| Explore | Year 1 | | | | | - Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile, connect to at least 10 people, and check out the VCU alumni page.
- Explore “What Can I Do With This Major” to learn about employers in your field of study.
- Join Students Today Alumni Tomorrow (STAT) to connect to VCU traditions, networking opportunities, and fellow Rams.
- Attend Engineering Internship/Career Fairs.
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| Experience | Year 2 | - Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide. Ask questions about how to use the library.
- Schedule an appointment with your advisor and explore minors, certificates, and skills-based value added courses.
- Talk to your professors about research interests, picking future classes, and strategies for success in your program.
- Continue coursework in programming, math, chemistry, and physics.
- Consider Accelerated Master’s, added at end of second year.
| | - Consider short-term, semester and year-long Study Abroad opportunities.
- Get to know other VCU students and meet new friends from all over the world at a monthly Global Café.
- Join a cultural or identity-related organization.
- Consider short-term, semester, and year-long study abroad opportunities.
- Learn the historical and current events that have shaped cultures to which you have been underexposed.
| - Attend Career & Internship Fairs and other professional development events.
- Complete a “Gap Analysis” Strategic Plan with your academic or career advisor.
- Create an ePortfolio to document academic/professional experiences, accomplishments, and reflections.
- Gain practical experience related to career goals through internships, shadowing, part-time work, or independent skill building.
- Take ENGR 395 Professional Development & gain key skills for finding internships, co-op’s, or research opportunities.
- Apply for internships, co-ops, and VIP Teams.
| - Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
- Consider who you would ask to serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Get plugged into VCULink to connect with students and alumni.
- Meet with a coach at The Money Spot to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
- Attend Engineering Internship/Career Fairs.
- Consider attending a national career fair (SWE, SHPE, NSBE) to gain exposure to more employers.
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| Year 3 | - Deepen your expertise at finding information in your discipline by working with your subject expert librarian & using research guides.
- Enhance your business, software, technology and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
- See your academic and career advisors regularly to discuss your progress towards graduation and career planning.
- Attend or present a poster at a scientific meeting or conference.
- Consider the Cybersecurity or Data Science Certificates for meeting upper level CMSC elective requirement.
| | | | - Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
- Research graduate/professional schools at least 1 year in advance of deadlines. Study for and complete any exams the summer before senior year.
- Talk to advisors, faculty, and Engineering Career Services about graduate school versus a job.
- Attend the Engineering Internship & Career Fair.
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| Excel | Year 4 | - Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation to ensure all graduation requirements will be met.
- Choose CMSC electives relevant to your preferred post-graduation opportunities.
- Declare any possible outstanding minors for which you may already have credit (Math, for example).
| | - Read scholarly articles about diversity in your field.
- Reflect on your own cultural competency, and be prepared to answer interview questions that outline how you have worked with diverse populations.
- Continue to explore cultures beyond your own through scholarly and recreational avenues.
- Visit the Museum District’s many offerings, such as the VMFA and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.
| - Continue to engage in research to create more content for your ePortfolio.
- Gain practical experience through internships, externships and skill building.
- Present your research at conference/meeting such as UROP Undergraduate Research Symposium or other conferences.
- Reflect on the experiential learning you have engaged in thus far, and discuss with current or potential mentors (peers, faculty, advisors, alumni, professionals).
| - Complete exams, applications, or self-marketing activities for after graduation.
- Consider training to become an educator through programs like RTR, which prepares graduates from a variety of majors to become effective teachers in high-need schools.
- Engage with the VCU Alumni Association at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and by joining a VCULink Industry Network and alumni chapter as you prepare to graduate.
- Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed and do a mock interview through InterviewStream or with a career advisor.
- Meet with a career advisor in Engineering Career Services.
- Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
- Attend Engineering Internship/Career Fairs.
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