High School Students: Consider a Career in Engineering

	High school students visit John Crimaldi's lab in civil engineering during the Engineering Open House.

As you approach the end of high school, the time has come to ask yourself what college major might interest you. If you enjoy math and science, and think you wish to pursue a path in engineering, then check out the opportunities CU-Boulder offers that can help guide your decision making.

Step 1: Learn More About the Career Opportunities and Engineering Majors You Can Choose

One of the best ways to find out if engineering is for you is to attend our annual High School Honors Institute. This four-day summer program gives high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to experience life as an engineering student and learn about career opportunities as a professional engineer. You'll stay in a campus residence hall, explore the different engineering majors through hands-on activities, get to know some engineering faculty and students, and hear from professional engineers about what they do on the job.

In addition, our Women in Engineering Program (WIEP) offers Discover Engineering Day each spring for high school women of all ages to explore the engineering majors and career opportunities in the company of their peers. The one-day program offers many of the same attributes of our High School Honors Institute in a more condensed format.

Students of color, women and those who may be the first generation in their family to attend college also may want to consider attending the Success Institute. This multi-day program for high school students of all ages gives high school students an introduction to the field of engineering through hands-on activities, and helps teens and their parents understand the preparation they'll need to succeed as an engineering student.

Step 2: Get More Detailed Information As You Prepare to Apply

The college hosts an Engineering Sampler each fall for prospective students. You can further explore the engineering majors and learn about the many great programs CU has to offer, while getting your questions answered about admissions, financial aid, and living on campus. The program takes place on a Saturday and runs all day. A parallel program is available for parents who have questions about higher education.

The Women in Engineering Program and Multicultural Engineering Program also co-sponsor a Senior Day in the fall, providing high school seniors the opportunity to learn how academic neighborhood programs such as WIEP and MEP support students. The one-day program also includes a visit to a real engineering class, a tour of the CU-Boulder campus, and an inside view of on-campus living with lunch in one of our dining halls.

Also Consider Attending the ITLL Design Expo

Another great way to familiarize yourself with the College of Engineering and Applied Science and meet our students is to attend one of our Design Expos, held each year in April and December. Undergraduates demonstrate their inventions and innovations to the community, giving you an idea of the kinds of projects in which engineering students are involved. You'll also get a first-hand look at our award-winning Integrated Teaching & Learning Laboratory (ITLL), where students engage in hands-on engineering design.