Radio Frequency Engineers

An internship or part-time or summer job in a company that has a radio frequency engineering division is a great way to learn more about this profession while getting a foot in the door. Search for opportunities on the Web sites of companies that interest you. Conducting an informational interview with or even job-shadowing a radio frequency engineer will give you insights to the day-to-day tasks and what the work environment is like. Your school's career services office can assist you with finding radio frequency engineers interested in sharing their knowledge with students.

Get involved in a science club to learn more about engineering and also meet other students who share the same interests. You can also join the Technology Student Association, an organization that provides competitions and other educational programs for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. TSA also offers the Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (called TEAMS), which is an annual engineering competition for middle school and high school students. Learn more at https://tsaweb.org/teams.

Participating in summer youth programs that focus on scientific and technological activities is another excellent way to learn more about the different types of engineering, including radio frequency engineering. It also offers students the opportunity to get a taste of college life while having a camp-like experience. Michigan Technological University, for example, offers numerous courses in its summer youth programs for high school students. Find details at https://www.mtu.edu/syp.

Professional associations for engineers also offer helpful resources for students interested in various engineering fields. For instance, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers offers information about engineering fields, engineering schools, games, and a section with profiles of engineers in various engineering specializations. Find information at https://tryengineering.org. The American Society for Engineering Education also has a pre-college Web site (http://precollege.asee.org) focused on engineering education, with information about grants, events, and other resources for students.