Getting Involved: Academic-Related Activities

Penn State is home to a large variety of organizations, resources, clubs, and so much more! As an engineering major, you will definitely have a lot of work to do; however, many resources are available to help you in your quest to become an engineer. You will learn more, make friends, have fun, and the list goes on! I am providing a rundown of some academic-related activities below that you may be interesting in participating in below!

WEP 

The women in engineering program (WEP) is a resource that is available for all women engineers, and that includes you! Come to WEP Wednesdays (several times throughout the school year in Kunkel Lounge, Hammond) to get expert tips on studying, tackling the career fair, and so much more! Get dinner provided to you by the WEP team, sit down with your friends, and listen to Cheryl and her panel of upperclassmen. Other activities under WEP includes facilitated study groups and WEPO. Facilitated study groups are small groups of women who gather together each week to discuss homework problems and questions for a specific course. They are lead by a facilitator, a female engineering student, who has earned a good grade in the course. Be on the lookout for an email that will ask you if you would like to participate in one (or more)! Lastly, I will cover WEPO - you will be participating in WEPO as a first year, but you can participate again by joining the WEPO organizing team and becoming a role model for the incoming women engineers! You will get more information about the opportunity to become a lead, mentor, or envoy near the end of the first semester and the beginning of the second.

Clubs for Specific Majors 

There are clubs for every major! Check out the following link to find a club for you specific major or other clubs that you might be interested in:
https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/studentorgs/orgdirectory/Search.aspx

You will meet other students in the same major, and you will also find students who are taking or have taken the classes on your schedule. If they are currently in the classes, you will often see them and you even may become partners for group projects. Upperclassmen who have already taken the classes will provide great advice for tackling the assignments. Consider joining one!

Research 

Research is a great way learn more about your engineering discipline outside of the classroom! You will learn a lot of material that isn’t covered in your classes, and you will work with graduate students and professors who will also be great mentors. I was able to find a research position thanks to WISER (Women in Science and Engineering Research), which Cheryl will talk about in a WEP Wednesday. For now, you can learn more about it using the link below:
https://sites.psu.edu/paspacegrant/opportunities/scholarships/undergraduates-penn-state/wmf/

If you are interested, be sure to check out the descriptions for the laboratories that are participating in WISER. There are other ways to participate in research, however, if you don’t plan to apply through WISER but still want a research position! I know some have found success by emailing their professors and expressing interest in their respective lab. Good luck!



The list above is just intended to give you an idea of what you may want to participate in. I hope you found it a bit helpful! See you at WEPO! :)

By: Jenny Ngo (Envoy Team i)