The Engineering Experience

During your undergraduate time here at Purdue it can feel impossible to get your hands on some real deal experience with engineering. You may be told by some professors or people in general that you aren’t eligible for such experience, but don’t let this discourage you. There are many opportunities on campus with research that professors and graduate students are looking for undergraduate students to fill. Whether you’re a freshman or senior, there is a place for you to get hands on experience in a lab if you so desire. There are a few tips I can offer to students looking for undergraduate research. I love research as much as I love taking photos with Neil!  Research the research . Look online at the different projects each professor you’re interested in working with is doing and pick out key words or topics that you can elaborate your interest on. Decide on Your Fit Decide whether you would like to do research through a program like SURF or if you would like to...

There are many important factors to think about when choosing a college.  An important one to consider is a college’s career opportunities and services.  At Purdue, there are many resources to help you with picking and planning a career path, as well as finding your dream job!  The first resource that Purdue has is the Purdue Center for Career Opportunities (CCO).  The CCO can help you with basically anything that can pertain to your future career search.  They offer many services, such as resume review, practice interviews, and help with writing a cover letter.  They also post job listings online which students can apply to and hopefully get an interview from!  They also have services to help you choose and map out a major and career path.  The CCO also assists with what to do when negotiating job offers, and graduate school.  Finally, the CCO offers many seminars and lectures on a variety of topics related to careers.  Purd...

It's application season and seniors everywhere are filling out applications, visiting schools and doing interviews. Below I will highlight some of my advice for finding YOUR school (hopefully Purdue). Former WE Link LT Ashley and I in front of Neil.. We love Purdue! Go toward a school that lets you do what you love.  Don't just apply to a school for its "name". Figure out your interests and apply to schools that have programs, clubs or other resources to help you be your best. For me, the WIEP program is one of the many reasons Purdue engineering stood out to me.   Be passionate about your college essays.  As much as a pain the supplemental essays are to do, they really do matter. This is the only time you get to show your true colors, so write about something you love (and it will be easier to write, too).  Ask for help.  There are many resources to make your essays and other parts of your application the best that it can be. Your best bet...

You may have noticed that I disappeared from the blog for a while… and that is because for the past year I have been off campus working for Kimberly-Clark Corporation as a co-op student. I plan to share my co-op experience with you all in a three-part blog series. When I started college, I was not planning to do a co-op at all, in fact I was eager to complete my four years of school as fast as I could. It was only when I talked to other co-op students that I realized it was something I might be interested in. For a little background, a co-op is essentially an extended internship. The difference is that you spend multiple terms with the same company, usually with a different work assignment each term. It is a great way to really get to know a particular company and the various opportunities they offer, as well as a way to get work experience that is more in-depth than is possible during a single summer internship. Purdue has a ton of resources for students inter...