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College Timelines

Last updated August 15, 2018

Freshman Year:

• Begin self-exploration and assessment of your interests, abilities, skills and values.  Career Services has access to a career assessment you can complete on-line anytime.  Afterwards, schedule an appointment with Career Services to analyze your results and map out your short term plans and goals.
• Research areas you are interested in learning more about.  This can be done with alumni connections, informational interviews, sessions with Career Services or through research on-line and in the library.  Check out our tools on the website, including America’s Career Infonet and O*Net . Begin to take 100 level courses within your area of interest and take other electives and general education courses that you think you might enjoy.
• Get acquainted with faculty, academic advisors and counselors who can help you with your career plans.
• If you are considering graduate, medical or law school, begin investigating your options and prerequisites as soon as possible. See Graduate School Timelines. You may also want to consider pursuing a prestigious fellowship experience.  Contact Career Service for more information on the pre-application for the Rhodes Scholarship.

Sophomore Year:

• Officially declare your major by second semester (Registrar’s Office).
• Identify typically work duties, values and lifestyle norms of your career area.
• Begin to investigate possible internships or independent research projects that will help you attain your Morningside goals.
• Develop a resume and meet with Career Services to evaluate it.
• Schedule an appointment with Career Services for a mock interview.
• Identify an alumni mentor through Career Services or the Alumni Office to discuss your plans and get advice on setting and meeting your goals.
• You may also want to consider pursuing a prestigious fellowship experience.  Contact Career Service for more information on the pre-application for the Rhodes Scholarship.

Junior Year:

• Update your resume, develop a cover letter and meet with Career Services for evaluation.
• Confirm an internship or individual research project and get it approved by your academic advisor.  Internship opportunities are available on the Handshake job site.
• Investigate professional organizations within your area of interest.
• If you are considering graduate school, begin researching immediately.

Senior Year:

• Update and refine your resume.
• Begin your job search plans.  Identify the career areas you would like to work in, geographic location, target employers and salary requirements.
• Attend Job fairs, networking events and on-campus interviews with employers.
• Check out the job postings on-line.
• Construct alternate career plans as a back up.
• Evaluate job offers, and update Career Services on your post graduation plans.

Anytime:

• Communicate with your advisor to ensure you are taking courses in the correct sequence.
• Continue to self assess yourself through volunteer, service learning, extra-curricular activities, employment or job shadowing experiences within your area of interest or chosen career field.
• Consider taking leadership roles in campus or community organizations to hone your communication and presentation skills
• Check out the Handshake job site.