Why WiE Chose Our Major

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Purdue University offers a wide range of engineering majors, from mechanical engineering to materials science and engineering to chemical engineering. With so many exciting paths to choose from, every student’s journey looks a little different. Here are some reasons why different Women in Engineering (WiE) students chose their major!

Haley Self - Biomedical Engineering

I chose biomedical engineering because of my passion to help others in the medical field! I am very interested in innovative medical devices that aid people in their everyday lives. With this passion, biomedical engineering is perfect for me because of the wide range of skills and knowledge I gain from this major, such as biology, biomechanics, circuitry, anatomy, and so much more. Through biomedical engineering, I can combine my love for science, problem-solving, and creativity into a meaningful career path. I love knowing that the work I do now can one day directly improve many people's lives.

Neysa Gupta - Computer Engineering

I chose computer engineering because I find the firmware and embedded systems field to be really interesting. Computer engineering has many classes and concentrations in these fields which I’m excited to explore in the coming semesters. I’m specifically passionate about innovation in medical technologies and hope to expand my skills within that field by participating in clubs and programs. Through computer engineering, I’m able to learn the core skills necessary to work on the software/embedded systems side of impactful medical technologies and research in the future.

Tiffany Lu - Mechanical Engineering

I chose mechanical engineering because of its versatility and the wide range of opportunities it offers. I have always known that I wanted to work in product design and manufacturing, and mechanical engineering provides the perfect foundation for that goal. The field offers countless pathways and concentrations, allowing me to explore different interests while building strong technical skills. I enjoy analyzing systems to understand how and why they function, and mechanical engineering allows me to do exactly that. Through mechanical engineering, I can pursue careers in areas such as automotive, energy, manufacturing, medical devices, and many others. I love how mechanical engineering has such diverse industries while providing the opportunity to learn the mechanisms behind everyday processes.

Maheena Kumar - Aerospace Engineering

I chose aerospace engineering because I enjoy being creative and collaborating with others to build and improve things. Aerospace engineering felt like the absolute perfect fit for me since I have always loved aircrafts and rockets and have been curious about how they work. I am extremely passionate about using aerospace engineering to help improve air travel and make a positive impact on the world!

Ahn Ho - Chemical Engineering

I chose chemical engineering because it allows me to combine my interest in math and sciences with my detail-oriented approach to problem solving. I have always been a curious person and love asking “why?”. Chemical engineering requires you to ask those questions to get an understanding of how things work at a foundational level. My passion is harnessing the foundational understanding of chemical principles and applying them to large scale systems and optimize manufacturing processes, with customers best interest in mind.

Heidi Kennard - Materials Science and Engineering 

I chose materials science and engineering because it perfectly blends my love for scientific research with creative engineering. I’ve always been interested in becoming an engineer across a variety of industries—such as space and sports—and MSE makes that possible, since materials are fundamental to everything we build and use. This versatility creates countless research opportunities for MSE majors to collaborate with students in other engineering disciplines, making undergraduate research both common and strongly encouraged. At Purdue, MSE is a smaller major, which fosters a close-knit, supportive community where students genuinely help one another, which is something I’ve already experienced firsthand, even as a student still in FYE. Materials science and engineering allows me to turn my curiosity and creativity into innovations that shape multiple industries! 

Ally Ng - Biological Engineering

I chose biological engineering because of its focus on pharmaceuticals. The curriculum itself is similar to chemical engineering with different applications (mainly in the food, agriculture, and pharma spheres), and as I intend to pursue a graduate degree to eventually work in pharmaceutical research and design, this was the best choice for me. Also, the class size itself is small with about 60 students and has a high percentage of women in the major, making it easy to make lasting friends! Additionally, as someone who was initially pre-med, biological engineering is great as almost all of the pre-med required classes are in the biological engineering plan of study.

With the many majors offered at Purdue, there are unlimited opportunities to follow your passion and discover what excites you most! The experiences shared by these WiE students show that there is no single path into engineering. No matter where you start, Women in Engineering is here to support you as you find the major and community that fit you best.

Haley Self, BME '28

WE Link Leadership Team

 

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