<p>I go to a math/science school and I feel EVERYONE at my school is pressured to do something during their summer between sophomore and junior year, like an internship or research. I applied for a research position at my school but narrowly missed getting it, probably because the professor didn't know me before I applied. I go to a top engineering school, but they believe in grade deflation so my GPA is pretty low. I am applying for some REUs for this summer, but I feel like I will be rejected instantly because of my low GPA. I feel like some of my peers and I are stuck. Every engineering major is probably expected to do something related to engineering over the summer, but there can't be enough positions at our school or elsewhere to accommodate everyone. Is there something else that I could focus on for this summer as a backup plan?</p>