The Engineering Experience

My TL Buddy and our new students at the Block P! As a freshman, Boiler Gold Rush, our new student orientation program, was an amazing way to meet people in my residence hall, learn about campus, and increase my confidence going into college.  Through interest sessions, team bonding events, and inclusive discussions, my experience allowed me to feel comfortable finding a new home at Purdue.  Boiler Gold Rush really sets Purdue apart, as you can clearly see how much the Team Leaders care about the success of their new students. My BGR group when I was a new student in 2016. Because of this great experience, I applied to be a Team Leader for Boiler Gold Rush 2017, and it was truly incredible.  As a Team Leader, I trained with a group of peers, and we learned from supervisors who were team leaders the year before.  During BGR 2017,  my school spirit increased even more, and it was helpful to have this group of team leaders to reach out to throughout...

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...

For many engineering students, this past week has been a hectic time. We are in the midst of IR, or Industrial Roundtable, the career fair here at Purdue. IR is aimed at engineering students, although other majors do attend. IR is a great opportunity for students of all ages to attain an internship. I’m going to describe one of my many IR experiences. The week of IR during my sophomore year, I attended the Access Alum event in the Armstrong Nook. Access Alum is an amazing opportunity within WIEP where Purdue Alumni return to campus and want to speak directly with women in engineering. At this specific Access Alum, the woman from Accenture, a technology consulting firm, was collecting resumes (which is extremely common for Access Alum events held during IR week). Ready for IR! I talked with her, asked many questions, and gave her my resume. She told me to come by the booth at the fair later that day. Networking with her at the Access Alum event helped me recei...

Myth: “Freshmen don’t get internships” Fact: Although getting an internship your freshmen year may seem daunting or impossible, I am here to tell you that it is 100% possible.  Explore your career options. . . the world is yours! As a freshman, I followed a few simple guidelines and recommendations which ultimately landed me an internship with Procter & Gamble for the summer after my freshmen year! It is never too early to start getting ready for applications and career fairs. The following list will help you check-off the best ways to start preparing for an internship before you even arrive on campus: 1. Research Companies  Start looking into what type of work you want to be doing in the future. Depending on your interests, such as cars, robotics, chemistry, etc. start researching what different companies have to offer and even what companies are known for hiring freshmen. Once you h ave a list of potential companies, dive a little deeper and take notes on ...