Sending emails and using social media tools to connect online is helpful but there’s no substitute for a traditional, face-to-face meeting. If you can find a way to meet in person, shoot for that first.
Start building your network while still in school. Make sure that you attend all the lectures on your campus and introduce yourself to the speakers if you have the opportunity. Also check with your school’s alumni association to get a list of alumni from your program who want to connect with undergraduates. This will get you on your way to opening many doors come graduation time.
When it comes to valuable opportunities, whom you know is almost as important as what you know.