<p>So say you plan to go to grad school for a different branch of engineering than what you're studying at undergrad. Like chemical to petroleum for instance. Would it be better to take summer classes every summer during undergrad to speed it up or are internships still very important?</p>
<p>You need either internships if your end goal is to work professionally or research if academia is your goal. I would not recommend just taking summer classes because that will not improve your resume.</p>
<p>So I take it from your post that you’re in Chemical Engineering? And you’re considering going to grad school for something besides Chemical Engineering? If I knew where you are at in your studies I could tell you more but there really isn’t a straight answer to this. I’m a junior in Chemical Engineering and I’ve learned a lot. My first piece of advice is to NOT take getting an internship/co-op in a particular term for granted in the long-term. This is especially true if you have a high GPA but not much else going for you. This is a mistake a lot of people new to this process make. It took me 10 interviews and a year and a half to secure a single summer internship in 2013. This is not to say my experience is the norm, but I know several people with similar stories. There’s simply too many factors going into it. It depends on the school you go to, how good you are in selling yourself, and what you can put on your resume outside of just a GPA. What I’m trying to convey is keep a solid plan for your studies come internship or no internship.</p>
<p>As for summer school, do not go to summer school simply for the sake of going to summer school. Speeding yourself through your studies because you can is not an excuse to do it. Killing yourself with heavy course loads just to prevent yourself from staying an extra semester or two or even worse graduate a semester early is just silly, I will never understand it although I know many people who do it. I say do summer school if you have a very specific reason for doing so. Reducing course load during the Fall and Spring can be a valid reason. The value of the removal of just one difficult course in a semester can not be understated. By not killing yourself with classwork it opens up time for you to pursue other things you should be such as research or some type of leadership experience.</p>
<p>For the record I’m plotting a switch to Materials Science for my graduate studies. Some would say I’m trying to have my cake and eat it too by pursuing an academic track with research during the school year as well as trying to secure industry experience. I’m just attempting to keep as many doors open as I can. From the sound of your post it seems to me like this might be a concern of yours as well.</p>
<p>As a general rule, if your plan is graduate school right after your undergraduate degree, then doing research as an undergraduate is the most helpful activity.</p>
<p>By grad school do you mean a masters? If yes, definitely go for the internship.</p>
<p>If you mean a PhD, try applying to some REUs, or ask some professors at your university whose research interests you, and ask them if they need research assistants for the summer.</p>
<p>Even full-time masters programs like research. If it’s likely going to be a terminal masters degree then I’d suggest doing an internship in the summer and research during the fall and spring semesters.</p>
<p>Yes, I’m a sophomore chemical engineering student at USC. Here it’s chemical engineering with an option in petroleum engineering. So we only take 4 classes in pet e and I’m not sure if this will be enough to even land a good internship. I’m actually a semester behind due to transfer which is another reason I wanted to take summer classes. I appreciate the responses.</p>
<p>INTERNSHIP hands down. Take night classes if possible, but above all GET EXPERIENCE!</p>
<p>From your last post I take it you’re interested in interning or co-oping in the petroleum industry. I really doubt at this level the choice between Chemical and Petroleum engineering will have an affect on whether or not you land an internship. It will be much more dependent on your GPA, other work experience, and non-academic experiences. Most schools do not offer a petroleum engineering major and yet still send many ChemE graduates to work for Exxon and other large companies. I wouldn’t let what a company wants to influence your major. Select your major based off what you want to study having taken a look at all the course requirements.</p>