I’m a freshmen chemical engineering major at WPI. I’m looking at internships possibly at other colleges, including my own. Would this be better worth my time this summer?
Also, how do I get recommendations when I’m not really close with any of professors from first semester, big lecture classes?
Better worth your time than what? Internships are always a good idea, but as a freshman, it’ll be much harder to get something so don’t be discouraged if you don’t find anything. Just do something over the summer, and you’ll be fine. If you can do something related to a future career, that’s great. But if not, get something that you could put on a resume or take classes that will help ease your schedule during the school year.
In the short term, go to office hours. Talk to your professors outside of class. Ask questions. My school had programs where you could invite professors for coffee or lunch to talk outside of class–see if your school has something similar or just ask to meet up with your professor at their office or for coffee. In the long term, see if you can get involved in a research project or something similar with your professor outside of class. See if you can become a TA as an undergraduate.