How Can Community College Students Find Internships in Engineering or Physics?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around how community college students can find internships and research opportunities in engineering or physics, particularly in the context of transferring to prestigious universities. Participants share their experiences and seek advice on effective methods for finding such opportunities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses frustration over the difficulty of finding internships that do not require enrollment in a four-year college and seeks methods for searching for internships and research opportunities.
  • Another participant suggests that asking community college professors for advice could be beneficial, as they may have connections to local universities, despite not conducting their own research.
  • A question is raised about whether research experience outside of formal programs like REUs is valued similarly when applying to graduate school.
  • It is noted that research internships can vary in duration, ranging from a few months to several years, and that non-REU experiences can still provide valuable learning opportunities.
  • A participant indicates that their attempts to seek advice from professors have been unproductive and requests further guidance on finding research projects.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that seeking advice from professors may be useful, but there is no consensus on the effectiveness of this approach, as experiences vary. The value of non-REU research experiences is acknowledged, but the discussion remains unresolved regarding the best methods for finding internships.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the availability of internships and the role of professors in providing connections may not be universally applicable. The discussion does not resolve the question of how research experience is weighed in graduate school applications.

Who May Find This Useful

Community college students interested in transferring to four-year institutions, particularly those pursuing engineering or physics, may find this discussion relevant.

opengfrt
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Hi, I'm a community college student looking for informations about interns and research that pertains to engineering or physics

My goal is to transfer to Harvey Mudd College, Georgia Institute of Technology, MIT, and if all else fails Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. So besides my GPA, internship is probably the distinguish factor for my future admission acceptance.

To be honest, i would have think that those interns are myths had not so many people claim to participate in them, because almost all the interns i look up require the enrollment of a 4 years college, furthermore, asking for the professors for research is as well frustrating. If anyone knows a particular method of searching internships and research or have informations about internships it would really great.

Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Have you tried asking your professors for advice? While community college professors rarely do research of their own, they probably did at some point, and they may have some connections with local 4-year colleges or universities. Not all internships are part of a formal program like an REU; some are just through connections.
 
eri said:
Have you tried asking your professors for advice? While community college professors rarely do research of their own, they probably did at some point, and they may have some connections with local 4-year colleges or universities. Not all internships are part of a formal program like an REU; some are just through connections.

When applying to graduate school does research experience that is not part of an REU carry the same amount of weight?

Also, do research internships generally continue year-round, or are they limited to a specific time frame? I've seen many people talk about doing an REU "over the summer," and I was wondering if that was kind of a common time frame?
 
Sure, any research experience is good, REU or not. Just because it's not funded by the NSF doesn't mean you didn't learn something, or that you won't get to go to a conference or even get published as a result. An internship can be from a few months (typical REU) to a few years (over the course of several semesters).
 
yeah, i ask my professors, but it was fruitless

can you give me some directions to search for research projects?
 

Similar threads

Admissions Thoughts/Help on DOE CCI application for specific project areas
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Admissions Do I have a good shot at CalTech/MIT's graduate program for physics?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
7K
Admissions How to get a Medical Physics PhD?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Other How can I do an internship? What alternatives are there?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Other Questions regarding switching to Physics from Engineering
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
How do I gain creative experience in engineering?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Other How Can an Undergrad Find a Mathematical Physics Research Project?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Admissions PhD Programs for Mathematical Physics (Experimental Condensed Matter Physics)
  • · Replies 119 ·
4
Replies
119
Views
18K
Admissions How Can I Improve My Chances of Getting into a PhD Program in Engineering?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Schools Doing Research as a community college student at a local University
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
6K