Fall SWE Welcome

Cal Poly’s Fall SWE Welcome took place on November 15, 2025. This is a recurring outreach event where high school girls are invited to campus to learn more about Cal Poly and what it’s like to study engineering. Students began their day with an icebreaker to get to know the SWE volunteers and fellow participants. Then they attended a presentation to learn about all of the engineering majors at Cal Poly, while parents learned about how to support students as they enter college during a Parent Education Program presentation. Next, students and parents were led through Cal Poly by a Cal Poly Engineering Student Ambassador on a campus tour. When students returned from tours it was time for a club fair featuring the Society of Civil Engineers, Endeavors to Move People Onwards with Engineered Results (EMPOWER), the Cal Poly Mobile Biomechanics Lab, CP SWE Team Tech, and Prototype Vehicle Laboratory (PROVE). Each club set up a booth and students were able to ask questions and see what projects each club works on throughout the year. At the end of the club fair students did a case study led by the Sales Engineering Club and took a tour of the machine shops. Students then headed back to the ATL for tips on how to choose a major, how to choose a college, and how to best prepare for moving away from home. Then, to relax after a long day students and volunteers made collage bookmarks while chatting and asking more questions about life as an engineering student. Finally, after dinner there was a student panel, featuring Cal Poly SWE officers. Panelists shared their experience with internships, being a woman in STEM, their involvement with clubs on campus, and tips for how to prioritize your mental health with a busy schedule. Then students and parents were able to ask their own final questions before heading home. Overall, Fall SWE Welcome was so much fun for both participants and volunteers and many students mentioned wanting to return in the Spring. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped plan this incredible event!

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