Professional Development
B.S.E. students acquire professional experience to complement their studies through summer internships and research. As a four-year residential university, Princeton does not have a co-op program during the academic year, but summer work and research experiences enable engineering students to obtain experience in areas that they will pursue after graduation.
The Office of Career Services offers career counseling and facilitates contacts between employers and students. All B.S.E. students should enroll in the TigerTracks system which lists many internships and summer jobs. Special programs for engineering students include resume review, panels on career options and site visits to local companies.
The SEAS Undergraduate Affairs Office organizes an annual Science and Technology Job Fair at which many employers are happy to meet students interested in internships. Many companies hold information sessions on campus to present their internship programs. Students should also explore the “college relations” sections of company Web sites to submit their applications.
Of particular note are the internships organized by the Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education. “Preparing to Lead” internships enables rising juniors and rising seniors to work closely with senior executives. International internships are available in India and China.
Students interested in graduate study in engineering should obtain as much research experience as possible. Many rising juniors and rising seniors stay on campus to work with faculty members, while others take part in research programs such as the National Science Founcation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.
Faculty members in a student’s department are the best sources of advice about which graduate programs to consider, and a general information sheet about preparing for graduate study has been compiled by the SEAS Undergraduate Affairs Office.
