Obviously, the ultimate goal for everyone is to graduate, but starting your studies with that sole focus prevents you from fully experiencing everything that Politecnico di Milano has to offer
Why did you choose to study Mechanical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano?
At the end of high school, you have to choose a new path, whether it’s to work or study, and you have to ask yourself what you want to do with whichever tools you have. I was passionate about science, and engineering was always one of the top options for me. I decided to enrol in the Mechanical Engineering Programme at Politecnico di Milano because deep down, I knew it could be the right choice. Once I took and passed the test (TOL) in my fourth year of high school, I realized I didn’t need to attend any more open days in my fifth year or consider other options. Moreover, I did not doubt Politecnico di Milano because the idea of enrolling in one of the most prestigious universities in the world for engineering studies filled me with pride and excitement even before finishing high school. Now that I’ve completed my bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and am even more passionate about what I study, I can say that perhaps my choice was truly the right one.
How did attending the open day help you in making your decision?
Attending the open day definitely reinforced my already strong idea of choosing the Politecnico di Milano, which allowed me to go from a provincial high school, all confined in one building, to experiencing an entire campus dedicated to engineering. The effect was spectacular, and just for this, it was worth attending the open day. In particular, it helped me a lot to hear about the experiences of students already on their study path, who spoke with passion and enthusiasm about what they were learning. Additionally, walking through the classrooms, buildings, and some labs of the Politecnico was certainly exciting. My first impression of the Bovisa campus was that it was a place where you could feel engineering in the air.
The Mechanical Engineering course offers students a wide range of exchange programs. Did you participate in one of these? Tell us about your experience.
Yes, in the first semester of my third year, I had the opportunity to study abroad for six months through the Erasmus+ program. An older student recommended that I try the program because I had mentioned to him that I was feeling discouraged with exams and had started to question my choice. He suggested that continuing my studies in another country might help me overcome that low point and rediscover my passion and motivation to tackle exams with more enthusiasm. Encouraged by this idea and the fact that an experience abroad would undoubtedly provide a wonderful growth opportunity, I applied for the program and was selected to go to the Universidad del País Vasco in Bilbao, in northern Spain. I recommend to anyone to go for it: the feelings of freedom and responsibility that come from being on your own in a new country, studying alongside other students from all over the world, are hard to experience in any other way at this age. At the end of the experience, I returned to the Politecnico with new friendships, greater self-awareness, and a renewed desire to study in Italy. So, in conclusion, the expectations I had when I left were not only met but exceeded, and it’s not out of the question that I might apply for another trip during my master’s studies.
What does studying at the Politecnico mean to you?
They say the truth is written on the walls, and Politecnico di Milano is no exception. In the Bovisa campus, on Via Raffaele Lambruschini, halfway between the Milano Villapizzone and Milano Bovisa stations, these words are written: “And then you realise how beautiful life is when you can hear birds singing even here in grey-coloured engineer Bovisa” In my opinion, there is no better phrase to describe the essence of studying at Politecnico. As a student in Milan, many days will undoubtedly seem gloomy and grey (both from a weather and psychological perspective). But even during these days, you can have a moment when you pause between pages, sigh, let the (often-obscured) sun warm you, and maybe hear birds singing in the distance. Stop right there and remember that the effort put in studying will be rewarded, one bad day doesn’t make a bad life and, even at Bovisa, the birds sing for us.
Do you have any advice for future students?
Studying passively just to pass exams is the worst thing you can do. The university offers the chance to engage directly with professors, receive a well-rounded education, study abroad, or pursue your passions (even those outside of engineering) through student associations. Obviously, the ultimate goal for everyone is to graduate, but starting your studies with that sole focus prevents you from fully experiencing everything that Politecnico di Milano has to offer. No one is forced to study engineering: if you’ve enrolled, it’s because you share the same passion as all POLIMI students. So rather than memorizing notions just to pass an exam, you should use that passion to deeply understand what you’re studying, and when in need, my advice is to ask professors through questions or private meetings. The opportunities to master a subject are there, and there are plenty of them. It’s essential to know and want to use them all, depending on your individual needs.