Real World Engineering Washington, DC

Washington, DC, is a key city for students to visit to observe how engineering influences the public and private sectors. By interacting with engineers in the nation’s capital, students see what skills they must acquire to become leaders in their fields and to inform public policy in meaningful ways.

Who: This program is open to all College of Engineering undergraduate students.

Where: Students will visit companies in small groups or, in some cases, individually. Previously, students have visited the following companies:

  • Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
  • Resources for the Future
  • MITRE
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Sigma Space Corp.
  • GroSolar
  • Goddard Flight Center
  • NORC
  • Boeing
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • Berico Technologies
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • Kings Dominion
  • US Patent and Trademark Office
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • Federal Communications Commission
  • Department of Energy

College of Engineering students will receive an email about upcoming Real World Engineering opportunities, with links and information on how to apply.

Questions can be directed to citundergradoffice@cmu.edu.

Here’s what a few RWE DC students said:

“This program is an excellent opportunity for students, especially underclassmen, to gain exposure to the real world and understand the importance of networking, as well as the preparation needed to achieve certain career goals in the future. With a strong connection of alumni, students will feel encouraged and supported rather than inadequate and helpless—it’s like sharing your stories with a friend, rather than throwing your elevator pitch under pressure to an interviewer.”

“Alumni in networking events were very friendly and had a different attitude than average employers because of the connection. The talks also made me realize the importance of networking, and the events provided just the chance to practice it.”

“It’s a great way to see what engineers do in the field that you’re interested in. It’s a great way to practice networking and expand your professional network. The RWE DC program was in a very relevant and important setting which made the experience all the more valuable.”