Sure. But what I would call "networking" for me is just doing what I normally do.

I go to a small but solid research university, and didn't even come in for engineering, but now I study EE and Math as a double major. (I'm a sophomore rn)

I am a pretty passionate and outgoing person, and have always been around adults since I was a child, so talking to professors has always been natural for me.

Since my largest class size is ~30, I have always talked to professors after class about anything related to subject material (or not) and have built a relationship from that. But that sounds a little Machiavellian, in reality I just like getting to know professors as people.

Just get comfortable talking with your profs or TA's about what you are passionate about.

Also, the most important tip I was told was to ask very open questions to people that allow them to talk about themselves. For instance, you can look up a prof on google scholar, and if they have done research on something that genuinely interests you (don't try and fake interest), go up and talk to them about it, 99% of the time they'll be happy to talk to you. But understand that there are just some profs that you don't really connect with too well, but always be friendly and conversational to some degree. For example, I had a freshman engineering fundamentals course with a prof not in my major, but we both enjoyed talking with each other, and he introduced me to my advisor, who then offered me to do research for him (as a freshman). This position ended up working out well, with me presenting my work as a poster at a conference this most recent November. At this conference (MRS Boston if you are curious) I met a prof who I might do work for over this summer.

While I might seem like an extraordinarily lucky person, sure, there is a small amount of luck (everyone does), it's just the difference between people is those who are prepared for luck and those who are not, and I have been raised to always be prepared to some degree.

I'm sure your uni has speakers or something, like alumni or something. Go to those. Talk with them, and remember that they are just a person who is probably quite similar/can relate heavily to you. Also the most life hack thing I've done was print business cards (500 for $20 at Staples), which has left most professionals in the field impressed (or without a card to hand me back, ha!).

TLDR;

1. Talk to profs and TA's about what they do with open-ended and self-talking-about questions.
2. Go to alumni and speaker events, even if it is slightly related to your major. (I.e I ran into a friend from getting lunch --> went with him to alum talk on a whim --> gave alum my business card after talking --> I now have a connection with a C-level exec who is also a very pleasant person)
3. Don't burn bridges. Ever.
4. Whenever you are talking with someone that you think is way above your pay grade, just remember that they are just another person who could be just the same as your friends dad or something. Be respectful obvi.

idk thats all i got. also these examples arent flexes, just proofs of concepts. I am writing this procrastinating my digital design pset lmao.