<p>I'm currently a rising sophmore, looking to get an internship for next summer. I know it's a little early, but where are some places to look? Which companies will look more impressive and are more sought-after? What are some things I can do to help my chances? In the future, I would like to either work in alternative/sustainable energy, or aerospace. How hard is it to get an internship at NASA? I'm currently a Virginia Tech student with a 3.52 GPA (expecting it to be higher after this year). Since locality is probably a big factor, I've taken note of several large companies near my home in Northern VA, such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grunman. How competitive are these internships, and how do they compare with others in general?</p>
<p>You should attend any "job and internship fairs" on your campus. Also, send your resume with a personalized cover letter to specific companies you are interested in even if they are not recruiting at your school. Many companies only accept online applications, so you may have to do some that way. My son got several interviews and three offers using these methods.</p>
<p>It will also help if you have any sort of personal connections to the industries (such as family friends). I am a rising sophomore as well, and I am currently in China with an internship for Ford. It really helps if you "know" someone in the industry. My dad works for the automotive industry and has friends who work for Ford, which is how I got this internship. </p>
<p>But other than that, it's really good to go to internship fairs and just inquire for them, you can probably land a couple interviews and be well on your way.</p>
<p>I had a very tough time finding an internship. Last spring, I submitted close to a hundred resumes and applications for internships all over the place. The major places I applied to were Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Aerojet, Northrop, and many DOE programs and national labs. Entering that sophomore-junior summer with a 3.86 GPA studying mechanical engineering and physics and way ahead in the curriculum, I only heard back from one place which I'm very happily at right now. My advice is to apply to the big names, but also to have smaller and more likely backup places. I found that companies want their interns to have completed lots more coursework and be closer to graduation.</p>
<p>I also submitted a number of resumes all over. Im going to be a Junior ME at Purdue...3.42 GPA. Im currently working for Ball Aerospace and loving the hell out of my job, my fellow interns, and Colorado!!!</p>
<p>I am a sophmore ME dtudent at Purdue. I am also an A&P mechanic that works on Boeing 757 and 737. How much do you think my experience as a mechanic will help my chances at getting an internship with a good company like boeing or Rolls-Royce.</p>
<p>Think about this way. How many of your fellow classmates are doing academic things outside their coursework (that is assuming you don't go to Caltech or MIT)?</p>
<p>Since we are all sharing what we are doing for the summer... I'm working at Fermilab. Some of you guys have awesome opportunities... NASA, Ball, Boeing... incredible.</p>
<p>Hey, another Hokie. I'm sure you already know about it but there is a huge thing called the Engineering Expo at VT where you can shove your resume in as many hands as possible and hope for an interview. Reps from a LOT of major companies go there to find interns (and to actually hire people, for that matter) so participating is going to be a huge help for you. Make sure you put your resume online when that goes up.</p>
<p>edit: If you have any inside contacts that'll improve your odds tremendously though.</p>
<p>I am doing what is now my second summer internship at NASA Langley.</p>
<p>They have a really neat program called LaRSS you should look into. Its a summer internship and you apply to different mentors based on your interests. Its a great opportunity.</p>
<p>I hope so. I'm doing Materials Testing for the Department of Highways right now (I'm in Materials Science Engineering, rising sophomore) and I'm hoping thats going to open some doors for me for next year. I figure not too many people get an internship after their freshman year so that combined with good grades might get me in somewhere. Here's hoping.</p>
<p>I sent Ball a resume online in the early months of the year, and spoke to them at a few career fairs on campus. I had previous internship experience with microthrusters and rocketry, so I guess that helped. Now I'm working in System, Integration and Test. </p>
<p>Boulder Colorado is awesome, White water rafting, skydiving, cliff jumping, glaciers, anything from walking the desert to climbing 4,000 ft peaks.</p>
<p>Looking for an ADCS (Attitude Determination and Control Systems) or another Integration and Test position for next summer...</p>