Why I Chose Purdue Indy

By -
Here’s how the story goes: I loved school and enjoyed every second I was in the classroom. Higher education was the obvious next step for me! The only problem? I had no idea where I actually wanted to go to college. I knew a career in STEM was part of my vague plan for my future, but what in STEM exactly was the hard part to figure out. There are so many options out there, and finding the perfect fit may be intimidating. In high school, I was good at the “typical engineer” classes, such as math, physics, and technological settings. I thought for a long time that this wasn’t enough justification to pursue engineering as a career. However, one of my teachers at the time prompted me to consider career paths outside the box – particularly how engineering combines my passion for motorsports and my love of innovation. Once I started looking into what an engineer in motorsports does, I realized that I had found a pathway perfect for me.
    
The most important quality I wanted in a university was that it felt like home. I’ve moved 10 times in my life as my family was in the U.S. Air Force, so it was important for me to find and be part of a community that never stops loving and supporting one another. The second quality I wanted was an urban environment with great academic opportunities. When I found out about the Motorsports Engineering Program at Purdue in Indianapolis, I knew I had to apply. Indy had everything I was searching for: access to phenomenal academic opportunities and a caring community. Once I got my acceptance, I immediately committed to my future as a Boilermaker in Indianapolis.

Purdue School Spirit! Boiler Up!

Motorsports is a very specific subset of engineering, and being located in the “Racing Capital of the World” gives way to a multitude of opportunities. For example, the Motorsports Engineering Club in Indianapolis held at the Dallara factory allows for hands-on experience with KT-100 karts, a retired Formula SAE car, a 1969 MG, fabrication, design, and data analysis. Something unique about engineering at Purdue in Indianapolis compared to West Lafayette is that we don’t have First Year Engineering (FYE). Whatever major you apply to, you are automatically declared said major. With motorsports, I find the ability to work directly with race vehicles and to learn from people already in the industry as a freshman extremely valuable.

Motorsports Club Livery Reveal for the Halloween 100 Race

In Indy, there is a feel of that traditional college campus, but you’re also in the middle of a major city! During the day, you can go to class, study in the library, and get food on campus, but in the evening? There is Mass Ave with countless food spots, cafes to study in, and historic buildings that are beautiful to look at. NIFS which is a state-of-the-art athletic facility, the Natatorium which is the largest indoor swimming pool in the U.S., and the White River State Park are right next to campus. If you would like, you could work out and then enjoy a day at the park and watch the sunset! Only a mile from LUX (one of the housing options for Purdue students in Indy) are Lucas Oil Stadium and Gainbridge Fieldhouse. You can watch the Colts, Pacers, or the Fever in just a short walk with many opportunities to even score free tickets from Purdue! The PRI Show also takes place at Lucas Oil, which is North America’s largest motorsport tradeshow; PRI is great to simply experience but also to network within the motorsports industry as a student. It also does not hurt to be near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway! In the fall semesters, you could attend the Indianapolis 8 Hour or the IMSA Battle on the Bricks race! You can walk in the pits, enjoy some good racing, network with some teams, or even walk away with some damaged bodywork if you ask the right crew member!

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Another thing on campus we have is the Women in Engineering Program (WiE). WiE serves as a remarkable opportunity to thrive within a small community of those who share your exact passions, aspirations, and eagerness. I have been able to surround myself with others who take the same courses, in which we can build our understandings together. Furthermore, WiE invites students to learn real-life skills, such as personal branding, networking, stress management, and navigating life as new adults. Here in Indy, we have our own monthly meetings that have invited guest speakers from industry, social activities such as craft and game nights, and postcard nights to write to prospective students! By joining this community of like-minded engineers, I have found a second family that I am forever grateful for.

WiE Welcome Social Event

At the end of the day, college is a unique experience for every individual. It’s completely natural not to have everything figured out right away. Intimidation and uncertainty may occur, especially in the engineering field, but Purdue is stacked with resources that are here for the purpose of your development! Indy is perfect for direct industry connections, and if you’re thinking of going into motorsports like me, the heart of racing is the perfect place to be. Purdue in Indianapolis has a close-knit community, many academic and professional opportunities, and big-city fun that has made it my favorite home away from home.

Madison Wright, MSPE '29
Indianapolis WE Link Leadership Team


Stay Connected With Purdue WiE Program!
Instagram: @purdue.wie

Use the hashtag #PurdueWiE on Facebook and Instagram!

Purdue Women in Engineering

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Admissions Process: Deferred, Waitlisted, Admitted

By -
Image
May 1st of my senior year, I wasn’t wearing a Purdue shirt. Instead, I was representing another Big 10 school because I wasn’t committed—or even admitted—to Purdue. That morning, I was doing a last-minute review for my AP Chemistry exam when I decided to scroll through my phone. Given that it was Decision Day and Purdue was my dream school, I checked my admissions portal one last time to reread my waitlist decision letter. But this time, there was an update: I had been admitted to Purdue’s First-Year Engineering program after being deferred and then waitlisted. I was ecstatic! Later that day, after finishing my AP Chemistry exam, I officially committed to Purdue. The first time I toured Purdue, it was a cold and rainy day in West Lafayette, and to be honest, I didn’t love it. At the time, I had considered studying engineering but wasn’t entirely sure. In the spring of my junior year, my mom found an event hosted by Purdue’s Women in Engineering Program called "Exploring Engineerin...
Read more

Understanding Purdue Housing

By -
Image
One of the many concerns incoming freshmen have is what to do regarding their housing options. In addition to the roommate selection process, you may be interested in seeing your on-campus options in terms of amenities and the communities available within the building. For example, when I accepted my admission to Purdue as a freshman, I knew I was interested in a standard double that I had experienced at a summer college program. To ensure my University Residences housing, I applied to Vertically Integrated Projects so that I would be able to pursue a research project as a freshman while also guaranteeing my housing within Earhart Hall through the connected learning community. For more information on learning communities, read our previous blog! Many freshmen will live in a residence hall, even if they are not in a specific learning community. Now, as a Resident Assistant or RA in Earhart Hall, I have been trained on the term “residence hall”; our halls go beyond a traditional “dormito...
Read more

The Honors College from an Engineer's Perspective

By -
Deciding whether to join the John Martinson Honors College as an incoming Purdue engineering student can be challenging. You may be considering various factors, including other living/learning communities, first-year engineering tracks, and your overall plan of study. I loved the Honors College and want to share my experience completing an honors degree as a mechanical engineering student in hopes that it will help you make the best decision for yourself! Me and my ENGR 162 team As a quick note, the Honors College application was submitted with your initial Purdue application. The decision to accept admittance to the Honors college will be made by commitment to Purdue by May 1st, with the housing deadline following on May 5th. Overview of the John Martinson Honors College The Honors College is built on four key pillars: interdisciplinary academics, undergraduate research, community and global engagement, and leadership development, which you likely encountered during the application pr...
Read more