passion for robotics at age 13, Schneider was an accomplished classical pianist in Albania. She found surprising parallels between mastering piano and building robotic systems, noting that both require precise motor skills and consistent execution of complex tasks.

[IMAGE: Young woman working on a robotic arm in a laboratory setting, with computer code visible on a nearby screen]

Her journey into technology accelerated when she joined her high school’s robotics team, eventually leading three teams and winning 14 regional and national awards. This early experience cemented her path toward technology-driven problem-solving.

Creating Community-Focused Applications

At just 16, Schneider developed VoluntYOU, an app connecting English-speaking volunteers from her international school with local Albanian charities. The platform has since expanded globally, supporting charitable efforts across four continents.

Her latest project, NerdXing, addresses challenges within the MIT community itself. Developed with the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing Undergraduate Advisory Group, this tool helps students navigate MIT’s complex curriculum by showing which classes other students have taken after completing a specific course.

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