It is never too early for students to start planning and preparing for life after graduation.
That’s the philosophy behind “What’s Next? Week,” a series of academic and career information sessions designed to help Arts and Letters majors—from first-year students to seniors—make the most of their time at Notre Dame. Co-sponsored by The Career Center and the College of Arts and Letters, the evening workshops and roundtables will cover topics from graduate and professional school to landing an internship or doing research during the week of November 16–19.
The sessions are designed to help students take what Stuart Greene, associate dean for undergraduate studies and co-organizer of the event, refers to as the long view of their studies. Even beginning sophomores, for example, need to be intentional and strategic about their academic careers.
“It’s easy for students to get caught up in making decisions about majors and what courses to take,” says Greene. “But we want students to take full advantage of everything a liberal arts education has to offer at Notre Dame. Our goal in developing events like ’What’s Next?’ is to help students consider how the courses they take might relate to the study abroad experience, plan what kind of research or internship they might do, and think about how all that fits with where they see themselves after graduation.”
As part of this process, students should also build a team of faculty and advisors who can help them weigh the value of all the opportunities available to them, he notes. “The ‘What’s Next?’ presentations on internships, graduate and professional school, and fellowships will cover a lot of information,” Greene says, “but students will have questions and a network of advisors can provide much needed support as they prepare for the future.”
Lee Svete, director of The Career Center, adds, “We encourage students to explore a variety of opportunities early in their careers at Notre Dame so they can truly pursue any path that interests them after graduation. The events of ‘What’s Next? Week’ aim to give Arts and Letters students an edge in a competitive market.”
Schedule of Events:Monday, November 16
Thinking About Graduate and Professional School
6:30 – 8 pm
LaFortune Ballroom
Tuesday, November 17
Contributions of Arts and Letters Majors to Society, Business, and Global Relations
6:30 – 8:30 pm
LaFortune Ballroom
Wednesday, November 18
Finding Internships, Fellowships, Research, and Funding
6:30 – 8 pm
LaFortune Ballroom
Thursday, November 19
Landing Your Job or Internship: Employer Presentations and Mini Career Fair
6:30 – 8:30 pm
LaFortune Ballroom
“What’s Next? Week” is co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Letters and The Career Center. For more information, call the College of Arts and Letters’ Office of Undergraduate Studies at 574.631.7098 or go to careercenter.nd.edu.
Originally published by at newsinfo.nd.edu on November 05, 2009.