T-minus 20 days until the end of the semester!

Even though the summer is still pretty far off, I am currently I am in the midst of the long and complicated process of applying for internships.  Although I know I want to be a mechanical engineer, I am still VERY unsure of what job I actually want.  So, I am applying to a variety of different companies in order to get a feel for different projects.

In October, many companies were visiting campus to recruit students for co-ops.  I became interested in Rolls-Royce after they visited our EGR101 class and I talked to the recruiter at the SWE meeting.

Freshman are normally encouraged to go to the career fair just to check it out, but I brought my resume anyway and waited in the long line to turn it in to the Rolls-Royce booth.  I followed all the tips that I had been given by professors and recruiters and…

At the end of my short interview, they handed me an invitation to a “Meet and Greet” that night so that the recruiters could get to know me better.

That night, there were about 30 people there, and I was the only Freshman.  However, I really enjoyed talking to the other students there, some of whom had already graduated and were looking for full time jobs.

It got me so excited to start the job search!  Unfortunately, I haven’t heard any final results from any of my applications yet, but I should be hearing back at any time.

Many of you readers are applying to colleges, and maybe even getting ready to decide, so I have a few tips for you:

Explore all your options: It is important not to rule out your options too soon.  Visit all the school that you are accepted to, as long as you have the resources.  Remember that state college that you visited Sophomore year?  No, you don’t.  Go back and take a look!  You never know when a school at the bottom of your list will change your mind.

1. Don’t be afraid to go far from home: Some people want to get as far away from their hometown as possible, others would rather be just a few minutes away.  I wasn’t sure what I wanted, and I was hesitant about going to school 1,000 miles from my family.  Yet, I have no regrets now.  ERAU is my second home and I am enjoying the freedom and learning how to live on my own.
2. Start searching for a pre-college internship: One of the things that benefitted me the most while in high school was spending two summers in internships.  It will give you an edge with future employers, and the skills you learn are priceless!  Just Google “high school internships” to start, or ask around to see if there are high school programs at local companies.
3. Enjoy yourself:  Don’t let your senior year stress you out too much.  Have fun and get excited for the next chapter of your life!  High school graduation is not the end, it’s the beginning.