The Honors College from an Engineer's Perspective

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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 inform 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 process. In my experience, the Honors College truly upholds these pillars, and they have shaped my journey as an honors student. 

For more details, visit the Honors College website

First-Year Engineering Honors Path

As a first-year engineering honors student at Purdue, you will follow the honors path which includes ENGR 16100 &16200, COM 114, and two HONR seminars. By the end of freshman year, you will have completed 13 of the 24 required honors credits, giving you flexibility in completing the rest of your honors curriculum.

 

Robotics project for ENGR 162

I personally really enjoyed the honors introduction to engineering course which covers physics, robotics, coding (MATLAB and Python), statistics, teamwork, and more. This coursework was challenging, but I learned so much and it truly prepared me for the rest of my engineering curriculum. A unique aspect of ENGR 161 & 162 is the mentorship program, where you meet with an upperclassman in your intended major every other week. Initially, I planned to study aerospace engineering, but these mentors helped me realize that mechanical engineering was a better fit for me!

Learn more about Purdue’s First-Year Engineering Program here

Learning Communities

Purdue offers a variety of learning communities, of which require students to live together, while others allow participation in different ways. As an honors student, you are required to live in the Honors College and Residences which is one of the newer dorms on campus.

I had such a great experience living in the Honors College that I stayed in Honors South for both my freshman and sophomore years. I enjoyed meeting students from various majors, not just engineering, while also having the support from other women in my honors FYE courses. I could always walk into the lounge and find someone to collaborate with on homework. Many of the friends I made in the honors learning community freshman year are still my close friends today! Also, while I was not part of the WiE learning community, I was still surrounded by a strong support network of women engineers, and I have been able to take advantage of everything else the Women in Engineering Program offers, even being a part of this leadership team! 

Living in Honors was a lot of fun. First, there is a large room in the North building that looks like the great hall in Hogwarts, and I loved studying there! Students are also split into Honors Houses and compete for the House Cup, which my house won freshman year! You can receive points for attending honors events, earning leadership positions, and more. 

 

Great Hall study room in Honors North

Another benefit of living in the Honors College is that many advisors' offices and honors classrooms are located on the ground floor, making It easy to be immersed in the honors community.

Of course, choosing the right curriculum, housing, and learning community is a personal decision. This blog shares a great experience with the WiE and EPICS learning communities

Unique Opportunities in the Honors College

One of the best aspects of the John Martinson Honors College is the wealth of unique opportunities available to students. There are so many research positions, student success and mentorship programs, and fun events specifically for honors students. Personally, I was involved in the Leading Women Toward Space Careers Program, an interdisciplinary program preparing students across disciplines for long-term leadership in space related careers. Through this program, I have been connected with incredible mentors, visited NASA centers, and built a strong support network of women with similar goals and interests!

    
Two photos from my visit to Johnson Space Center with the Leading Women Toward Space Careers Program

I loved my experience as an honors student at Purdue. The Honors College allowed me to make my engineering degree more interdisciplinary, build lifelong friendships, and grow as a leader in my field. As you make this decision for yourself, remember there isn’t a single “right” choice, you just have to make the best choice for yourself. Best of luck as you start your journey as a Purdue engineer, and as always feel free to reach out with any questions!

Ella Richardson, ME '25

WE Link Leadership Team 

 

Stay Connected With Purdue WiE Program! 

Facebook: Purdue Women in Engineering 

Instagram: @purdue.wie 

Blog: purduewiep.blogspot.com 

Email: welink@purdue.edu 

YouTube: Purdue Women in Engineering Program - YouTube 

 

 

Use the hashtag #PurdueWiE on Facebook and Instagram! 

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