PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENT VISIT
Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering
March 4th – 6th, 2026
Friday, February 27th
8:30 am International Student Information Session and Panel
Remote Session: Link Provided in email
General information session related to admissions for international graduate students followed by a panel of current international students ready to answer any questions you may have about being an international student at CU Boulder.
Note: Please bring a reusable water bottle if possible! Water fountains are available all around campus and we would like to limit our use of plastic water bottles.
Wednesday, March 4th
All Day — Arrive in Boulder at Denver International Airport
Current mechanical engineering graduate students will drive students to campus. Make sure to fill out your flight details in your reimbursement form so that we can coordinate driving you to campus.
5:30pm — Meet & Greet Dinner w/ Lightning Talks by Faculty (Part 1)
MBE 33
Join recruiting faculty members and current students for a casual dinner.
Thursday, March 5th
8:15am — Meet current students in hotel lobby to go to campus
8:30am — Light breakfast on campus
8:45am — Lightning Talks by Faculty (Part 2)
DLC 1B70
9:15am — PhD Program Info Session
DLC 1B70
General information session regarding program requirements, funding, and expectations.
9:45am — Student Panel
DLC 1B70
General advice and Q&A session with current students.
10:30am — Break
Feel free to grab a snack and stretch your legs.
10:45am — Student 2-minute Research Pitches
DLC 1B70
2-minute research-based student presentations in specified research focus areas. Student presenters will be present to answer questions following their presentations.
11:30pm — Lunch & Poster Session
DLC 1B70
Casual poster session where prospective students will have the chance to mingle with current students and talk about their research in detail. Grab some lunch and walk around the DLC to view all of the research posters. Current students will be standing by their posters to answer questions. All students, faculty, and staff will be invited to vote on their favorite posters!
1:00pm — Women & Gender Minorities Event (Optional)
Location TBD
Looking to connect with students, faculty, and staff who identify as women or gender minorities? Want to try some of the best local baked goods that Boulder has to offer? Come join our social event for women and gender minorities in mechanical engineering! We will also be hosting an open-forum discussion so you can learn more about navigating your journey at CU.
2:00-5:00pm — Time with your admitting faculty & lab
Professor Offices and Engineering Center Community Space
You will have time to attend lab meeting, tour lab space, meet with current PhD students and more for your admitting faculty/lab. We will have a space for you to hang out between meetings and optional shuttles back to the hotel depending on how long your lab is meeting.
5:00pm — Free time before the Banquet
6:15pm — Meet at hotel lobby to leave for Banquet
6:30pm — Banquet (dinner served at 7:00pm)
Rembrandt Yard
Conversations with current graduate students and professors over a nice dinner in downtown Boulder.
Friday, March 6th
8:00am — Meet in hotel lobby to be driven to Chautauqua
8:30am — Breakfast at Chautauqua Dining Hall with faculty and students
The Chautauqua Dining Hall
Enjoy a delicious breakfast with stunning views of the Flatirons with some recruiting faculty members and current students.
9:30am — Departure from Chautauqua Dining Hall
10:00am — Campus Tour (including ITLL, Idea Forge, and the Engineering Center)
Join current students on a walk around campus where they will show you the rec center, bookstore, and other notable building on campus, as well as the Mechanical Engineering research facilities in the ITLL, Idea Forge, and the Engineering Center.
11:15 pm — Alumni Panel
DLC 1B70
Hear from CU ME alumni in academia, industry, national labs, and more.
12:00 pm — Closing Remarks
DLC 1B70
12:15pm — Lunch
DLC 1B70
1:00pm — BIPOC & International Student Event (Optional)
Location TBD
You might have noticed that Boulder isn’t the most diverse place around. If you’re interested in finding a community of people who share your background and life experiences, join us for the GEARRS Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and International Student Event. You’ll meet faculty, staff, and other students who identify as BIPOC and/or are coming to us from outside the US. Bonus: we'll be giving out some cute gifts from a local Boulder vendor!
1:45pm — Pride Drop-In Hour (Optional)
Location TBD
Join us for the GEARRS Pride Event and learn more about finding your community here at CU. The Pride Drop-In Hour is an informal setting for our department's LGBTQIA community and allies to mingle. This event will have some light refreshments and crafts/activities.
2:30pm — Depart for Optional Activities
If you are staying in Boulder Friday night or have time before your flight, you are invited to join current students post GEARRS for optional activities. All are welcome to join for a hike or walking around Pearl Street, then bowling at the University Memorial Center (UMC) from 4:30 – 6:30 pm, followed by dinner at 7:00pm at Rosetta Hall.
Evening — Visiting Students are welcome to stay with current students
Student Presentation Schedule
Student 2-Minute Research Pitch Schedule will be uploaded when it is finalized closer to the event.