This summer, UChicago College students are making an impact in workplaces across the U.S. and around the world—in part through thousands of opportunities secured this year with support from UChicago Career Advancement.
Career Advancement helps College students of all interests and majors apply their UChicago education to a fulfilling career. The office works with thousands of employer partners all over the world to create job and internship opportunities for students.
“Careers aren’t just a way to make a living—they’re an opportunity to do something bigger than yourself,” said Meredith Daw, associate vice president and executive director of Career Advancement. “They give you a sense of purpose, belonging and being a member of the community.”
We sat down with Meredith to learn more about the work of Career Advancement, Class of 2025 outcomes and how UChicago students can make the most of their summer.
Last month, we celebrated the Class of 2025. What can you tell us about where they headed after graduation?
We are very proud of the Class of 2025—98% of graduating College students received an offer for employment, graduate school or other post-college opportunities! nExperience played a key role in the class’s success. Between internships, research, class projects and RSOs, the Class of 2025 went into the job market very well prepared.
The class secured opportunities in a wide range of career fields. Some of the most popular industries include consulting, finance, STEM and public interest fields such as government, nonprofits and education.
Many students spend their summers in the College completing internships. Why are these experiences so important?
Internships give you a chance to try out a career field. Even if you decide something is not a good fit, you can take the experience and use it to secure your next opportunity.
To help students find the right career, we work closely with employers to create Metcalf internships in many industries. This includes traditional fields like the arts, business and policy as well as “careers of the future” like artificial intelligence, biotech, data science, gaming, and quantum science.
The College also offers many options beyond internships to get experience over the summer. Research, study abroad, community service, language study, summer courses—all of these are great options to get experience and build your resume!
Do you have any advice for students who are interning this summer?
Now is a great time to set up a meeting with your manager and touch base about how the experience is going. Ask them for feedback on your performance so far: what has gone well? Where can you improve? What projects do they want you to prioritize for the rest of the summer?
This is also a good opportunity to do some self-reflection. Are you enjoying this experience? Can you see yourself working long-term in this industry or with this type of organization? How can you use what you are learning for future jobs and internships?
If you enjoyed your experience, it never hurts to ask your manager whether there are opportunities to stay involved with the organization during the academic year and beyond.
Either way, once you get to the end of your internship, be sure to thank everyone you worked with and ask your supervisor if they would be willing to serve as a reference.
Is there anything new coming up this year that students can look forward to?
We are significantly expanding our career competitions this year. Competitions are a great way for students to build experience and show their skills to employers. In most cases, no prior experience is required to participate.
This year, we will be launching new competitions focused on cryptocurrency, fixed income investing, healthcare, rural innovation and sports business. This is on top of our existing competitions in game design, policy, stock investing, tech and more.
Whether it’s a competition, career trek, job shadowing or an internship, the most important thing is to get involved and try things out. Going to that first event can be the gateway that leads to a lifelong career!