What Are the Benefits of an Engineering Internship?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature and benefits of engineering internships, particularly in the fields of computer and electrical engineering. Participants share their experiences and insights regarding the technical tasks involved, the timing of internships, and the overall purpose of such opportunities in an engineering career.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the typical experiences and technical tasks associated with engineering internships, questioning their purpose and the optimal timing for undertaking them.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that some internships may involve menial tasks, such as making coffee, while also implying that the quality of the internship experience can vary significantly by employer.
  • A third participant reflects on the value of internships, sharing that they can provide real-world experience and help clarify one's career interests, citing a friend's experience that led to a change in career path.
  • A participant describes their own NASA internship, emphasizing that it involved substantial engineering work on real projects, although not specifically in computer or electrical engineering, and notes that such positions are typically filled by juniors, seniors, or graduate students.
  • There is mention of the potential for internships to be paid or volunteer-only, indicating variability in compensation across different opportunities.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that internships are valuable for gaining experience and making professional contacts, but there is no consensus on the specific nature of the tasks involved or the best timing for undertaking an internship.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight that opportunities may be more accessible to upperclassmen, suggesting a potential limitation for freshmen and sophomores. The discussion reflects a range of experiences and expectations, indicating that the internship experience can vary widely based on the employer and the specific role.

ranger
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I'd like to know what an internship is like in the engineering field. Preferably in computer and/or electrical engineering field. What are some of the technical things you did? Whats the purpose of an internship anyway? Do all engineering undergrads have to take this? Whats the best time for an internship, junior or senior year?

--thank you :cool:
 
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technical things? well, you grind the coffee, operate the coffee maker, pour and deliver coffee to the engineers, and THEN, you might get lucky enough to sit in on a meeting that nothing gets accomplished in except a bunch of departmental posturing and department heads trying to convince the head man why their project should not get cut.

note-- while my tongue was firmly in my cheek, many times this is what you encounter depending on the place you get an internship with.
 
Oh my, coffee, I had no idea. Looks my PT job at the coffee house may come in handy.
 
I'm not an engineer, but I can tell you what I lot of my friends have done in internships and co-ops. It is harder to get such an opportunity as a freshman or sophomore, but definitely worth while, the sooner the better. Juniors, seniors, and grad students usually get accepted into most internship programs.

A friend of mine got a co-op position at United Space Alliance her sophomore year. She primarily worked on paperwork for the Space Shuttle. She learned that engineering wasn't what she wanted to do with her life, and dropped out.

My NASA internship this summer was primarily for engineers (who never brought their bosses coffee). They were essentially employees for the summer, working on real projects such as designing composite materials, testing materials, designing instruments for a mission to Mars, artificial intelligence research, propulsion, and other things I don't much understand. All of them were either seniors or early grad students.

None of those are computer or electrical projects, but I listed them just to give you an idea. As a side note, all of the above were paid (some are volunteer-only).

In my opinion, internships are very valuable because they provide you with real experience in your field. You can discover what you like and what you don't like. You'll also make contacts in your field, which can be very important to your career. Take advantage of internship opportunities if you can.
 

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