College Advising:

Check in with your college advisor early in your first and second semester. The main purpose of these meetings is to discuss your academic and personal goals, including what classes you plan to take.

FroCo's:

Contact your First Year Counselor (FroCo)* for information and support regarding student life and academics. They can also point you to people who are interested in the same career path(s) as you.

Peer Liaisons:

Peer Liaisons (PLs) are upperlevel students who help connect first year students to the wealth of support and programming initiatives based in the Office of LGBTQ Resources, the University Chaplain’s Office, the Office of International Students and Scholars, the Afro-American Cultural Center, the Asian American Cultural Center, the La Casa: Latino Cultural Center, and the Native American Cultural Center. Peer Liaisons serve as an invaluable resource for first year students, as their principle responsibility is to facilitate new students’ successful transition into college academically, personally, and socially. Request a Peer Liaison: Peer Liaison Request Form.

Online websites:

Learn how to use Yale SIS, the Office of Career Strategy, Revelo, 1stGenYale, etc.

Clubs:

Join at least two campus organizations, including one related to your academic or career interests, at the beginning of the year. Yale has over 200 athletic teams, performance groups, and cultural associations to get involved in.

Student Government:

If you are interested, consider joining the Yale College Council or your residential college's council. The YCC holds elections for all class council representatives in the Fall. Each Spring, two Senators are elected from each residential college to join the YCC.

Pre-Med:

If you are Pre-Med, visit https://ocs.yale.edu/channels/health-professions/ to schedule advising sessions.

Study Abroad:

Consider applying to a study abroad program for the summer or upcoming school year. To learn more about Yale's hundreds of programs and funding, visit Yale Study Abroad. Applications open in January, so start researching programs in November or December. You can combine 1stGenYale Summer Bulldogs internships with other summer experiences, so remember to check out all your options.

Summer Internships:

Begin applying in November or December. If you are interested, consider applying for the SEA to fund one! Applications such as 1stGenYale Summer Bulldogs are due as early as January, so start researching positions in November or December. 1stGenYale Summer Bulldogs offers internships with Yale faculty, non-profits and for-profit companies throughout the U. S. and abroad. Visit the Office of Career Strategy for more information.

Research:

Identify opportunities to engage in research within your academic area of interest. Consider applying for the First-Year Summer Research Fellowship to participate in a 10-week long summer research experience. Applications for the fellowship are due in March, so start yours early.

Grad/Professional School: If you are interested in applying, visit Applying to Graduate & Professional School to familiarize yourself with the process. Develop a timeline for admission tests and requirements. Connect to OCS's grad school advisors and the Mellon Mays/Bouchet Undergraduate Fellowship program.

References:

Identify references for jobs or graduate/professional school among faculty, advisors, employers, and alumni. Letters of Evaluation/Recommendation might be needed for summer internships as well as postgraduate jobs or graduate/professional school. Seek their permission and share your plans prior to applying. Here are links to letters of recommendation info on the OCS site:

Health Professions Letters of Evaluation

Graduate School Letters of Recommendation

Interview Prep:

Participate in a mock interview for employment or graduate school admission with Big Interview, an online tool licensed by the Office of Career Strategy. The OCS Interview Preparation page will get you ready!

*Familiarize yourself with Yale Lingo and common terms.

Career Assessment:

If you are currently interning, researching, or working part-time, ask yourself if the position is related to your career goals. If not, challenge yourself to seek new opportunities.

Internships:

Search and apply for career-related summer internships through Yale Career Link, CareerShift, Handshake*, and LinkedIn. Start your search as early as September in order to secure a professional experience on time. It is important to consider the specific industry timelines. If you are interested in finance/consulting, you need to have applied during sophomore summer. Internship deadlines for one’s junior summer can start as early as the July prior to Junior year and continue throughout one’s junior year.

*The Office of Career Strategy does not have a direct relationship with Handshake, and, unlike Yale Career Link, the opportunities have not been vetted in any way. Students are strongly encouraged to read the data privacy language before registering for Handshake.

Interview Prep:

Participate in a mock interview for employment or graduate school admission with Big Interview, an online tool licensed by the Office of Career Strategy. Check out OCS Interview Preparation.

Summer and Post-College Fellowships

Apply for domestic and international fellowships through the Office of Fellowships and Funding. Although fellowship deadlines are early, one does not need to have a position secured to apply for fellowships. Apply for both the positions and fellowships, then match them up later.

Networking:

Connect with employers by attending career fairs and networking events. Network with Yale alumni through Yale Cross Campus, the annual 1stGenYale Career Networking Mixer held on campus in November, and password-protected Yale College Peer Lists and Class Lists, enabling students to contact recent Yale College graduates and current students to discuss their post-graduate roles and summer employment experiences.

Career Assessment: If you are currently interning, researching, or working part-time, ask yourself if the position is related to your career goals. If not, challenge yourself to seek new opportunities.

Yale Clubs:

Join the Yale Club in your area to connect with local alumni through networking socials, educational events, community projects, and recreational activities.

Yale Alumni Association Shared Interest Groups (SIGs)

Join the 70 YAA SIGs to connect with alumni on identity, interest, and Yale organizations.

Seeking Employment:

If you are seeking employment opportunities, utilize OCS's resources, which are available to alumni for life. OCS works with students and alumni of Yale College, the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and postdoctoral fellows to clarify career aspirations, identify opportunities, and offer support at every state of career development. 

Leadership Roles:

Consider taking on a leadership role within the Yale community. Explore volunteer opportunities including mentorship, service activities, or speaking at a career event.

Finance:

Build your financial literacy and take advantage of financial guidance resources available to you.