u/Fine-Inspection3351

Hey everyone!

I’m starting my Bachelor in Microengineering (Microtechnique) at EPFL this September. I passed the entrance exam, and I’d say I already have a pretty solid grasp of the CMS material. I’m also pretty comfortable with algebra and analysis, so I don’t feel like I need to spend my whole summer reviewing the basics.

I still have some time before classes start, though, and I’d like to use it wisely to prepare for the first year.

I’ve heard that the first year at EPFL is pretty tough and that around 50–60% of students fail or don’t make it through, so I’d really like to avoid going in completely unprepared 😭

I’m asking students from any section, not just Microtechnique:

• What would you recommend studying/reviewing before starting EPFL?
• Are there specific first-year subjects that are worth getting ahead on?
• Should I focus more on physics, programming, chemistry, mechanics, etc.?
• Are there any courses, books, websites, or resources you’d strongly recommend?
• And what do you wish you had studied before starting?

I’m not trying to learn the whole first year in advance 😂 — I just want to spend the remaining time preparing for the things that actually make a difference once the semester starts.

Any advice from current students or people who already went through first year would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone,

I’m a 19-year-old student and I’ll be starting my first year at EPFL this September. I’ve already finished most of the administrative stuff, got my room at Vortex, and now I’m just waiting for the start of the semester.

To be honest, I’m both excited and a bit nervous because it’s going to be a completely new life in a new country. I was wondering if some of you could share your experience or give me a few tips.

One thing I’m thinking about is whether it’s realistic to work a few hours per week (maybe 6–8 hours) during the first year to help with expenses, or if the workload at EPFL makes that almost impossible. If it’s not a good idea in the first year, does it become more manageable later on?

I’d also love to hear about life at Vortex. How is the atmosphere there? Is it easy to meet people and make friends, especially as an international student? And if you could go back to before your first year at EPFL, what advice would you give yourself?

Any tips, experiences, warnings, or things I should know before arriving would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!