Building community

It’s the kind of place where just about everyone knows everyone, and we work hard, side by side, to build a community centered on belonging, personal discovery, intellectual curiosity and joy.

↙ Build Week

Olin has a tradition we call Build Week, when the Olin community (students, faculty and staff) comes together to make Olin a better place.

Build Week includes opportunities for reflection and discussion, as well as opportunities for campus betterment projects such as fixing the dorm kitchens; creating a trail map for Parcel B; cleaning stockrooms; updating symbols of access; troubleshooting and fixing the solar panels in the garden; and designing and screen-printing Build Week T-shirts.

Support, Encourage, and Recognize Volunteerism (SERV) Auction →

The SERV Auction is one of Olin’s oldest traditions. Community members donate everything from baked goods to haircuts to birthday messages for life to a five-course gourmet dinner or a sushi lunch. Every item is put up for auction and bid sheets canvas the Dining Hall entrance; on SERV Auction day, students emcee a live auction featuring the top 10 most-coveted items. There are sure to be some rowdy bidding wars, and the best part all the proceeds go to a charity the community chooses. Olin has raised as much as $10,000 at a single SERV Auction.

↖ Acronym

At Olin, we like coffee; actually, we LOVE coffee. That’s why a group of students started a weekly pop-up coffee bar called Acronym. Equipped with espresso machines, free supplies from our Student Activities Committee and tea kettles (because, you know, some people prefer tea), the pop-up also features sweet treats. Students, staff and faculty gather at Acronym to do work, catch up or just grab a cup of joe.

If you’re lucky, the Olin Jazz Band might just show up to deliver an impromptu concert.

SLAC ↘

Every Wednesday night at 8pm you’ll find the Olin library crawling with students for SLAC (Stay Late and Create). A typical weekly SLAC event includes workshops, activities, music and food. Think Super Smash Bros. tournaments, an active game of Fishbowl, an improv workshop, Paper Arts, a movie screening, or an alumni talk on “How to get the computer science job of your dreams.” The possibilities are endless.

Workshops and activities are run by community members (students, staff, faculty and alumni) and external groups (outside speakers, companies, etc.), and the event itself is open to all members of the Olin community. It’s a casual time for people to get to know one another, let their creative juices flow and learn something new!

Jackie ’23

MAJOR ENGINEERING, WITH A CONCENTRATION IN COMPUTING

HOMETOWN SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI

One thing that surprised me when I that I made a lot of friends really quickly. Everyone is so willing to teach you. We act like goofballs around each other, but when it’s time to do work, my teammates are so smart.

I also love that most of my classes are project based. I had an Introduction to Sensors and Measurements class in my first year. That was a lot of time in the lab playing with circuits and prototyping on breadboards. I think my favorite class was Design Nature, where we got to build an entire play experience for fourth graders. It was very fun to get to think creatively about all the possible things a fourth grader might like.”

We can’t wait to tell you more about academics at Olin. We’ve dedicated our next mailing to all the fun ways you’ll learn, explore and experiment during your time at Olin. Keep an eye on your mailbox.

Olin Way, Needham, MA 02492-1200

The Office of Admission and Financial Aid hosts on-campus visits spring through fall. For in-person visit options and details, check out olin.edu/admission/visit.

If you can’t make it to campus, then connect with us virtually at olin.edu/virtual-tour.

#3 Best Undergraduate Engineering Program

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#3 Best Classroom Experience

#4 Professors Get High Marks

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Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with its own values and with federal and state regulations, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, disabled veteran status, veteran of the Vietnam Era status, marital or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). This nondiscrimination policy encompasses the operation of the College’s educational programs and activities including admission policies, scholarship program, athletic and other College-administered programs. It also encompasses the employment of College personnel and contracting by the College for goods and services.