Major: Biomedical Engineering 

Email: purva.shenoy@stonybrook.edu

​

Questions about Academics and COVID-19

 

What were your classes like in your first year or in your major/concentration, especially transitioning from Shen? 

In my first year, the majority of the courses I took had a minimum of 100-200 students in the class which makes it a bit difficult to approach the professor personally. Another major change to note is that exams and assignments are given less frequently (usually only 2-3 exams per course) however, each cover a lot more material. In order to adapt to this change, I had to change my studying habits to be a lot more proactive and procrastinate a lot less.

​

What academic experiences have stood out to you at your college in either positive or negative ways?

There are lots of academic support resource resources on campus such as tutors and teaching assistants whose job it is to review material with you and give you the help you may need with a particular course. These resources are a really great option especially when the professor of your course is hard to approach or does not have office hours when you’re available. Speaking of office hours, each professor will have a few hours over the week dedicated to helping students with the course material. So don’t feel intimidated by them, they’re always ready to help!

​

How was your online learning experience at your college? What resources did your college provide you during this time?

In my opinion, transitioning to online learning was done pretty smoothly. We conducted our classes over Zoom and also had our exams online. The format of the exams depended on the course and the professor—some exams used lockdown browsers while other exams were made to be open notes exams. The same office hours were also held over Zoom as well as other academic support resources. Most of all, professors were very understanding and gave a lot of leeway to account for any difficulties the students may experience especially with technology.

​

What did your college do well or poorly to support students and communities when COVID-19 first hit?

Initially, when COVID-19 hit and we were still on campus, the university immediately started implementing precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. The most noticeable change was in the dining halls where the food was no longer self-serve and it was all covered by glass walls to prevent any contamination. The university also communicated with us on a daily basis to inform us that a decision was still in the works of being made on whether we were to be sent back home and for how long.

​

Questions about Student Life

 

If students are interested in your major/concentration, what extracurricular activities do you recommend they do at your college?

At SBU, BMES (Biomedical Engineering Society) is a great extracurricular to get involved in! I’m currently an active member of BMES and I love attending all of the events where I get exposure to the vast field of BME.

​

What are common things to do on weekends? Do students commute back home for the weekend or are there events on campus?

Lots of students at SBU commute back to their homes on weekends however I would normally take the weekends to rest, complete my work, clean my dorm and do my laundry, and hang out with friends! There aren’t many events held on weekends but you can always create your own activities with your friends.

​

Are you involved in athletics at your college? How do you balance sports, academics, and extracurricular activities?

I am not involved in any sport in my college however I am on a dance team which holds one to three practices a week. The key to balancing extracurricular activities is to plan and manage your time really well.

​

Extra Questions

 

What advice would you give to current Shen students when applying to your college?

Show your personality in your application and what makes you unique! SBU loves to have students who can bring something different to our campus.

​

What makes your college special to you?

I love the campus, the location, and the people there as well. There’s always something on campus for everyone whether its a club or activity!

​

What do you wish you knew about your college when you were a senior at Shen?

I wish I knew that the classes would be a lot tougher in college than in high school and to prepare for that transition.

​

Before COVID-19, what was the housing like at your college? What would you recommend to Shen seniors to find their roommates?

I would recommend having conversations before moving in even if you go random—it’ll make it less awkward. I personally found my roommate on SBU’s Facebook and it worked out really well!

​

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your college experience that hasn't been addressed yet in this questionnaire?

It’s important to balance out academics and a social life in order to make the most of your college experience!​