Engineering the Unexpected - A Day in the Life as an FYE Student

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We hear everyday how tumultuous college is, how challenging being an engineering student is, and how college will be the best time of your life. But have you ever wondered what an average engineering student does in their day-to-day life? Well, you’re in luck! Today I’m going to take you along with me as I go through an average day as a First-Year Engineering Student at Purdue University!


8:30 AM: Wake Up


I fear I am a morning showerer so the first thing I did after waking up was take a shower. I know there is a lot of discourse over the whole idea of showering in communal showers but I think the ones at Shreve are very nice. The girls' side is also newly renovated and has a private bathroom! After I finished getting ready, it was time to go to my first lecture of the day.

9:30 AM: Physics Lecture


Two of my friends and I headed over to the Physics Building for our physics lecture. Check out the gorgeous sky picture I caught on the way to class! We were learning about momentum and impulse today. During physics lectures, we also have to do little quizzes throughout class that are graded on completion and honestly help with comprehension and application of what you’re learning in class to potential questions on the test.





10:30 AM: WALC Study Session


One of my favorite study spots is the Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC). The reading room on the second floor is the perfect blend of vintage charm and contemporary elegance. With deep, rich wood tones, a magnificent view of the iconic Bell Tower, and plush armchairs, the reading room is a blend of old and new. Check out the picture below to get your own perspective on the Reading Room! WALC is also located at the heart of campus which makes it the perfect spot to go to when you have a small gap in your schedule and want to study. While I was here, I got ahead on some calculus homework and grabbed a sandwich from Au Bon Pain, the cafe inside WALC that has a wide range of delicious treats. To read more about retail dining options at Purdue, read Grace’s post titled Purdue Pete’s Favorite Bites!



12:00 PM: EAPS


After my short study and snack session at WALC, I head on over to the Class of 1950 building where I have my Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) 106 class. This is a class that fulfills the University Core Curriculum standards for Science, Technology, and the Society. Today, we learned about different types of volcanic eruptions and the most prominent ones that have impacted Earth through the centuries. We also got to watch Professor Freed mimic a Stratovolcano using Mentos and Coke.

1:30 PM: Ambassadors Meeting


I am in the Engineering in the World of Data Science Living and Learning Community and am also one of the ambassadors for the community. Being an ambassador entails several duties including planning social events for the community, networking opportunities, and going over weekly challenges with the professor. Today we talked about last week’s event which was a Mario Kart Tournament headed by a fellow ambassador and went over the details of the event I will be leading in a few weeks. My event will be a group rock climbing event at the France A. Cordova Recreational Center. Here at Purdue, we have one of the biggest and most impressive Rec Centers (Gym) at a university in the country!

2:30 PM: Physics Recitation


After my ambassador meeting, I headed on over to the Physics Building where I had my Physics Recitation for the day. Recitation is a class that you take concurrently with your lectures. This is because some of the more baseline lectures have many students in it. To combat this, all the material you learn in lecture is discussed in a smaller group of students headed by a Graduate-Level Teaching Assistant. In Physics Recitation, I worked with my group to practice and complete some calculations that we are learning.

3:30 PM: Biology Lab


Immediately after this, I went to Chaney-Hale Hall of Life Sciences where I had my biology lab. As a First-Year Engineering Student, you are required to take an additional science course. This can be in Computer Science, Chemistry, or Biology. Since I am planning on following the pre-med track, I decided to take biology. Today in the lab we tested the process of photosynthesis using a variety of chemicals and watched how the type of light being absorbed affected the photosynthetic processes.

6:30 PM: Dinner


After the lab, I went back to my dorm where I studied a little bit for my Physics Exam which is in two days. A couple of my friends came to my dorm so we could go to get dinner together. Today we headed on over to One Bowl where they had one of the most anticipated meals of the week: the soup bread bowl! To read more about meal swipe options at Purdue, read Grace’s entry on dining options!



7:00 PM: Cycle Spin


After dinner I headed over to the CoRec for my cycle spin class. The CoRec offers several instructor-led exercise classes everyday ranging from Pilates to spin cycle to weight lifting!



8:00 PM: Studying in the Dorm


Shreve Hall has a massive lounge on the second floor where people love to come together and work. I honestly have never seen it not busy! My friends and I headed down to the lounge so we could study together and get some pending homework done. I usually get most of my week’s worth of homework done on the weekend so I was able to just lock in for my tests. You’ll also find that there are often several other people studying the same thing you’re studying while down there and many times will start working with you to tackle different problems and questions. I worked down there for about 5 hours before calling it a night and heading up to sleep. Thanks for coming along with me on my Day in the Life as a Purdue First-Year Engineering Student!




If you have questions, comments or want to find more about what life at Purdue is like, tag us, leave a comment, or follow us”


Vidhi Desai
Recruitment Project Committee

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