This Is Very Specific: Does your sophomore in STEM at a T+15 have an internship for the summer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and most DC’s classmates have internships after sophomore year. Majority of them self applied via job sites. Career center is only for resume reviews etc. The school name boosts resume values (hopefully). I think that’s the main benefit.

How do you know this? Also, I am skeptical.

[Anonymous]

My nephew - mechanical engineering - has an internship at a manufacturing plant. Got through nepotism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which specific major?

Deciding between electrical and mechanical engineering.

Not sure what you can do with an EE bachelor degree. The typical path is to get a PhD in EE. I would suggest looking for research opportunities.

Really? Not OP, but my kid wants to do EE, and I’ve never heard this before.

[Anonymous]

Are kids finding it more difficult to get research given all the funding cuts ?

[Anonymous]

Not a current sophomore but since you asked whether it has ways been like this — yes! I’ve watched my kid and/or their friends struggle and stress over this. It all works out, but lean on connections if you have to!

[Anonymous]

My mech engineering kid at a T20 had a great internship after sophomore year at Fortune 200 energy company. Was invited back for the junior year internship. But DC wants aerospace as a career so took a pass. Has been having a tough time landing an internship in that field. Still has a couple of interviews this month, but it's been tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a current sophomore but since you asked whether it has ways been like this — yes! I’ve watched my kid and/or their friends struggle and stress over this. It all works out, but lean on connections if you have to!

Thank you for this. We are going to start leaning on connections but I guess I'm surprised. I had to hustle like crazy to get jobs and anywhere when I was in college and right after. I'd hoped that after the struggle to get into a better college than mine, things would be easy or easier. I get that I was naive. Thank you again.

[Anonymous]

The market for entry level jobs is shifting so fast that most kids are going to have a very difficult time landing anything, internships or permanent jobs post graduation. If you sit in on some of the investor calls at the Fortune 100s, most have publicly said they're reevaluating the hiring and retention plans given the shifting landscape in AI. If you have connections, use it. Otherwise, all kids should think really creatively for what happens post graduation. Start planning now, even as a sophomore. Don't assume the Ivy/Ivy+ degrees automatically confirm employment status ... not in this sort of changing landscape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which specific major?

Deciding between electrical and mechanical engineering.

Not sure what you can do with an EE bachelor degree. The typical path is to get a PhD in EE. I would suggest looking for research opportunities.

Really? Not OP, but my kid wants to do EE, and I’ve never heard this before.

This because it’s bs

[Anonymous]

My kid, CS senior (UMD), has done 3 internships as - rising sophomore, rising junior and rising senior. No connections at all + Asian male.

He just worked early and hard to get internships. Around 150-200 applications and only 2-3 bites. Thankfully, he got really good internships. I thought he was ahead of the curve but he let me know that some of his classmates had internships as rising freshmen too. So, kids were utilizing the time after graduating HS to also do an internship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry in advance, I don't know where else to ask. If your dc is at an ivy, ivy plus, or ivy adjacent, do they have something lined up? Is it basically over and it's time to get in with a professor? I thought this was the benefit of being at a top school, but seems like the career center fall back is to connect with an alum and they don't seem to respond. (seem is the operative word as I only talk to my dc about it). Is it unusually quiet? Is this common? Is it this year? Or has it always been this way? I didn't go to a top school so I'm not trying to be obnoxious, I thought this was supposed to be a benefit? Should I be offering any specific advice? Thanks

Just so I understand... he wants an internship when he will be a rising junior?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which specific major?

Deciding between electrical and mechanical engineering.

Not sure what you can do with an EE bachelor degree. The typical path is to get a PhD in EE. I would suggest looking for research opportunities.

Err... seriously?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mech engineering kid at a T20 had a great internship after sophomore year at Fortune 200 energy company. Was invited back for the junior year internship. But DC wants aerospace as a career so took a pass. Has been having a tough time landing an internship in that field. Still has a couple of interviews this month, but it's been tough.

Not ivy but CMU. Friend's kid found internship quickly last and this summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The market for entry level jobs is shifting so fast that most kids are going to have a very difficult time landing anything, internships or permanent jobs post graduation. If you sit in on some of the investor calls at the Fortune 100s, most have publicly said they're reevaluating the hiring and retention plans given the shifting landscape in AI. If you have connections, use it. Otherwise, all kids should think really creatively for what happens post graduation. Start planning now, even as a sophomore. Don't assume the Ivy/Ivy+ degrees automatically confirm employment status ... not in this sort of changing landscape.

This is the part I don’t understand. Some people keep bragging about the benefits of Ivy brands, but what I’ve heard tells a different story. It seems that those who are already well connected will do well wherever they go, including SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Mine is pre-med so different from the engineering landscape. She didn't apply for internships. Is planning on working in the lab where she works during the year. She is 99% sure that it will be funded through the school (she is funded during the year).

I wanted her to look at internships at pharma companies and similar ... I'm really not sure what type of internships pre-med kids get during the summer. I know a lot do shadowing of doctors and things like that.