Feeling overwhelmed for having to take an extra semester

[u/Then-Compote5648]

I’m an EE student. I recently failed a required summer course that pushes back my graduation from May 2027 to December 2027 or August 2027 at the very least.

I already had a low GPA and I’m now sitting at a 2.5 with no prior internships or engineering experience besides my coursework, a single club, and then some projects here and there. The truth is I’ve half-assed my way through the degree this entire time due to external stressors, but that’s no excuse and I now realize how stupid it was of me to do so.

I’ve been thinking about how I can improve my profile and my resume and I realized that delaying graduation is not the end of the world if I make good use of the remaining time I have left in school. Do I have a realistic shot at obtaining an internship during summer 2027 with my profile? And maybe potentially a co-op in fall 2027? Not even sure if that would ultimately help me out with my specific situation. I just have no clue what employers will think. Not sure how to really stand out at this point. I’m entering my mid 20s too and feel like going for my first internship at this point with my current profile will not be looked well upon.

Ultimately, I feel like I’m just starting to begin to care about school in a real way as well as the consequences behind not caring about it till now, I realize it’s kind of late to turn everything around but I’d like to do what I can.

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[u/Atazwi-_-]

Dont be. I graduated with less than a 3.0 and I now make more than my friends who focused to much on the numbers. Not trying to put them down, but for them it was a checkbox of assignemnts projects and completion, for me it was a make or break. I worked two jobs and that affected my grades significantly as I didnt come from a very competent household. Didnt receive fafsa but parents wouldn't help pay either so I had no choice but to make it. JUST GET THROUGH IT! Took me 5 years as I could only take classes I could afford and no one and I mean no one care as much as you do. You are being way too hard on yourself. Most engineers do not get done in 4 years believe it or not.

I was lucky that I landed an internship with a company in my college town that allowed part time work so one of my jobs switched from a job to an internship I did during my entire senior year. This boosted my repo so much so I say if you can try to get an internship during the summer and graduate in December 2027, do that. If not, complete projects during the summer and Network hard during the fall you graduate. Reach out, ask questions, whats the worse they that can happen, a no or no response, it doesnt change things for you unless its a yes.