If you want to lock in an internship, the right club can do a lot of the work for you. Here are the top three I recommend for electrical engineering students and the top three for mechanical engineering students.
Electrical engineering
1. Engineers Without Borders
Engineering students work together to design and build projects that help communities solve real infrastructure problems. Depending on your chapter, that might be solar power systems, water infrastructure, or sustainable development.
This is especially valuable if you're interested in utilities, renewable energy, energy consulting, or infrastructure.
2. Solar Car
Students design and build race vehicles powered by solar energy. As an electrical engineering student you get hands on experience with battery management systems, electric motors, power electronics, and solar panels.
This is really valuable if you're interested in automotive, renewable energy, or energy storage.
3. Robotics
Robotics gives you skills that transfer to a lot of industries, including industrial automation, manufacturing, and aerospace and defense. Students build, design, program, and test robots. As an EE you'd work with sensors, microcontrollers, motors, circuit design, and control systems.
Honorable mention: IEEE
IEEE is a professional organization that connects students and engineers through networking. It's a great way to learn about different industries and meet people who already work in the field.
Mechanical engineering
3. Robotics
A great way to get experience with mechanical design, automation, and mechatronics. You'll work with motors, sensors, actuators, and mechanical systems. It's especially valuable if you're interested in robotics, automation, or manufacturing.
2. Baja SAE
You design and build an off-road vehicle that has to survive rough terrain. You'll get experience with CAD, suspension design, welding, machining, and failure analysis. It teaches you how to design parts that hold up to repeated impacts and mechanical stress.
1. Formula SAE
Instead of an off-road vehicle, you're designing and building a formula style race car that competes on pavement. Because these cars are built for speed, acceleration, and handling, there's a bigger focus on performance. You'll get experience with aerodynamics, suspension geometry, vehicle dynamics, and powertrain optimization. You'll also learn data analysis, real world testing, and how to evaluate the car and make it better.
Honorable mention: ASME
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional organization I highly recommend joining, but for a different reason. It won't give you the same hands on technical experience. It's a great way to network with other students and potential employers.
Joining isn't enough
Whatever club you join, you need to be actively involved. In your internship interviews you need to be able to talk about what you actually designed, built, or tested. That's what makes the difference. Listing the club on your resume doesn't do it by itself.
Before your interviews, practice with the technical and behavioral interview questions so you can talk about your club work with confidence.