Society of Women Engineers
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is the perfect club for you to join if you are a woman in engineering. There are not many of us so we have to stick together. By joining this club, women engineers become closer and you realize that there are a lot more of you than you thought. It makes you feel less alone because you meet people who are going through the same thing you are. It is an easy way to form study groups and meet friends who you already know have something in common with you.
SWE hosts meetings every other Monday, or two times a month. These meeting usually last about an hour and there is always food (which is a plus). The dues for this club are $50 and it includes a lifetime membership (not a bad deal considering what you’re getting). At every meeting there is a special event planned such as a guest speaker. These meetings are meant to help you get ready for job fairs and any future job you might get. It is all about helping you get internships, co-ops or learning about study abroad options for your major. Some examples of these meeting topics include a resume review, creating a LinkedIn, mock expos, etc. All of these activities are meant to help your professional career.
By joining this club, you can get help from the upperclassmen or graduate members for advice on what to wear or what to do for an upcoming job interview, or even get homework help. We take a lot of the same classes, especially during the first year at Virginia Tech. Members are always willing to help each other. We are there to support each other. We want to see others succeed with their professional career development. That’s the whole point of this club. We build friendships and meet people who can help us prepare for our future.
Your membership also makes you eligible for many scholarships. There hundreds of scholarships to choose from. I would highly suggest joining this club and paying the dues. It will definitely pay off in the end. You will earn back the money easily once you start getting job offers and receiving scholarships (if you choose to apply…which all of you should). You even get access to webinars and podcasts that can help you prepare for your life after college. Every couple months SWE hosts conferences across the country that you can participate in. These are a great way to meet new people and find something else to add to your resume. If there is only one club or organization you chose to join at Virginia Tech, this should be it. There are so many benefits and you will regret it if you don’t.
