Gompei's Guide: Undergraduate Students

• Set clear expectations with teammates right from the outset. This includes when it’s OK to contact each other and the amount of effort that each member will be put into the project.
• Consider creating an asset map to figure out good group roles for each team member.
• Remember, not everyone has to have the same skills or expectations to be a good teammate. Make sure to value your teammates for the kind of skills they can bring to the team.
• Not every team will always be at 100%. That’s OK. The key is to talk about it with your teammates and then course-correct as a team.
• If things aren’t going well, it is critical you communicate. Make sure to debrief with your team and talk things out. If there is conflict, address it early on as a group; the SWEET Center is a great resource for mediation.
• Do what you say you will do. Make sure to do what you agree to do and set the same expectations for team members.
• Check out this blog post for tips about online teamwork. Getting the Most from Virtual Teams

Office of Accessibility Services supports students who need classroom, testing, or housing accommodations. These can be accommodations based on disability or temporary accommodations based on injury or long-term illness.

WPI may accept credits from other accredited colleges and universities that meet the quality and rigor of a WPI course. To learn more about the process, visit this page. 

WPI is part of a consortium of other colleges that allows you to register for classes at other area colleges. To learn more, check out the Registrar’s website.

Academic integrity speaks directly to student honesty, responsibility, and respect for scholarship. Academic assignments and tests help students learn course content, while grades show how fully this goal is achieved. Coursework and associated grades should be the result of the student’s own understanding of academic content, as well as demonstrated effort and achievement, while being mindful of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT. Using AI in a class is at the discretion of the professor and will be outlined in the syllabus. To ensure your actions align with these expectations, review the WPI Academic Honesty Policy.

If you’re having trouble affording books, the Gordon Library usually has some textbooks on reserve or on the shelf—just ask at the front desk for help finding them. The Dean of Students Office can also help.

• This supports the culture of entrepreneurial and innovative thinking through skill-based workshops, seed funding, mentorship, innovation challenges, networking opportunities, hands-on projects, and more.
• You’ve got an Invention? WPI can help you patent and think about the commercialization of your idea or invention, even without faculty or outside funding. Learn More >
• You can use machines like laser cutters, 3D printers, and general hand tools in the Makerspace. Look on the Makerspace page to find training and workshops. It’s super easy to get certified to use the tools and cool to have free access to expensive equipment you probably don’t have at home. Learn More >

• Be early on the first day of class! It makes a good first impression on your professors, and you can claim a good seat.
• Talk to returning students, your advisors, and faculty when picking out your schedule. They know the classes and can offer some great advice.
• Seven weeks go by fast! If you don’t understand the material, get help sooner rather than later to stay on schedule.
• Challenging yourself is encouraged at WPI, but be wary of taking on too much. There are three No Records (NRs) built into almost every major, so you have a good fallback system. If you’re coming in with AP/IB/other credit, you can also challenge yourself more with your classes and branch out.
• Getting an NR is okay! Most students end up NR-ing at some point. It is not seen as a fail, as it literally will not be on your record. NRs do not count toward your GPA. However, multiple NRs may delay graduation or cost you more money over time—be careful not to rack up too many too soon.

• Every major at WPI follows a Program Tracking Sheet, which lists curriculum options to help students plan and track progress toward their degree.
• Sometimes it’s helpful to see the tracking sheet of another student to better understand. Ask your CA or RA if they’d be willing to share.
• If you are strategic, sometimes courses can count as both a minor course and an elective course. Double-counting courses can save space in your schedule for a class that you are interested in taking, especially if you are planning to pursue a minor or take a few graduate courses.

WPI is committed to making sure you have the resources you need. Visit the Student Resources and Support page for information on:

• The Center for Well-Being
• Health Services
• Student Development & Counseling Center
• Office of Accessibility Services
• And more!

The IQP is an interdisciplinary project that every student completes in order to graduate. Some students do an IQP on campus by reaching out to a faculty member and working with them to design a project of interest. Other students do their IQPs at one of more than 50 project centers around the globe. Remember, the IQP is a RESEARCH project. Let yourself LEARN from the EXPERIENCE! It is supposed to be interdisciplinary and out of your major. Make an effort to work with other people who don’t have the same background as you.

• Preparing for IQP:
  • You generally will apply for your IQP in your sophomore year and complete it in the junior year.
  • When you apply, you’ll be asked to list any project center that you’re open to considering. Try not to limit your options. The more locations you list on your application, the higher your chance of getting a placement.
  • Talk with the Global Experience Office staff to accommodate specific needs for project placement, including (food allergies, medical concerns, etc. They are happy to help.
  • Placements are generally shared the winter of your sophomore year.
  • ID 2050: Every student who completes an IQP off-campus will take ID 2050 the term before they go away to prepare for their time on IQP.
  • Students will also be required to take PQP (pre-qualifying project, 1.5 credits) the same term.
  • This can be a heavy workload term, and students are prohibited from overloading during the prep term, so you’ll want to plan ahead.

The MQP is your senior-year project, and you can complete it on campus or at an off-campus project center.

• If you’re interested in an MQP on campus, the process may vary by department. The best thing to do is to ask your faculty advisor for more information. If you’re having trouble finding a project, your faculty advisor will also be your best contact.
• If you are interested in a global MQP, you can find these on eProjects.

This is a required project for graduation where students use the Humanities classes taken in a culmination seminar.

• You can also complete your Humanities and Arts (HUA) experience abroad you can find these on eProjects. 

You can learn about almost all projects at: eprojects.wpi.edu

• Check out course listings on this easy-to search site. You can see what’s open and what has wait-list spots available.
• Course registration is done using Workday. As you plan your schedule, work with your faculty advisor or your academic advisor and consult your Program Tracking Sheet. You should always have a saved schedule, with a backup schedule, going into course registration.
• The WPI Planner can help you to see the terms that courses are offered, along with the professor and times available. It’s a great way to help you build your schedule and see the many combinations that work for your schedule.
• If you don’t get the classes you wanted, don’t despair. Reach out to your academic advisor for help.
• Many students try to make sure they have a balanced schedule so they can have a healthy schedule. For example, one student suggests: “two core classes and one humanities/free elective” as an ideal schedule. Another suggestion is to add in a WPE class for fun and/or relaxation during the busy weekdays.