1. Create Account
  2. Login
StudyUSA
Match Me
  • Create Account
  • Login
  • School Search
  • Resources
    • All Resources
    • Articles
    • Student Voices
    • Videos
    • Magazines
    • Podcasts
  • Services
    • All Services
    • Accommodation
    • Support
    • Career
    • Financial
    • Insurance
    • Testing
    • Other
  • Chat
  • Success Stories
  • TOEFL Testing

A Day in a Life of an International Manufacturing Engineering Technology Student

A Day in a Life of an International Manufacturing Engineering Technology Student

May 28, 2020

By Jacqueline Asplund

Jacqueline Asplund is a third-year undergraduate student at Minnesota State University Mankato and has studied there since August 2018. She transferred from a U.S. college in California to finish her bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering technology. Her days as an engineering student involve a lot of studying but also other projects and on-campus work. 


No day is another day alike, even though I follow a schedule every day in and out, even on the weekends. But you never know what or where the day will end. It might end as late night in the library, out in one of the bars with a group of friends, or just early in bed. Or who am I fooling? Early in bed, that does not exist in an engineering student life. I do believe all students feel this way, and that is the enjoyment in student life even though it stresses you sometimes. Today is Thursday and I am going to do my best to bring you all along.

7:00 AM 

The alarm goes on. Every morning I want to turn it off and stay in bed. Just a bit longer at least. But no, today is Thursday and a new day with new opportunities. I start with getting ready. I always make sure to do my makeup — for me, this is a way to start the first project of the day, a simple task which I also think is fun and that makes me feel good. After this I make myself a big coffee — I cannot go anywhere without that morning coffee. When I have my coffee, I run to the bus (note “run” since I am almost always late to it). 

8:00 AM 

Before my classes start on Thursdays I have my morning office hours as a Maverick Global Ambassador. During these morning hours, we record virtual sessions that we livestream on Facebook and later update on YouTube. You might have seen me there talking about different topics such as transfer and steps to complete your application. Oh, wait, if you want to know more about us Maverick Global Ambassadors or have any questions about Minnesota State University Mankato. Please check on our webpage to get in contact with us or read more about it. We as Maverick Global Ambassadors are here to guide you and tell you our experiences here at Minnesota State University Mankato, and we always like to chat with all of you and want to see you on our campus in the future. 

I have my first class of the day, manufacturing automation, and I love this course! It is a class that involves CNC programming, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), flexible automation, machining centers, robotics, programmable logic controllers, and tooling systems. It includes lectures but also a lot of lab time where we experience and learn the course material with hands-on. And the professor, Sealy Winston, is also my academic advisor, which I am lucky to have since he is a super nice and fun professor. 

1:00 PM 

Ugh, that is a long class! But let’s go to the next one, lean manufacturing with professor Petersen. In this course, we learn about the basics of lean manufacturing in industry, with an emphasis on the application of concepts. We learn the principles of lean manufacturing and how they can benefit a business. This is one of the things I find most interesting in my major. I am an organization freak, and what is then better than a subject with engineering and planning and organization?!

2:15 PM

Finally time for my lunch break. At Minnesota State University, we have a lot of different alternatives for food. We have everything from Taco Bell to Chick-Fil-A, and a sandwich place called Erbert & Gebert's, as some examples. My favorite place is called Massad’s, which serves Mediterranean food, where I usually have a salad with chicken and a lot of hummus. During my lunch break, I try to hang with my friends or go through class notes or do homework. All the time you can find for school is important!

3:30 PM 

Time for the last class of the day, ergonomics and work measurements. It is the afternoon after a long busy day at school. In this class, we investigate work design in automated and manual operations. Measurement and development of design-based solutions for the reduction of environmental stresses to the human body through worker-machine systems analysis are applied. Regulatory, legal, and ethical issues are reviewed in the context of global manufacturing applications. These are subjects you might take for granted but are important if you will be a manufacturing engineer in the future for the work environment. This is also material you will be able to bring into your everyday life! 

5:00 PM

Only a few more hours at school, now time to work. I work at the university’s dining hall as a student supervisor. International students are only allowed to do on-campus work because of their visa status. We have a few alternatives at school and most of them get posted on Handshake,, where you can read more about it. My job is super fun but also always very busy. My responsibilities here is to make sure employees are doing their job but most important that customers and co-workers are happy with the service they get or give. I want everyone to feel satisfied and want to help and inspire as much as possible.

10:00 PM

Time to check out from work and school, and time to go home and prepare for my Friday morning. Some Thursday nights I take the opportunity to hang with some friends at $1 beers at Rounders, but if reality calls, I am usually finishing up some schoolwork or MGA work and then call it night. Gasp, I am tired, and I cannot wait to get back in bed. Thanks for following along with me today. Goodnight!

Follow us:
Written by

Jacqueline Asplund

Get matched to the best program for you

Let us know what you're looking for so we can find the best school for you.

Get matched
Call to action background image. Decorative.

Useful Articles

Main image for the blog post titled Visiting Mount Rainier with Green River College
Visiting Mount Rainier with Green River College
Main image for the blog post titled A Day in the Life: A Bookseller and International Student at HCC
A Day in the Life: A Bookseller and International Student at HCC
Main image for the blog post titled Finding Community at Hillsborough Community College
Finding Community at Hillsborough Community College
Main image for the blog post titled Meet Mai Goto, New Student Blogger from Japan
Meet Mai Goto, New Student Blogger from Japan
Read more

Check Out These Schools

Hillsborough Community College

Hillsborough Community College

$10,000 — $15,000 Year

Bachelor Degree 2yr/Community College - 2+2 Programs Certificate/Short Term
Contact
Evergreen Valley College

Evergreen Valley College

$5,000—$10,000 Semester

Undergraduate 2yr/Community College - 2+2 Programs Certificate/Short Term
Contact
Study Alabama

Study Alabama

$5,000—$10,000 Semester

Bachelor Degree Masters Certificate/Short Term
Contact

Related Stories

Santa Barbara City College Welcomes All!

Main image for the article titled Santa Barbara City College Welcomes All!
Enter the U.S. college system at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC)

Main image for the article titled Enter the U.S. college system at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC)
Santa Barbara City College

Main image for the article titled Santa Barbara City College

Start your U.S. adventure with Study in the USA

What's your dream? We can guide, advise, and connect you with your perfect U.S. school. We can also help you with the application process.
More about us
Partner Services

Learn About U.S. education financing, housing, and more

Partner service logo for Student loan for international students? Yes, it is real!

Student loan for international students? Yes, it is real!

MPOWER Financing is the top-rated lender offering international student loans without cosigners, collateral, or credit history for global citizens, PLUS international student scholarships & career coaching! Fully online application, 96% customer...

Read more
Partner service logo for TestDEN Ultimate TOEFL Test Prep Online Course

TestDEN Ultimate TOEFL Test Prep Online Course

TestDEN's Online TOEFL Test Prep is just what you need to quickly and effectively prepare for the TOEFL test. Since 1998, TestDEN has helped tens of thousands of students raise their TOEFL scores.

Read more
Partner service logo for Find an Advisor

Find an Advisor

Study in the USA’s advisors can work with you to navigate the requirements to study abroad in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. We help you find the right school and apply.

Read more

Resources

Learn about American culture and education direct from our experts at Study in the USA. Read more

Achieving Your Goal
Admissions and Placement Testing
Beyond the Basics
Education System in the USA
Financing Your U.S. Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Life in the USA
Resources
Student Experiences
For students age 10-18
Study in Canada
Podcasts
Magazines
Videos
Student Voices
Ask StudyUSA.com

Subscribe to get the latest from Study in the USA

You can unsubscribe at any time.


StudyUSA
Explore

  • School Search
  • Resources
  •   Articles
  •   Student Voices
  •   Videos
  •   Magazines
  • Partner Services
  •   Accommodation
  •   Career
  •   Financial
  •   Insurance
  •   Other
  •   Support
  •   Testing
  • TOEFL Testing
  • Apply
  • Chat
Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Course Index
  • Featured Programs
  • Article Index
  • Create account
  • Sign in
  • For Educators & Institutions
Match Me
  • English
    English

  • Privacy & Policy
  • /
  • Terms

Study in the USA logo

© 2023 Study in the USA. All Rights Reserved.

Global Study logo
A member of the Global Study network

When you visit or interact with our sites, services or tools, we or our authorised service providers may use cookies for storing information to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for marketing purposes.