General FAQ | Registration FAQ | Students' FAQ | Parents' FAQ | Educators' FAQ
General FAQ
Q: Why should I attend Tech Day?
A: College is an extremely important part of your continuing education experience and so is deciding where to attend and choosing what field you would like to pursue (such as engineering, English, art, etc.). You want to find the school and field of study that fits you best and that challenges you to grow in many different aspects.
Tech Day is designed to give a broad introduction to the University of Michigan's College of Engineering by inviting high school students and college transfer students to see the Engineering campus. Students will meet professors and students from all thirteen engineering-degree programs offered here at the University; some of the programs that are included are Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and much more!
Meeting with professors and students will give you a sense of what college life is like for a U of M engineer, and Tech Day is a good forum to bring questions you may have, such as "How much homework is there?", "What type of research do professors work on?", "What are classes like and how big are they?", and "Is it even possible to live off of dorm food!?". Over 400 students, faculty, and staff dedicate their time to volunteer for Tech Day!
Also, participants of Tech Day have the chance to meet and interact with numerous campus societies and see what types of extracurricular activities exist outside of the classroom. Design competitions provide participants with a demonstration of fundamental engineering principles in a hands-on, entertaining way.
Tech Day strives to show the fun, excitement, knowledge, and possibilities to be gained from one of the world's great public institutions. We hope that you and your parents will join us this year!
Q: Is there a cost to attend Tech Day?
A: No, there is no cost to attend Tech Day. Morning snacks and lunch will be provided the day of Tech Day. However, we will not reimburse any traveling and hotel costs that are associated with this event.
Q: How often does Tech Day take place?
A: Tech Day is a special, annual event; Tech Day is normally held on the first/second Saturday in October.
Q: Will parents and students be in the same groups?
A: No, students and parents have different programs that are tailored to the different needs of students and parents. Students will spend the day in all-student groups, and parents will spend the day in all-parent groups. College of Engineering student leaders, known as group leaders, lead all groups.
Q: Will there be opportunities to talk to admissions, financial aid and housing personnel?
A: Yes, representatives will be available during exhibits. There will also be sessions for parents about financial aid, admissions and student life.
Q: Will there be students and professors for me to speak with?
A: Tech Day is a massive student-organized event. You will interact with many student volunteers who will be willing to share their experiences with you. There will be students and professors from each department giving tours, staffing exhibit booths, and giving presentations at the Parents Reception, all of which will give them plenty of time to answer any questions that you might have. There will be student society exhibits and also a student panel session where you can learn about any aspect of College life you may be curious about.
Q: Who organizes Tech Day?
A: Tech Day is organized by 26 dedicated students on the Tech Day Planning Committee and the College of Engineering's Office of Recruitment and Transfer Admissions.
Registration FAQ
Q: Do I have to register to come to Tech Day?
A: Yes. If you are a student, you must register with this form online (there is no registration by mail) before Saturday, September 15. Registration for Tech Day 2012 will open on August 1. If you are a parent, you must register on your child's online registration. If you are an educator, you should email techday@umich.edu to register.
Q: Can I cancel or change my registration?
A: Email techday@umich.edu to cancel or modify your registration. Cancellation or modification requests should be made before the week of the Tech Day event.
Q: I would like to be in the same group as a friend(s). Is this possible?
A: Make this request in the comment field during registration, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. Make sure that you and your friend(s) make the same session choices. You will each need to register separately.
Students' FAQ
Q: Will I get my first choice of sessions?
A: Groups are assigned on a first-come first-serve basis. Register early for a better chance of receiving your top group choice! Many popular sessions fill up quickly.
Q: Will I be able to visit classrooms and laboratories that undergraduate students use?
A: Yes, during the department tours and campus tour, you will visit the buildings where students take classes and have labs.
Q: What if I don't know which engineering discipline I'm interested in, should I still attend?
A: Absolutely! Choose sessions by what interest you the most. Read about the different departments, or choose a campus tour or informational session. You will have time during the day to learn a little about every department; to help you broaden your understanding of the different engineering disciplines.
Q: Is there a hands-on portion of the day?
A: Our design competition sessions allow you to use your creativity and engineering knowledge in a friendly competition against other students in your group. These sessions also provide a demonstration of fundamental engineering principles. This is usually the most popular part of the day!
Q: I am a college student and am thinking about transferring to the University of Michigan. Will I have the same program as a high school student?
A: Everyone that attends Tech Day is allowed to customize their own schedule. However, there is no specific event for transfer students; rather choose the sessions that you are most interested in.
Q: May I bring a younger sibling to Tech Day?
A: If your sibling would like to come to Tech Day and partake in the student activities, he/she must register separately as a student. If you wish to be together in the same group, please indicate so in the "comments" field. On the other hand, if he/she would like to stay with your parents, please include him/her in the number of parents when registering.
Parents' FAQ
Q: Can parents attend Tech Day?
A: Yes, parents are welcomed and encouraged to come to Tech Day! We have special parent sessions tailored for parents.
Q: May I bring a younger child to Tech Day?
A: If he/she would like to attend the student program he/she must register separately. If he/she is going to stay with the parents, include him/her in the number of parents when registering.
Q: Will I get to see the same departments as my son/daughter?
A: You will see some of the same department presentations as your son/daughter, but because of scheduling logistics, you might not see all of the same departments.
Educators' FAQ
Q: Do educators need to register to come to Tech Day?
A: Yes, all educators who come to Tech Day must register. Educators can register by e-mailing techday@umich.edu. Educators need not and should not register online. We encourage educators to attend the parent program.
Q: May I bring a large group of students?
A: Please contact the Tech Day Planning Committee at techday@umich.edu if you have any special issues/questions related to bringing a large group of students to Tech Day.
Q: May I register a group of students?
A: No, sorry; each student must register separately here.
