A Day in My Life at Boston University

Interested in what a day in the life looks like for an Engineering student at Boston University? Well, keep reading! 

You Name It, BU Has It!

Boston University is a lively and urban school in a great location with a lot of activities and resources in any subject that piques your interest. My major is Mechanical Engineering which means I learn a lot about physics, design, thermodynamics, and modern software which is used in the industry today. My area of focus is Aerospace, meaning I study aircraft physics and design. There are many engineering students at BU but it is a very big school, meaning that there are people pursuing degrees in just about every subject. I have friends studying finance, physics, biology, psychology, hospitality, and so many more. The most popular majors at BU are business and communications; but you name it and BU has it. 

What my day looks like has changed a lot over the course of my college experience but one thing is consistent- it’s never boring. I will share about a day in the fall this past year, as a junior, when I lived off campus in Allston, a suburb of Boston. BU campus is mainly centered on a mile long stretch of Commonwealth Avenue and there are plenty of places to live on campus. However, some students choose to live in nearby suburbs which you can do starting sophomore year. This can be a way to save money and to live with multiple friends. 

A Morning for Learning

I woke up at around 7:30am and got ready for the day by doing my hair, getting dressed, eating some cereal and packing a snack for later before walking 10 minutes to West Campus. There I caught the BU bus, the shuttle that circles campus and makes classes easier to get to on time. The shuttle runs every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 45 minutes at other times so it is important to check the schedule before waiting at the stop. I can also take public transportation; some days I take the MBTA bus or the T tram system which both run down Commonwealth Avenue. I got off at Mugar Library where my Fluids class is held. This class is dedicated to explaining the flow of different liquids in different settings and lays the foundation for working with any kind of air or water apparatus. 

After Fluids, I left quickly to get to the CAS building for my Manufacturing lecture. My professor is very strict about coming to class on time and will penalize students for coming late so I have to rush if Fluids is running late. In general, engineering professors at BU are fairly strict about attendance and will require some form of in-class participation. Most are okay with students coming a few minutes late but I try to go quickly to class, especially if the professor has specific expectations. This class deals with methods of manufacturing different types of products and how to adapt prototypes into mass produced items. I particularly like the weekly lab for this class which involves trying different equipment in BU’s machine shop to make a part. 

Afternoons are for Preparation!

After Manufacturing, I had an almost 6 hour gap before my next class. As I live off campus, I usually work in the library or Student Union during this time; this frees up time on my weekends and nights so I can participate in other activities. On this day, I went to the George Sherman Union (GSU) to have a snack and work on problem sets, CAD designs for my project based classes, and pre-lectures for the next few days. Many engineering classes at BU require students to watch a 30 minute to 2 hour video before coming to lecture to prepare you for that day’s content. 

I also attended a zoom meeting for my satellite research lab and mapped the weekly flight path for the satellite I work on. Many students choose to pursue research in order to get experience in college and boost their resumes for future jobs. As a member of a satellite research team, I have been able to explore aspects of the field I would like to work in. We have weekly zoom meetings in order to check in with every member of the group and see the work they have been doing. It is always nice to see the progress people have been making and to share about the work I have been doing during down time. 

A Night Time Balance of Work and Play

At around 6:30pm, I left the GSU and went to my last class of the day, Product Design. This class is based around CAD and how to use it to conceptualize and build different products. The class involves a lot of group work and collaboration to make a new product every few weeks. It is very challenging and allows us to be creative about our concepts and execution. At 8:15pm, I took the BU bus to the Fitness and Recreation center for Fencing practice which was already underway. Although my days are busy, I make sure to set aside some time to do activities I enjoy. Fencing is one of many club sports at BU which allow anyone to join. It is a great way to make friends, try new activities, and unwind after a long day of work. I grabbed my weapon and suit from our team locker, fenced a few bouts and socialized with my friends. At 11:00pm, I walked home and assembled some quick tacos out of some vegetables and leftover chicken from earlier that week. I showered and headed to bed having already completed most of my work between classes. 

A Worthwhile Challenge

Engineering students at BU often have packed days full of hard classes and a lot of extra work. It is very important to manage my time properly, as too much slacking during designated study time could mean I don't get to sleep that night or won’t be able to do the things I love like fencing and hanging out with my friends. On weekends, I like to go to parties with my friends, try different boba shops, go to fencing tournaments and so much more. Boston is a beautiful city that I like to explore with friends on down time; we go to bookstores, shops, parks, and sit on the esplanade on nice days. Boston University is a very challenging school for Engineering majors, but with a little bit of time management and good planning, there is a lot of time for some super fun activities. 

Written by Jacqueline Bachrach, PathIvy Boston University Ambassador