Are you horrified at the prospect of an uncertain future after graduation? It is not too late to strengthen your application profile with some real world experience. Experiential opportunities at UMBC are plentiful and can play a significant role in your ability to excel as a prospective job applicant or competitive graduate school candidate.
Here's the ONE-TWO-THREE of Experiential Learning at UMBC!
ONE: INTERNSHIPS
If your first two years at UMBC have not included an internship because you have been busy taking required courses, now could be the time to add an internship for the Winter Session or Spring 2015 semester. Every year the Career Center sponsors 1,500 UMBC students with internships, co-ops, service learning (Shriver Center) and research experiences in more than 500 public and private organizations in the Baltimore/Washington area and across the globe.
In addition, many academic departments sponsor internships, such as the administrative and legal internships in the Political Science Department and the journalism internship in the English Department. These experiences will catch the eye of a potential future employer and a graduate school admissions committee. And an internship during the junior or senior years can sometimes lead to a job offer from the internship host firm or agency.
Next Steps to an Internship:
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
Tue, 10/14/2014, 12:00 to 1:00 pm
Commons 331
UMBC Intern Success Conference
Wed, 10/29/2014, 4:30 to 8:00 pm
Skylight Room, The Commons
TWO: RESEARCH
Faculty-sponsored research is often a distinguishing hallmark of top-tier UMBC graduates, and is available in almost every academic discipline (not just in the sciences and engineering). Indeed, research and creative project opportunities within your major may be more accessible than you think and could provide you with that “difference-making” element in your portfolio.
Not only do UMBC professors mentor undergraduates conducting independent research, but UMBC provides research grants (i.e. $$$$ money) to students to help meet project costs, including supplies, equipment, and travel. If you put together a Undergraduate Research Award proposal now and submit it by the February 2015 deadline, you could have a project funded to take place during your senior year. This could be a capstone project for Departmental honors or a senior thesis. The Office of Undergraduate Education offers comprehensive resources and supportwith respect to undergraduate research at UMBC.
Next Step to Research:
Get Started with Research - A one-hour workshop designed to equip students with the skills and strategies necessary to find an undergraduate research experience.
Fri, 11/7/2014, 12:00 to 1:00 pm
THREE: STUDY ABROAD
Study abroad not only builds global awareness and self-reliance, but for the student nearing graduation it offers a unique perspective from which to evaluate and assess career interests and future directions. Some students even decide to pursue careers in international business or to pursue graduate study in languages or area studies. Juniors who have not already arranged a study abroad experience may yet be able to fit one in before graduation if you move quickly.
Even a brief experience over Winter Session, spring break, or in the summer can be very meaningful. For example, the Ancient Studies department offers study/travel courses over the spring break, including a planned trip to Turkey in March 2015. Study abroad is even possible in the fall semester of your senior year, but it must be planned many months in advance. UMBC’s Study Abroad Office is the best place to learn more about specific programs as well as strategies for making study abroad happen for you.
Next Step to Studying Abroad
Study Abroad 101 sessions are held each week throughout the semester in 218 Administration Building at the following times:
Mondays: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Thursdays: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
You only need to come to one session to get all the tools you need to start planning your international experience. Get your basic questions answered and learn how to start planning for your semester, summer, year or January term overseas. No pre-registration needed!
All of these experiential learning opportunities are still available for you during your final semesters here at UMBC and could lead to a “capstone” event that genuinely solidifies your academic and career plans. Remember, time waits for no one. And you certainly don’t want to be fearful about your future!
EXTRA CREDIT DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Have you had a research, internship, or study abroad experience that changed your thinking about what you would like to do after UMBC? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
