5 Things to Know about First Year Engineering

By -


Spring semester is launching full swing at Purdue. We hope you come join in the excitement next fall. College can seem like a daunting transition from high school, but we’re here to help you come prepared. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing advice on what to expect and how to succeed in First Year Engineering (FYE).  In the meantime, here are a few tips and resources to get you started!

1.       What courses will I take? All FYE students follow the same plan of study (great for forming study groups!) Courses include engineering, math, chemistry, and communications. Emily (FYE) explains that “the main difference between engineering and your typical high school class is that it moves quickly… and you are expected to be prepared. If you do this, you will definitely succeed in the class.”

2.       What is FYE? Your first year engineering course will introduce you to opportunities in different engineering disciplines and to engineering design. You get to work in teams to solve unique design problems and present your solutions. Emily (FYE) says that “practice makes all the difference, and I highly recommend completing the weekly Bonus Assignments to help solidify the concepts in your mind… Overall engineering is my favorite class because it challenges me and introduces me to the true value of engineering.”

3.       How do I succeed in college courses? Go to the help rooms. Abby (FYE) says that the “help rooms filled with helpful TA’s are great for homework help and studying assistance.” The Math Help Room and Physics Help Room are both popular spots. Grace (FYE) notes that in the Physics Help room “you will get one-on-one help with homework or questions.” Purdue provides a variety of resources to help you succeed.



4.       How much will I study? Take advantage of office hours. Professors and teaching assistants (TA's) are very helpful. Schedule time in your calendar to study and do homework, and you're well on your way to college success. Allison (FYE) notes that “homework is due 2 – 3 times per week for math. The problems take more effort than those in high school, but there are fewer problems. If you are struggling with a problem, check the textbook!”

5.       What else should I do? Get involved! Student organizations provide a great opportunity to meet fellow Boilermakers and pursue any of your 1000+ interests. Consider checking out one of these engineering organizations. (We'll feature more of these opportunities in future posts!)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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

Top 10 Extracurriculars Purdue Students Want You to Join Outside of Engineering

By -
Image
1. Purdue University Dance Marathon (PUDM):  The biggest student-run organization on campus! You can join as a dancer, where you get to fundraise leading up to the 18-hour long event or be even more involved and join a committee! Some of the committees include Riley Relations, where you fundraise to sponsor events for the Riley families throughout the year & are paired with a Riley family for the night of the event, Special Events Committee, where you organize 5K’s and other events around campus throughout the year, and so much more! 2. Boiler Gold Rush (BGR):  Whether it be as a new student, a team leader (TL), or even a Supervisor, there are so many ways to get involved with BGR! This week-long event is held the week before classes start in August. As a new student, it is your first chance to meet your new colleagues and participate in many games, fountain runs, and other fun activities throughout the week. It is also a great way to familiarize yourself with the campus an
Read more

A very (sub)objective review of dining options at Purdue

By -
Image
Jenn and her friends after the Thankgiving dinner Food is an integral part of our day. For some people, the very first thing they do in the morning is eat breakfast. I personally prefer my cup of coffee to a stack of waffles. Nonetheless, food has the power to pick up a bad mood, enhance a good mood, and even ease the stress you are feeling about exams and homework. The awareness I have of how food impacts my mood is recently found since I started college in August. at home I usually came home to my mom or dad making something delicious in the crockpot. Suddenly I arrive at college and there are so many options that it can get overwhelming at times to figure out what to eat. Navigating the dining options at college did not seem like something I should have been worried about, yet it was something that took a month of experimenting to perfect.  The key is knowing where to go and what is consistent. I decided to help you out and give you some insight into how I view each dining option on
Read more