Ep 371: Engineering Graduates: How to Navigate Your First Year After College

In this episode, FY26 SWE President Inaas Darrat sits down with two early-career SWE leaders to talk honestly about life after engineering school and the lessons they wish they had learned sooner. Abigail Fennell, biomedical engineering Ph.D. candidate at Johns Hopkins University, shares how her mentors and SWE connections helped her realize she wanted to pursue a Ph.D., along with the differences between undergraduate courses and graduate research. Abby Culloton, hydraulic engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, reflects on learning how to make friends after college and transitioning into her first engineering role. Hear practical advice on setting new goals after college, finding support systems as an adult, and letting go of the pressure to figure everything out at once. — The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting nearly 45,000 members of all genders spanning 90+ countries. We are the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit membership.swe.org.