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Engineering Futures Day

Join SWE @ UVA for our Spring 2025 EFD event!
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2/3/25
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3/1/25

EFD Application

Due

Acceptance

Letters Sent

EFD @ UVA

Spring 2025

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1/31/25
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EFD Flyer

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EFD Info Packet

What

Every Fall and Spring, high school students from all over Virginia visit the university to experience what it's like to be an engineering student at UVA. Accepted participants will spend the day collaborating on design activities, visiting a majors fair, touring labs and dorms, and listening to speakers. This event will introduce students to various engineering fields and the engineering design process. We hope that these activities will help the students decide whether they would like to pursue a STEM career in the future!

Who

EFD is geared towards students in their junior or senior years of high school; however, freshmen and sophomores are welcome to apply as well. This event is meant to provide insight on what it's like being the gender minority in engineering, so the event is tailored as a women-oriented space. However, we encourage all students that want to be in this space (i.e., female-identifying, genderqueer, and male-identifying individuals) to apply.

 

Students who have previously applied to EFD, formally known as High School Visitation (HSV) are in the targeted grade level, and demonstrate insightful thinking in their short answer responses will receive priority acceptance due to space limitations. Admissions is not meant to be competitive as we wish to expose as many students as possible to engineering opportunities at UVA regardless of their previous STEM involvements; however, in order to provide an engaging interactive experience, we must place limits on the number of accepted students.

  • Is the event open to all students...or just girls?
    Although USTEP is hosted by the Society of Women Engineers, this event is open to all students regardless of their gender identity.
  • Are parents/supervisors required to stay throughout the entirety of the event?
    Parents may drop-off their student at the beginning of the event. Classrooms will have several student volunteers assisting with lessons, so SWE will take care of everything!
  • How do I become a member?
    At this time, there is no formal process to become a member of the SWE chapter at the University of Virginia. Subscribing to the SWEekly newsletter and listerv will connect you to all of the outreach and professional development opportunities available to SWE members.
  • How much does it cost to become a SWE member?
    The SWE chapter at the University of Virginia does not collect dues from its members.
  • How long is the event?
    This event runs from 9:30am - 3pm.
  • Can parents attend? Do I have to stay with my child during the event?
    We are unable to accommodate parents during the actual event due to limited room capacities. Parents/Guardians drop off their student for the afternoon and pick them up at the end of the event. Prior to pickup, we will facilitate a brief, student-led panel where parents can ask questions about UVA's engineering program.
  • Does my child need to bring anything to the event?
    All materials will be provided. We will provide lunch and snacks. If you are concerned about dietary restrictions, please reach out to the event coordinators des2rm@virginia.edu and kas4ck@virginia.edu.
  • Who can apply?
    The Society of Women Engineers is dedicated to creating a safe, women-oriented space for everyone in engineering. We welcome anybody in grades 6 through 8 that wants to be in this space (i.e., female-identifying, genderqueer, and male-identifying individuals) to apply and attend our events. For students interested in events less geared towards a specific gender identification, please refer to our USTEP program.
  • Who runs this event?
    MSV is planned, organized, and run by the Society of Women Engineers at UVA, an independent club at the University consisting of current UVA Engineering students. Additionally, we have many UVA Engineering faculty and staff that help support our event and provide insight via talks, lab tours, and the majors fair.
  • How much does MSV cost?
    Thanks to our university and corporate sponsorships, MSV is free of cost for all our participants. This includes lunch and snacks that are provided throughout the day.
  • Where is the event held?
    This program is held at the University of Virginia in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Charlottesville, VA. The initial meeting place will be in Davis Commons in Rice Hall. Specific details and parking information will be sent out to participants approximately one week before the event.
  • When will information about this event be available?
    More information about this event will become available very soon! This is the first in-person SEED event SWE @ UVA has hosted in several years. The executive team is still working out the details to ensure that this Spring's event will be as safe (and fun) as possible.
  • Who can apply?
    The Society of Women Engineers is dedicated to creating a safe, women-oriented space for everyone in engineering. We welcome anybody in grades 9 through 12 that wants to be in this space (i.e., female-identifying, genderqueer, and male-identifying individuals) to apply and attend our events. For students interested in events less geared towards a specific gender identity, the UVA Engineering Spring Open House and the Center for Diversity in Engineering's Summer Bridge Program are open to all.
  • How old must I be to apply to EFD?
    EFD is specifically for high school aged students and is targeted at 11th and 12th graders as they work through the college selection process; however, 9th and 10th graders are welcome to apply. For middle school aged students, SWE @ UVA hosts Middle School Visitation and USTEP in the Fall and Spring, respectively.
  • Can parents attend the event?
    Parents are welcome and encouraged to stay for the first half of the event from roughly 9 am to 12 pm. During this time, we will have our Welcome Address and an Admissions Tour from the University Guide Service. Afterward, parents must depart. If you are looking for things to do around Charlottesville for the rest of the day, we recommend referring to https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/.
  • What transportation options are available to get to the event?
    Participants and their guardians are responsible for getting themselves to and from the event. EFD is held on "Grounds" at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. More details and directions will be provided in our acceptance packet. UVA Grounds is most accessible by car, and there are several free parking options nearby. Additionally, there is an Amtrak station 7 minutes away (by car) from the campus.
  • How long is the event?
    EFD is a day-long event running from roughly 9am to 8pm. Participants are able to leave early if they have scheduling conflicts, but this must be communicated to uvasweefd@gmail.com prior to the day of the event.
  • Who runs this event?
    EFD is planned, organized, and run by the Society of Women Engineers at UVA, an independent club at the University consisting of current UVA Engineering students. Additionally, we have many UVA Engineering faculty and staff that help support our event and provide insight via talks, lab tours, and the majors fair.
  • How much does EFD cost?
    Thanks to our university and corporate sponsorships, EFD is free of cost for all our participants. This includes three meals and snacks that are provided throughout the day.
More Questions?

For additional information about Engineering Futures Day, please email: uvasweefd@gmail.com.

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Although this organization has members who are University of Virginia students and may have University employees associated or engaged in its activities and affairs, the organization is not a part of or an agency of the University. It is a separate and independent organization which is responsible for and manages its own activities and affairs. The University does not direct, supervise or control the organization and is not responsible for the organization’s contracts, acts, or omissions.

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