Electrical Engineering (sophomore): REU or Summer Internship?

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

Hi everyone,

I am a sophomore student studying Electrical Engineering in the US. Over the past several days, I have been accepted into both an REU and a summer internship, both of which would be great ways to spend the summer.

The REU involves studying high-frequency circuits, and it is with a great professor from my university who is passionate and does great work, and it would be an awesome lab to be involved in. Furthermore, it would open up the possibility of working in the lab during the academic year in the future.

The internship offer is at a large refinery on the Gulf Coast working in control systems. It is a long drive from where I live (several hours), but it pays a lot and pays for relocation. I don’t have a strong desire to work in oil and gas for a career as of now, but I know the internship would be valuable work experience for me regardless, and it would give me insight into that industry and work.

I think about graduate school a lot (mainly about a Master’s degree and then working in industry, although I have a slight interest in Ph.D.), but I am still uncertain.

Do you have advice in choosing one over the other? Which would look better on a resume, especially if I am applying to internships for next year (Spring semester and summer)?

Thank you in advance.

2

First of congratulations! Some REUs are quite selective. But it’s also great that you have an industry option. I don’t have any specific expertise on this issue. I would recommend thinking hard about the graduate school desire as most REUs are designed for the graduate school bound, and how much you want a research position next year in school. If you get involved in research and find you change your mind about graduate school over the next school year you can try for an industry internship next summer. You are in an enviable position.