Parents & Families

At UChicago, career support begins before students arrive on campus:

• First-Year Career Adviser: During the summer between high school college, your student is matched with an assigned career adviser who will provide personalized support and help them build a plan for their next four years.

• Career Exploration Week: Career Exploration Week programs are an opportunity for incoming students to do a deep dive into their career field of interest before arriving on campus. Held each year in early September, these programs connect students with UChicago alumni, employer partners, and Career Advancement staff in a particular city, and help build community among incoming students through fun group activities – all while safely exploring a new, exciting city!

• First Year Career Cohorts: First Year Career Cohorts help students get on the fast track to success! These programs span several different industries and offer intensive programming that includes professional development workshops, support from industry experts, and funded internship opportunities. Students apply for these programs during the summer of matriculation, and programming begins during the first year.

• Exploring Future Careers: In Autumn Quarter of the first year, your student will hit the ground running at Exploring Future Careers, an event that will introduce them to the many exciting summer opportunities UChicago offers.

Prior experience is the #1 factor in employer hiring decisions. Your student can get hands-on professional experience by taking advantage of the following programs.

All of these programs help your student explore their interests, build their resume, and get their foot in the door. They put students in a very competitive position for future job opportunities. Students can take advantage of these programs even if they have no prior experience!

• Job Shadowing: opportunities for students to experience a “day in the life” of their dream job by shadowing successful alumni (and parents!). The program is noncompetitive and a great first stop for students.

• Jeff Metcalf Internship Program: provides 4,500+ paid, substantive internships over the summer and throughout the academic year. Opportunities are available in a wide variety of industries and locations.

• "Build Your Own Internship" Grants: students can apply for funding to pursue internships with their preferred employer.

• Career Treks: networking experiences where student travel to cities throughout the U.S. and around the world to visit employers in their field of interest.

UChicago makes it easy for your student to break into their target industry with our specialized "Careers in" preprofessional programs. Led by industry experts, these programs offer specialized advising, trainings in both technical and soft skills, and networking opportunities. "Careers in" programs prepare students for careers in more than 14 different industries, including:

• Recruiting Timelines: our expert advisers help your students at every stage of their search. This page maps out application timelines by industry.

• “4+1” Master's Programs: opportunity for students to graduate with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, typically within 5 years, while receiving scholarships and enhanced career support.