Congratulations!
Congratulations for being selected to be part of the 2025 Women in Engineering Student Leader Team.
Being a SL is super fun and you will likely make some valuable close friends amongst this group. You are in a great position where high school students and current students look up to you – grab this opportunity with both hands and take advantage of it!
Please read carefully each step of the onboarding below and use it as a resource and guide for your journey as a Student Leader.
And most importantly, have fun!
4. Conversation Starters
Unsure of how to start a conversation with a prospective student, how to present things or how to deal with awkward silences? The below are some tips and tricks to get you started.
Transparency
It is very important that the information provided to prospective students is accurate.
- If you are asked a question that you don’t know, never make up or guess an answer.
- It is ok to say you don’t know an answer to a question.
- Instead, take one of the following options:
- Defer to an experienced Ambassador or staff member for guidance
- Take the student’s details so that we can get back to them
- Encourage them to email us (contact details on the back cover of UG guide)
- Recommend they come to Open Day to learn more
Using publications
- The study guide is your bible. It includes information about all our programs including overviews of programs and career outcomes, ATAR cut offs, degreee duration, prerequisites, majors.
- When using publications, ensure that you are holding it so that they can read it
- Point out where they can find the information on the page for later perusal
- When using terms like ‘Majors’ and ‘Prerequisites’ make sure they understand what it means
Be proactive
- Say hello first, especially to students that look nervous
- Have your spiel prepared
- Show interest in what they have to say, ask follow up questions
- Defuse awkward silences with quiet students with lead-in questions “Have you heard about UQ’s…”
Ask questions that help you develop a profile of the prospective student
- Do they have an idea of what they want to do for a career?
- Do they have a rough idea of what ATAR they may receive?
- What are their strengths? What subjects do they enjoy at school?
- What do they want out of their university experience? (e.g. travel, well-paying job, flexibility, lifestyle)
Selling points
UQ Top Ranking
- #1 - University of Queensland is the best university in Australia according to the Australian Financial Review (AFR), which has now ranked UQ in the #1 position for 2 consecutive years.
- UQ achieved 4 engineering subjects ranked in the global top 50, including: Mineral and Mining Engineering (4th), Petroleum Engineering (18th), Chemical Engineering (=41st) and Civil and Structural Engineering (47th)
UQ not just theoretical
- From the outset, first-year engineering students dive into hands-on team projects through courses like Professional Engineering (ENGG1100)
- UQ Innovate
- Study / social space
- Academic advisors and tutoring
- Engineering specialisation events
- 6 week program for commencing students
- Student to student mentoring – get tips, share experiences and information including services and support
- 220+ clubs and societies, many in engineering, architecture, computing and IT
Scholarships are a great way to get some extra financial support so that students can focus on their studies. Scholarships are available for future students as well as current students so be sure to mention this.
There are scholarships available for both students who:
- are experiencing financial hardship
- have high academic achievement
- are just starting out or are partway through your degree
- identify as female
- come from rural or remote areas
- are studying specific specialisations and majors
- intend to engage in experiences such as conferences, exchange or study tours