Compiled below are information and resources of interest to pre-college students interested in engineering, categorized as follows:

Pre-College Student-Focused Websites/Newsletters/Guides – Specific sources of information and other resources.

Introductory Summer Camps/Programs for Youth (opens a new window) – Great “hands-on,” academic-oriented opportunities to explore what engineering is all about during the summer.

Engineering Societies (Overarching, Discipline/Field-Specific, and Women/Minority-Focused) (opens a new window) – A good place to explore the different engineering disciplines and fields that employ engineers; the listing also includes women/minority-focused societies that can be a great help in your engineering journey.
 

In addition, we have compiled some information of our own to help introduce you to the possibilities:

Today's Engineering Leaders (COMING SOON) - Check out leading real-life engineers nationwide - their backgrounds and accomplishments, along with sage advice they offer to future engineers.

Answering Your Common Questions About Engineering And Engineers: A one page handout  that answers the questions most commonly raised by pre-college students.

Overview of Engineering Majors/Disciplines - Offering concise summary descriptions of the each of the common - and some not-so-common - engineering majors offered by schools.

A Quick Guide to Colleges Offering Engineering Degrees - A handout providing a convenient summary listing (by state) of all U.S. colleges offering accredited bachelor's degrees in engineering, noting the specific engineering majors offered by each school.

FAQs About Engineering and Engineering Technology - Addressing the significant differences that exist between the fields of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

Overview of Computing Disciplines/Degree Programs - Offering a good introduction to the wide-ranging academic field of "computing," which includes computer science and engineering and software engineering.

 

Pre-College Student-Focused Websites/Newsletters/Guides:

Discover Engineering Online: A website seeking to spark interest in youth to engineering. Put forth as part of National Engineers Week.

Engineer Girl!: A website seeking to spark young women’s interest in engineering as a career. Put forth by the National Academy of Engineers.

Engineering, Go For It! A 60-page guide designed to attract high school students to engineering careers. $3. Offered by the American Society for Engineering Education.

Engineering K-12 Center: A website seeking to serve as a guide/resource for both pre-college students and K-12 educators. The website is put forth by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), the professional society for engineering educators (i.e., college professors).

Fire Protection Engineering: A website promoting fire protection engineering careers, offering information and resources primarily aimed at pre-college students. Put forth by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

Guide Me NACME: A website primarily serving as a guide/resource for students interested in engineering. Also has separate sections for both parents and educators. While put forth by the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), it is not minority-focused in its content.

Manufacturing is Cool: A website promoting manufacturing engineering careers, offering information and resources aimed at pre-college students, along with parents, teachers and guidance counselors. Put for by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Materials Science and Engineering Career Resource Center: Career and information center for those interested in potentially pursuing a career in material science and engineering. Put forth by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS).

NerdGirls: Breaking the Stigmas and Stereotypes of Women in Engineering: Website seeking to encourage young women to pursue engineering and science careers by showcasing a team of women engineering students at Tufts University building and demonstrating a solar-powered car.

NSBE Pre-College Initiative Webpage: Resources-oriented website put forth by the National Society of Black Engineers in support of its Pre-College Initiative which is aimed at black students in grades 6-12.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: A nationally recognized source of career information issued every two years by the US Dept of Labor. The Handbook describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations, including Engineering and 14 identified engineering disciplines. [Note: Informative, but as a government publication, it is rather dryly written.]

The Pre-Engineering Times: A free monthly “e-newsletter” (i.e., sent via email) containing relevant information aimed at pre-college youth. Each month’s issue focuses on a particular field of engineering. The past year’s worth of issues is contained on the website. Offered by the Engineering Education Support Center, in conjunction with the Junior Engineering Technical Society.

Sloan Career Cornerstone Center: Website serving as a resource center for those interested in or actively pursuing careers in engineering, mathematics, information technology, and the physical sciences.  Offers education, networking, job-hunting, and career planning resources aimed at both high school and college students, along with parents, teachers and guidance counselors. It is a web-based version of the Sloan Career Cornerstone Series, a popular set of CD-ROMs and videotapes that revolve around personal interviews with over 400 individuals offering candid insight into their career paths. Put forth by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.