The Engineering student's rhythm of life

The way of life of an engineering student in preparatory classes is one of life’s mysteries for those taking the Baccalaureate. Although far from being the mythical vocation imagined by many future students, the preparatory curriculum is nonetheless a demanding period in which many things are determined for the future of the student.

THE WEEKLY RHYTHM - At the EISTI we find it better for our students to have their heads screwed on properly, rather than just having them crammed full of information – that’s why classes ‘only’ take up 30 hours a week, from Monday to Friday. This is actually not much more than in the final year of studies for a Baccalaureate – at first sight. Khôlles are added to these 30 hours of taught class – these are oral interrogations lasting roughly 20 minutes, and a student will have khôlles in mathematics, English and eventually IT, every two to three weeks. The student must also add to their schedule time for personal work, whether this is preparation for practical classes (TIPE), IT projects to hand in or working on concepts and areas seen in class – a substantial amount of time is needed for personal work. This is why our classes start at 08h00 and finish at 18h00, and why our premises are open 24 hours a day – the EISTI’s nightlife is a productive one!

HOBBIES DURING THE PREPA - Thursdays are generally lighter in terms of workload – classes finish at 12h or at 16h to leave time for sporting activities. With this extra time, the Pau campus can make us proud of their formidable basketball team for the 2010-2011 season! During the winter, fans of skiing can practise their favourite sport on Thursday afternoons.

THE GROUP DYNAMIC - Every week is full for a student engineer in the preparatory curriculum: it must be said that a preparatory curriculum, graded by continuous assessment and allowing the student to join the engineering curriculum without stressful final exams, must guarantee the acquisition of knowledge and the skills required for effective work, just as following a CPGE (Preparatory Classes for the French ‘Grandes Ecoles’) course would. However, there is a big difference in how the preparatory curriculum is different at the EISTI from that of a CPGE – instead of competing against each other, the students help and support each other, accompanied and supported by teachers who are available to listen, help and motivate their students. The way to success is still of course important for each individual, but it’s also important for the group in terms of solidarity and group strength: this is what makes the EISTI’s prepa an excellent part of the student life.

ENTRANCE IN THE ENGINEERING CURRICULUM - The engineering curriculum cannot begin without the traditional WEI – The Integration Weekend, where the two campuses are reunited for three days in a party atmosphere, with former students in attendance, full of fond memories of their time at the EISTI. Then, the school year can begin!
The students who follow the engineering curriculum come from many different areas, walks of life and scholarly backgrounds, and the first semester of their studies is therefore different depending on where they come from. In general, those students who come from CPGE studies will start with IT classes and will follow classes bringing them up to date with the basics. For those who have followed the preparatory curriculum, they undertake projects in order to use and deepen their knowledge in certain subjects. After this first semester, all the different students will be reunited to finish the year together. It is important for each individual to have the time to take stock of and establish their knowledge and strengths: this is where the solidarity at the school comes in to play – some find the assessed project work too difficult for their level of knowledge, which is when others who may find it easier will help them through these difficult first moments. Everybody comes together on a Thursday evening for events and parties organized by the Students’ Union (BDE).

NIGHT AND DAY - Evaluation is based on exams at the end of each semester, and on numerous projects, which helps us to promote the importance of communication and of managing group work. In this way, our students manage their personal work themselves, giving them more freedom but also requiring more organization. Certain projects, as well as certain ways of working, mean that sometimes students will ‘pull all-nighters’ and work through the night in order to get the work done on time. Sometimes new teams emerge from these all-night work sessions, and said teams may go on to stand for election as the new leaders of the Students’ Union (BDE), bringing fun and festivities to the school the following year. The campaigns and elections are run by our first year students.

ORIENTATION/OPTIONS - After successfully completing the first year, the student will specialize in either mathematics (GM) or IT (GI), a decision helped by numerous presentations and discussions with professionals and teachers. The student will then undertake an internship lasting 20 weeks, which will help them to discover the world of work, and to become properly acquainted with the technical context which will play a part in their professional orientation. This immersion in the business world is often a big shock to the system: one goes from being a student to being a professional from one day to the next!

THE END OF THE TUNNEL - In the 3rd and final year, the engineering student finalizes their orientation choices. The students will often want to get through this final period of studies as quickly as possible – having had a taste of the world of work in their first internship, the student often can’t wait to get back into it, through their second internship (often followed with a job offer). Despite their hurry to rush head-first into the ‘real world’, the students do make the most of their final few months of studies. Their classmates (also their friends), their student parties, their last-minute projects – all will soon be far behind them, and they make a point of exploring and celebrating their nostalgia at the 3rd year leaving party (DZT), organized by the 3rd years themselves before leaving on their internships. The DZT is also the moment to poke fun at their teachers, to remember the trouble they had (or got into), to combine humor and emotion in an environment which is sometimes difficult to leave. A special time for the teachers and administrative staff as much as for the students, everyone united for life by the EISTI state of mind.