The Engineering Experience

     I graduate from Purdue in just a few weeks, and all I can say is wow… that went really fast. It’s very bittersweet that my college career is coming to an end, but I am extremely grateful for my last four years here. Looking back, I can easily say I have no regrets and fully believe I made the most of these past four years. There were so many incredible surprises I never could have conceived for myself and so many amazing people I met along the way that made these years so great. While there is so much more I could say, here are my 5 pieces of advice for you to also make the most of your college experience as you take your next steps towards your next giant leap! Get Involved: Seek Out New Experiences and Try New Things      What is so cool about Purdue–and college in general–is the numerous opportunities you have to try new things. Coming to college, I was convinced I knew exactly what I wanted to be involved in and my entire path forward. Looking bac...

I am the only girl and the youngest of my parents’ three kids. As a result, my parents have always been very protective of me, but I know it just because they love me. They want what is best for me and to be in an environment where I could thrive, having peace of mind that I would be taken care of wherever I was. With recent tragic events calling into question the safety of college campuses, it has really made me appreciate the fact that Purdue was recently named the safest campus in the United States . Of course, it’s always best practice to practice safety habits such as walking in groups, carrying pepper spray, and my dad’s favorite “keeping your head on a swivel”. However, between the campus culture, resources, and policies in place surrounding matters of safety, it comes to no surprise to me that Purdue comes in on top in this category. Why Safety is Important When our basic safety is threatened, it becomes very difficult to focus on anything else. If you are constantly looking ov...

Congratulations and welcome to the Boilermaker family! I remember being where you are four years ago: refreshing my email after school until my admissions decision from Purdue finally came in. Opening up my portal to read “Congratulations! You’ve been offered admission to Purdue University”, I felt a huge sense of relief. I was going to college! However, soon after opening my offer letter, I was unsure of what to do next. You might be facing a similar feeling. Let this blog serve as a guide to some next steps to take in your college decision process! Visit Purdue’s Campus One of the best ways to get a feel for a school is by visiting their campus. More specifically, it is best to visit a campus while school is in session. This way you get a better understanding of what daily life looks like for students on campus. There are numerous opportunities in the spring to visit Purdue whether that is through an official daily visit or a “Purdue’s for Me” Day. During Purdue's for Me Day, th...

Dear High School Seniors,      I remember being in your shoes four years ago. I had just finished applying for college, savoring all the “lasts” with friends and in the sport I had dedicated four years of my life to, and was counting down the days until Winter Break and weeks until graduation in the spring. I remember balancing mixed feelings about the future. Funnily enough, it feels as though I am reliving many of these experiences and feelings all over again as I near the end of my penultimate semester at Purdue. While similar, I have found my outlook on these experiences and feelings have changed, reflecting everything I’ve learned about myself and about life these past four years. Here is what is the same, what is different, and the advice I have for you as you go through these experiences as well!      Similar to you, I am trying to savor and cherish all of my “lasts” here at Purdue: last football games as a student, last events I get to participate ...

I absolutely adore my freshman year roommate, and I really could not have asked for anyone better than Lizzy. She is sweet, funny, personable, and a great person to live with for my first year of college. Lizzy and I met online when we read each other’s Facebook profile in the Purdue Class of 2024 group page. We found out that we lived 15 minutes away from each other and ended up having a lot in common. In true COVID lockdown fashion, we even had the opportunity to have a socially-distant get-together and meet each other in person. Once we both settled on Purdue and after many rooming specific discussions, we decided to live together which was one of the best decisions we made freshman year. Your roommate needs to be someone who will respect you and your space the entire year. It is important to make sure both of your habits won’t clash and make it challenging to live together. Looking back on that experience and others I have had with roommates in the years since, I have some tips for...

I can remember very clearly the day I got into Purdue. I just remember being nervous all day, but so excited and relieved once I received my admissions email. Once relief came, the question came next of “what am I supposed to do now?”. This is a very open question and next steps can depend on where you are in your college admissions process. Here are a few things to try to pick the right school for you, and once you do, what are the next actions we recommend taking. 1. Come to campus for a visit. If you have not been to Purdue yet, I would highly recommend doing that if you are able. Purdue has an incredibly positive energy you can feel as soon as you step foot on campus. I remember how much campus really felt like somewhere I could call my home. Take an official tour from the office of admissions starting in Stewart Center to see both the residential and academic sides of the school. While you are here, you can also come visit the Women in Engineering Program Office on the second floo...

There are many options of how to use your summers while you are in college. Many engineers will opt to look for an internship and gain work experience in industry. However, the path that is sometimes less traveled but equally as valuable is pursuing undergraduate research experiences either at a different institution or right on your home campus. This summer I participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program at Purdue where I conducted research under my current advisor in the School of Materials Engineering. A typical day: there isn’t one Under the SURF program, you work on your research project for 40 hours per week like you would a full-time job. However, it’s hard to describe a “typical day” when doing work that doesn’t have a predictable and definite answer–which is why we even do cutting-edge research in the first place. Some days things might be going really well and you knock out tests for 5 different experiments. Other days, you spend all your time ov...

Now that it is mid-September (crazy, right?), it is time for college application season to get into full swing! This can sometimes be an overwhelming process since there are so many universities you can visit and apply to this fall. So, we’ve compiled a short list of 5 things to help you narrow down your search and find the right place for you (which we hope is Purdue)! 1. Connections, connections, connections! Are you someone who has always wanted to work for NASA? What about Proctor and Gamble or General Mills? Look at the profiles of people who work there and see where they went to school or where these companies recruit from! Something special about Purdue, and one of the big reasons why I came here, is the size and reach of the alumni network. You may feel like you cannot go anywhere without running into a proud Purdue graduate. Boilermakers touch every industry you could imagine. When you are looking for a job or even an internship at your dream company, you will be glad to have ...