Learn more about electrical systems and components by building a radio or a central processing unit of a computer. Get involved in your school's science club to meet others who share your interests and participate in student competitions. Professional associations such as the Technology Student Association offer academic competitions as well as career programs that help students hone their technology skills. Learn more about TSA competitions at https://tsaweb.org/competitions-programs/tsa/themes-problems.

Attend a summer program in electrical engineering to learn more about the field. Michigan Technological University (https://www.mtu.edu/syp), for example, offers summer youth programs in engineering, computers, electronics, and robotics, as well as recreational activities.

Find answers to frequently asked questions about engineering careers by visiting the American Society for Engineering Education’s precollege Web site, http://egfi-k12.org. Find publications on electrical engineering on the IEEE's Web site, https://www.ieee.org/publications_standards/index.html.

The electrical engineering field is diverse, and is connected to many other fields of applied science and technology. Electrical engineering technologists use their knowledge of the sciences in the practical applications of electrical energy. They help electrical engineers with the design, construction, and operation of electrical systems and devices.

Electrical energy is part of our everyday lives, from our home lighting systems and our televisions and telephones to electrical systems in cars, blood-pressure monitors, MP3 players, video games, computers, and more. Electrical engineers and engineering technologists work on these and other types of products. Specializations vary, including such areas as communications, robotics, or automobiles.

Electrical engineering technologists assist electrical engineers to develop and improve high-power electricity transmission systems and equipment. They may help in the design and construction of power plants and the manufacture and maintenance of industrial machinery. Electrical engineering technologists test and review electrical systems, components, and assemblies. They prepare layouts for electrical distribution or transmission systems, and make sure the plans follow design specifications and comply with electrical regulations and standards. Technologists also calculate the costs of materials and resources, and create project budgets and schedules.

Electrical engineering technologists use various scientific and analytical software programs to create electrical systems plans, record and analyze data, and write reports.