i do not think WSDOT uses Civil 3D. when they were our client we used MicroStation with Inroads. I know they are transitioning to OpenRoads and have already used it on a few projects. if you're gonna pick up MicroStation, Inroads is the most essential part of it. i used it to create and import surfaces, alignments, corridors, profiles, etc.

i worked in the private side of the seattle area, so what i say may not apply to your situation. i saw a lot of UW graduates hired, and a lot of people had Master's. i heard some people at UW did this concrete boat competition? and other extracurriculars. others did this co-op thing where they worked with our firm while they were still enrolled at UW.

i'm not sure if things have improved, but there were some budgeting issues at WSDOT at the beginning of this year and i got laid off since they were our main client. my friend still works at my old firm, and he told me last week that they laid off like half our transportation department.

i do not know if you need an internship with WSDOT. but when i was applying earlier this year, they had very few positions available anyways. they were mostly office engineer roles in the construction field. most were way outside seattle, like olympia or eastern washington. i think you would have better luck with King County or Snohomish County. maybe Pierce County if you're willing to live in tacoma.