<p>I'm currently a mechanical engineering major at Saddleback college (a California community college) who plans on transferring to UC Berkeley next fall, and I'm entering the spring semester of my second year. Due to the fact that I took a tremendous course load this semester, and because I had many family issues, I wasn't able to apply to any engineering internships during the recommended November- early December time period, and I'm just now starting to apply to different companies using indeed.com and monster.com. Do I still have a good chance at getting a good engineering internship, or are my chances slim? I hope it's the former and not the latter since I would like to have at least two proper internships related to my field by the time I graduate. Also, would anyone be able to suggest more efficient methods to get a valuable internship?</p>
<p>Is there anyone willing to reply? I’ve had almost a hundred views…</p>
<p>First off I think it will be pretty difficult finding an Engineering internship out of a Community College (This is coming from someone who attended a community college). On top of that you probably will want to look into specific companies careers websites rather than searching on monster or indeed. Lastly it is not too late many companies still have spots available. Last year I didn’t get an internship until March.</p>
<p>Thank your for your reply! I am aware that being at a community college is a bit of a setback, but I’m hoping that my 3.91 GPA and work experience might help a bit. Also, do you know when it really is too late to be applying for engineering internships, like around what month? I am fine with working at a small firm and I’m not only searching for big companies. Do small firms hire year round rather than having December deadlines?</p>
<p>You can definitely get an internship coming from a Community College. There were about 5 or 6 community college students at my company this summer-- out of about 40. So that should not hold you back. I would definitely apply to the company websites rather than using monster or indeed.</p>
<p>It is definitely not too late. Last year I didn’t secure my internship until late March and many of my classmates waited until the very last minute and got jobs late into Spring quarter.</p>
<p>Also look into summer research opportunities. UC schools have research programs for community college students. You don’t have to be an admitted student to do them. </p>
<p>They start taking applications around this time of year. Usually they are paid as well with stipends from 3-5k on average for the summer from what I have seen.</p>
<p>Thank you, everyone, for your feedback! I’m in the process of applying to a couple of companies at the moment. Did you guys just google a list of local engineering companies and apply to them through their websites, or did any of you actually go to the offices and talk to the people about internships? Also, do you think it will look good to do an engineering internship in India this summer, and then do one in the US next summer? I’m wondering if that will make look like a better job candidate after I graduate, or do you just think I should do both internships in the US?</p>
<p>Bump. Does anyone think that doing one internship in India, and then doing another one or two internships in the US will look good as a job candidate, or should I just do as many internships in the US as possible?</p>
<p>If you have the opportunity, do international. We compete on a global scale and it would be good to witness other cultures and ways of doing things. </p>
<p>It doesn’t matter where it is, as long as you gain from the experience.</p>