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So Your Teen Wants To Be An Engineer: Now What?

Updated: 3 days ago


In a world where AI is rewriting the rules for almost every career, engineering stands apart. Every bridge that does not collapse, every prosthetic limb that moves like a real one, every semiconductor chip that powers a smartphone, every sustainable fuel that replaces a fossil one: behind each of these is an engineer who spent years learning how to make the impossible, inevitable. The world doesn’t just need engineers. It runs on them.


Whether you are drawn to Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Biomedical, Computer, Industrial, Chemical, or Materials Science Engineering, the experiences you build outside the classroom will matter enormously. Top engineering programs at universities like MIT, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Washington are not just looking for strong math and science students. They are looking for students who have already shown up, rolled up their sleeves, and done something real.


Here is how to start building that profile right now.


Part One: Competitions and Challenges


1. FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)


Best for: Grades 9-12

Most relevant for: Mechanical, Electrical, and Computer Engineering 


If there is one extracurricular that engineering admissions officers recognize instantly, it is FIRST Robotics Competition. Called "the hardest fun you will ever have," FRC challenges teams of high school students to design, build, and program a robot to compete in a game that changes every year, all within a six-week build season. 


Teams compete at district events before advancing to the PNW and FIRST Championships.  Students take on real engineering roles: mechanical design, electrical wiring, programming, drive coaching, strategy, and project management. 


PNW Specific: FIRST Washington manages all FRC teams in Washington and Oregon. Registration for the 2026 - 2027 season opened in mid-June 2026. The 2026 - 2027 season challenge is BIOCORE, releasing in January 2027. Find your local team or learn how to start one at firstwa.org.


Broadly Applicable: Find a team near you at firstinspires.org. If your school does not have a team, consider starting one. Students who cannot find a nearby team can also explore FIRST Tech Challenge, a smaller-scale robotics competition.


2. Science Olympiad: Engineering Events


Best for: Grades 6-12 

Most relevant for: Mechanical, Materials Science, Electrical, and Chemical Engineering 


Science Olympiad is a national team-based competition where 15-member high school teams compete across 23 STEM events, including several focused on structures, circuits, energy, and materials science. Teams compete at invitational, state, and national levels. 


PNW Specific: Washington Science Olympiad hosts multiple invitational tournaments throughout the season, including the University of Washington Invitational and the Raisbeck Aviation High School Invitational. The 2026 - 2027 season begins in September 2026. Register at washingtonscienceolympiad.com.


Broadly Applicable: Find your state chapter and local team at soinc.org.


3. TSA TEAMS Competition


Best for: Grades 9-12 

Most relevant for: Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Biomedical, Computer, Industrial, Chemical, and Materials Science Engineering 


TSA TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science) is a rigorous four-part engineering competition run by the Technology Student Association. Teams compete through a design and build challenge, a multiple-choice exam, an essay, and a presentation, all based on the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges. Top state teams advance to nationals, where the format shifts to a live on-the-day presentation. Each year centers on a new engineering theme. Watch for the 2026 - 2027 theme and registration to be announced in Fall 2026.


PNW Specific: Washington TSA is one of the few student organizations in Washington devoted exclusively to students interested in STEM, with members pursuing careers in Architecture, Engineering, Robotics, Construction, and Manufacturing. Visit washingtontsa.org to find a chapter near you or learn how to start one.


4. The Conrad Challenge


Best for: Grades 8-12, ages 13-18 

Most relevant for: Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Biomedical, Computer, Industrial, Chemical, and Materials Science Engineering 


The Conrad Challenge is a global innovation competition where teams of 2 to 5 students design an original engineering solution to a real-world problem, then build a full business deck, prototype, marketing strategy, and live pitch around it. The five categories are Energy and Environment, Health and Nutrition, Cyber Technology and Security, The Water Challenge, and Aerospace and Aviation.


Finalists compete at the Innovation Summit at Space Center Houston, judged by experts from Google, Equinor, Blue Origin, and other global organizations. Top teams earn the title of Pete Conrad Scholar and win several prizes and scholarships at partner colleges. 


Watch for the 2026 - 2027 cycle to open in August 2026. Register at: conradchallenge.org.


Part Two: Research, Internships, and Hands-On Programs


1. Aeronautical Explorations at the Museum of Flight


Best for: Rising 9th through 12th graders in Washington State 

Most relevant for: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering 


Aeronautical Explorations is a free, three-week CTE summer school course run through the Puget Sound Skills Center at the Museum of Flight and adjacent Raisbeck Aviation High School. Students must be rising 9th through 12th graders and Washington State residents. Participants earn 0.5 high school CTE credits.


This is not a camp. It is a formal, credit-bearing academic course that appears on your transcript. Students must attend daily for the entire program and can miss at most one day before receiving a non-passing grade. Plan accordingly.


Completing Aeronautical Explorations also makes students eligible for Museum of Flight scholarships, including a four-year aerospace scholarship of up to $30,000 per year. Additional eligibility requirements apply. Visit museumofflight.org/education/post-secondary-scholarships for details. 


Applications for the current cycle are now closed. Email aeroexplorations@museumofflight.org to be added to the next summer’s update list.


2. Core Plus Aerospace and Boeing Manufacturing Student Development Program


Best for: Grades 10-12, ages 16 and up, enrolled in partner schools 

Most relevant for: Aerospace, Mechanical, Materials Science, and Industrial Engineering 


Core Plus Aerospace is a two-year advanced manufacturing curriculum offered at more than 50 high schools and skills centers across Washington State. Year one covers foundational skills, including shop safety, print reading, precision measurement, and the use of hand and power tools. Year two moves into industry-specific aerospace coursework, including sealing, advanced composites, and robotics.


Students enrolled in Core Plus Aerospace are eligible to apply for the Boeing Manufacturing Student Development Program, a paid summer internship at Boeing factories in Everett, Renton, and Auburn. 


The current application is now closed. Watch for the 2027 application to open in November 2026. Check whether your school is a partner at coreplusaerospace.org. If not, speak to your school counselor about bringing the program to your school.


3. Regeneron Science Talent Search


Best for: Grade 12 only 

Most relevant for: Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Biomedical, Computer, Industrial, Chemical, and Materials Science Engineering 


Already featured in our Pre-Med post, the Regeneron Science Talent Search is incredibly powerful for engineering students. Seniors submit an independent original research project in any engineering discipline. The top 300 students are named Scholars and receive $2,000 each, with their school also receiving $2,000. The top 40 finalists receive $25,000 and an all-expenses-paid week in Washington, D.C. First place is $250,000.


Begin your research well before senior year. Research conducted in any year of high school is eligible. The 2027 application is open now through early November. Apply at: societyforscience.org.


Part Three: Clubs, Organizations, and Independent Projects


1. SkillsUSA Washington


Best for: Grades 9-12 

Most relevant for: Mechanical, Industrial, Aerospace, and Materials Science Engineering 


SkillsUSA serves more than 444,000 students nationally in career and technical education, with competitions in more than 100 hands-on technical and leadership fields. For engineering students, the most relevant competitions include Industrial and Engineering Technology, Engineering Technology - Design, and Additive Manufacturing.


PNW Specific: The 2026 SkillsUSA Manufacturing Assembler competition was held at Boeing Everett in March, 2026, giving students hands-on training, resume feedback from Boeing hiring managers, and mock interviews. Watch for the 2026 - 2027 competition calendar to be announced in Fall 2026. Visit skillsusawashington.org for Washington-specific information.


2. Start or Lead an Engineering Club at Your School


Best for: Grades 8-12 

Most relevant for: Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Biomedical, Computer, Industrial, Chemical, and Materials Science Engineering 


Starting or leading an engineering club at your school is a meaningful and sometimes overlooked opportunity. The building matters, but what matters more is the leadership: attracting a team, setting a direction, and creating something that did not exist before you decided to make it happen.


A well-run school engineering club can enter competitions like Science Olympiad, TSA, or Conrad Challenge, run design challenges for younger students, or partner with local engineers for mentorship. In the Bellevue, Redmond, and Sammamish area, the density of engineers at Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, and hundreds of local firms is extraordinary. A single email to a local engineer asking for 20 minutes of their time may open doors you cannot yet imagine.


Passion Project Spotlight


Engineering is one of the few fields where a student can create something original with limited resources, and that speaks directly to admissions officers. Here are three directions, one for each cluster of disciplines:


Mechanical, Industrial, or Aerospace Engineering: Design and build a solution to a real problem in your school or community. It could be a low-cost adaptive device for a student with a physical disability, a more efficient storage system, or a small-scale wind or solar energy experiment. Document every stage of your design process, including your failures, on a public blog or video channel. 


Chemical or Materials Science Engineering: Partner with a local university lab, environmental organization, or community group to test a material or process relevant to your area. Analyze local water quality. Test the thermal efficiency of a building material. Original, community-rooted research in these disciplines is rare and compelling.


Biomedical or Electrical Engineering: Design a simple, low-cost biomedical or assistive device, such as a wearable health monitor, a low-cost prosthetic component, or an electronic aid for someone with a sensory impairment. Document your design iterations and share your work publicly. Even a prototype that does not fully work tells a powerful story about how you think.


Equity-Focused Opportunity


The following program is designed for students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in biomedical science.


Fred Hutchinson SHIP Program


Best for: Students who have completed 11th grade 

Most relevant for: Biomedical, Chemical, and Materials Science Engineering


SHIP at Fred Hutch is an 8-week paid research internship that pairs students with a Fred Hutch research group for 6 weeks of mentored lab work, following 2 weeks of hands-on laboratory training. Watch for the 2027 application to open in early Spring 2027. Apply at: fredhutch.org.



A Note for Parents

If your student is interested in Biomedical Engineering, many of the clinical and research programs featured in our Pre-Med post are directly relevant. I recommend reading both posts together for the most complete picture.



The engineers who change the world start in a robotics lab, on a competition stage, in a research program, or at a kitchen table with a problem they cannot stop thinking about. And the impossible does not become inevitable overnight. It becomes inevitable because someone decided that "good enough" was not good enough. Help your student start today.



Want to talk through which of these opportunities makes the most sense for your student's specific engineering interests, grade level, and goals? I would love to connect.


Visit pdadmissionsconsulting.com/contact to book a consultation.


Please note that all the information provided is current as of the date of publication; however, program details, deadlines, requirements, and prizes may change. Please verify all information directly with official program sources before applying. 


 
 
 

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