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.

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 2012 semester. Every year the Shriver Center sponsors 1,500 UMBC students with internships, co-ops, service learning and research experiences in more than 500 public and private organizations in the Baltimore/Washington area and across the globe http://shrivercenter.umbc.edu/students/internco-opresearch/about-internshipco-op.  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.

Research

Faculty-sponsored research is often a truly 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
http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad_ed/research/ 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 costs.  If you put together a proposal now and submit it by the March 2012 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.

Study Abroad

Study abroad not only fosters 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.  http://www.umbc.edu/ies/studyabroad/  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 Southern Italy this March. Study abroad is even possible in the fall semester of your senior year, but it must be planned many months in advance.  

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!

Examples of Actions You Can Take Now!

Undergraduate Research Workshop
Learn how to get started in undergraduate research
Monday, November 14   12:00-12:50 pm
Room ITE 456
No pre-registration needed!

U.S. State Department Summer 2012 Internship
Internships are available in many bureaus.
Deadline extended to November 7
Click here for full details:
http://my.umbc.edu/groups/shriver/news/9833

SEO Summer 2012 Internships (mainly for juniors)
The SEO Career Program places students of color interested in finance, philanthropy, business and corporate law in internships with competitive pay, rigorous training, support through mentors, and broad access to industry professionals. Many interns are offered permanent jobs after graduation.
Click here for details:
http://my.umbc.edu/groups/shriver/news/9853

Study Abroad 101
A one hour overview of options, financing and how to apply
Held twice every week during the semester in Room 218 AD Bldg.
Mondays - 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Thursdays - 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
No pre-registration needed!

EXTRA CREDIT BONUS QUESTION:

What are the three main types of experiential learning at UMBC that can help your future prospects?