fbpx

TryEngineering Summer Institute

An exciting ten day, on-campus engineering camp for high school students held at three premier universities across the United States in 2019.

Blog

Category: College

Exciting News: TryEngineering Expands to New York City at Columbia University!

Posted on

We are thrilled to announce TryEngineering Summer Institute is expanding to a new exciting location in New York City: Columbia University. As trailblazers in providing high-quality engineering education experiences for students, we are eager to bring our innovative curriculum to even more aspiring engineers and innovators.

What Makes TryEngineering Summer Institute Unique?

TryEngineering Summer Institute is not just any ordinary summer program; it’s an immersive experience designed to inspire and empower the next generation of innovators. Here’s what sets us apart:

  • Hands-On Learning: Campers will engage in hands-on projects, experiments, and design challenges that allow them to apply engineering principles in real-world scenarios.  There is very little traditional teachers droning at the front.  No.  These kids are learning as they work and build.
  • Passionate Instructors: The program is led by experienced instructors who are experts in their fields and passionate about nurturing young talent. They provide personalized guidance and mentorship to help students achieve their full potential.  Background checked, and trained on site as well, they coalesce into a team that helps the kids create community and culture.
  • Engaging Curriculum: Our proprietary curriculum is updated every year to reflect the latest trends and ideas.  It is designed in collaboration with industry professionals to ensure that campers learn the skills and principles shaping the field of engineering today.
  • Collaborative Environment: Campers will have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded peers, fostering teamwork, communication, and leadership skills essential for success in engineering and beyond.  This is the kind of transformative experience that will last a lifetime.
  • Inspiring Guest Speakers: During the program, our students will have the chance to hear from guest speakers who come to campus and speak to our students, have a short presentation and time for Q+A..  Speakers are leaders and innovators in the field of engineering. These talks provide valuable insights and inspiration for future career paths.
  • Sparking Solutions Competition:  The students break into small groups and they work on one project together for. portion of each day; it culminates with the competition, held on the last afternoon of each session, and that along with the closing ceremony are all broadcast over Zoom so parents can watch.

Who Should Attend?  Ages 14-17, Residential Only

The IEEE TryEngineering Summer Institute in New York City is located at Furnald Hall, 2940 Broadway, Columbia University. This location is residential only and only for students who are 14-17 years old during their camp session.  No matter your skill level or thoughts on which direction you are going, this program is for you. Whether you’re interested in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or civil, our program has something for everyone.

 

Explore NYC!

On some evenings we will break into small groups and head out to explore NYC.  We have been running these type of programs in NYC for 15 years so we have a system down pat to keep eyes on the kids at all times.  These trips give the kids a chance to go see some of their favorite places like Glossier or the little fancy sneaker shops in SoHo, or other places like Times Square, the Highline, and everything else NYC has to offer.  Students are always accompanied by staff when they go on these evening excursions, and they are not required.  They are just a lot of fun!

Join Us This Summer!

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to enhance your knowledge, develop new skills, and make lifelong connections. Join us in New York City at the Columbia University Camp or any of our other fantastic university locations for an unforgettable summer experience that will ignite your passion for engineering and set you on the path to success.

 

nyc engineering camp

Checking out the massive Con Ed power generation plant in NYC is just one possible field trip option.

Graduate Profiles: Student Snapshot

Posted on

Carl, Graduate of TESI 2018

 

Our summer engineering program provides lasting benefits.  Embedded in the process of designing and building projects is a unique methodology that has our students advance academically and lasts a lifetime.  Our academic experience provides valuable preparation for college, and for life.  We appreciate hearing from our former students, and hearing about what they are up to, and the difference TESI has made in their lives.

Here is more information about Carl!

We asked his mom these questions:

 

Hi Mom!  What is Carl up to now?
Carl is a senior at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX studying mechanical engineering. He did an internship at Urenco USA, a nuclear energy company in Hobbs, New Mexico last summer. He currently has a job offer to work for Texas Instruments in Dallas after graduation. He’s also busy restoring a 30 year old vehicle in his spare time.

Why did you choose to register him into our program initially?
The program had good reviews but most importantly I wanted our son to experience life away at a university campus with exposure to various engineering disciplines. Our hope was for him to see what he liked and disliked about going away and to reconfirm his interest in studying engineering. The overnight dorm style life with a roommate, field trips, group projects and lectures was a way for him to get a taste of college life with like-minded high school students. The program was geared to not only an academic approach to engineering but to give real world applications and solutions to everyday issues. It tested problem solving skills from understanding the problem, drafting an approach and managing the solution.

After camp, did you notice any breakthroughs Carl had as a result of attending our program, academically, socially or in any other way?
I think he realized that he could survive living away from home. His confidence grew and he matured. He realized that if he continued to work hard that could get into a great engineering program. I think it also helped him during his college visits to look for specific course programs, facilities and teaching approaches.

In the 4 years since attending our program, can you see where our program has had any impact on his life?
He’s definitely a very methodical person. Always looking for ways to solve issues. He’s a stronger person believing that he can succeed. He came home from camp with a very positive attitude and was hard working and very disciplined.

What is Carl up to these days?
He’s a senior mechanical engineer attending Texas Tech University expected to graduate August 2023.

Did attending our program alter the course of your student’s life in any way?
Carl found his path and continued following his interest in mechanical engineering. He did not give up even with the lock down and switch to on-line classes that covid brought.

 

Another fun picture of Carl!

 

Here is what Carl himself had to say:

What is your relationship to engineering now?
I’m still enjoying it… make sure you are strong in math and working in group projects. It will strengthen you.

Do you have a positive memory from camp you can share?
I built a robotic car, used some factory kits to model and had exposure to intro into coding. I was asked to consider applying to be a counselor for a future camp, and that made me feel good about myself.

What are you up to now? Where are you headed in life?
I’m focused on finishing my degree and entering the workforce.

Anything else you’d like to say to the kids or parents thinking about registering?
It’s a good program with fun activities.

Why Summer Programs Make a Difference to College Admissions Officers

Posted on

While grades and standardized test scores are still the top factor for college admission, colleges take a close look at extracurricular activities as well. What students do over the summer is of particular interest.

According to Mark Kantrowitz, senior video president and publisher at Edvisors Network, in an article published by CNBC, colleges think of summertime in the same way that a prospective employer thinks about a hiatus between jobs. “Colleges want to understand, what have you been doing with yourself? What happened during that gap?” he explains. The answer to those questions can be indicative of what a student will spend time doing on campus.

Students at the TryEngineering Summer Institute engage in a design challenge.

The summer experiences that are most likely to stand out to college admissions officers are those more specialized than a recreational summer camp. Students hoping to show off their dedication to athletics might consider a sports camp, while someone who has their sights set on admission to an engineering school will want to spend time over the summer at an engineering program that will set them apart from other applicants.

Something that makes Steven Infanti, associate vice president for admissions at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, take a closer look at a student’s application is a STEM camp experience. “When I look at an applicant who has a 2.5 [GPA], which would be kind of a borderline admit for us, but I see on the application, I participate in this camp … that shows a lot of initiative and someone who has passion,” he says.

Students at the TryEngineering Summer Institute design and 3D print components for robot cars that they will also race and put through obstacle courses.

Attending a camp can also help solidify what a student wants to do for a living in the future, helping them to be more focused in college.

As one past TryEngineering Summer Institute student said, “Multiple times throughout the camp, I had these moments where I could envision my future with such clarity that I now know my future major and profession will be in engineering.”

Showcasing Summer Experience

During the college admissions process, students may choose to showcase their summer experience in a variety of ways, from simply listing it as an extra-curricular activity on a college application to working especially meaningful experiences into the essay portion.

Students at the TryEngineering Summer Institute make new friends from all over the world.

“If you had a transformative experience at the summer program or a big impact on others, that tells them more about who you are as an individual, especially if you can write about how it set you in a particular direction,” Kantrowitz said. “If something is of interest to you, you’re more likely to write a passionate essay.”

Students might also consider reaching out to summer camp counselors or directors for letters of recommendation. “Relatively few students submit letters from outside [school] or that are job-related,” says Eric Greenberg, founder and director of education consulting firm Greenberg Educational Group. “That can be enormously valuable.”

TryEngineering Summer Institute: What About the Weekend?

Posted on

Each weekday during TryEngineering Summer Institute is packed with fun, hands-on design challenges and learning the latest in engineering and technology. There’s also time for students to relax and get to know each other better. But what about the weekend?

University of California, Riverside
Just 50 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, UCR is distinguished by more than 60 years of high-impact research. But after a week of everything engineering, students will get to spend their Saturday at Raging Waters Los Angeles, a 60-acre waterpark with more than 50 world-class rides, slides, and attractions. Named a “Top 10 Water Park” by USA Today, Raging Waters boasts the state’s only hydromagnetic water coaster. On Sunday, students stay local, making use of the great on-campus facilities. They can cool off in the outdoor pool, play games in the gym, or work out in the fitness center to relax and recharge for the exciting week ahead.

Texas A&M University
Not only is Texas A&M located near the heart of the United States space program, it’s also close to Grand Station, the area’s largest entertainment venue. So on Saturday, students will get to bowl on one of Grand Station’s 40 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, play with the amazing virtual reality gaming system, participate in a game of laser tag, and challenge their skills in the interactive arcade. On Sunday, they’ll have the opportunity to explore on-campus facilities like the rec center, featuring a rock climbing wall, gymnasium, fitness center, and pool, before resting up and prepping for week two of engineering fun.

 

At the TryEngineering Summer Institute, the emphasis is on learning, but it’s also about making new friends and having fun. Each of our three campus locations offers unique facilities that make this an unforgettable experience for teens. Be sure to register early to get your first choice campus and session!

Engineering Summer Camp Can Help Chances of College Acceptance

Posted on

Research shows that up to 80 percent of jobs in the future will require STEM skills. Yet the best schools are increasingly competitive, making it difficult for students to get the education they need to succeed in STEM careers. For example, Stanford’s acceptance rate is only 5.1 percent. MIT only accepts 7.9 percent of applicants. And Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering’s acceptance rate is just 12 percent.

While good grades and test scores represent the top factors in student selection, guidance counselors say that colleges look hard at extracurricular activities too, particularly those engaged in over the summer. For a teenager who is considering engineering as a career, participating in an engineering summer camp like TryEngineering Summer Institute that exposes a student to a number of engineering disciplines brings multiple benefits.

  • Hands-On Experience: When students get the chance to try a number of engineering disciplines at summer camp, just for the fun of it, it can help them to choose an engineering discipline to study in college. In turn, this can lead students to become more focused in their course selection and activities leading up to college, all of which may be appealing to college admissions officers.
  • Increased Confidence and Interview Skills: Multiple studies have shown that students who participate in summer camp experiences with new groups of people develop stronger social-emotional skills that can aid with everything from academic success to college interviews.
  • Preparation for Campus Living: High school students who spend two weeks at engineering camp on a college campus during the summer are better prepared for the realities of college living. The freedom that they experience helps them learn how to make more mature choices, which better prepares them for college and future success.
  • Enhanced College Admissions Opportunities: As colleges with strong engineering programs consider the applications of many qualified students, those students who can demonstrate a prolonged interest and experience in engineering often have an advantage. Few experiences can match a two-week engineering camp on a college campus. This shows college admissions officers that not only is the student motivated, but also is better prepared for life and success at college.

TryEngineering Summer Institute is a two-week co-ed residential summer engineering program for rising 8th through 12th grade students held at three premier colleges and universities across the United States. Students work in teams with other students, interact with professional engineers, and learn about cutting-edge research done at the host schools by current graduate students.

Students participate in a broad range of hands-on activities throughout their two weeks on campus, including building and launching rockets and working in teams to solve engineering design challenges such as building a robotic arm out of everyday materials, and designing and soldering working circuits. The students experience problem-solving and troubleshooting, and gain insight on what it is like to study engineering in a college atmosphere. Students explore many engineering disciplines, including electrical, civil, mechanical, chemical, and aerospace, and see how engineers work in teams to solve global challenges.

Learn more about enrolling in the TryEngineering Summer Institute on one of our three campuses this summer!


Top