| Explore | Year 1 | | | | - Complete your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
- Consider applying for a federal work-study (FWS) job on- or off-campus through Handshake.
- Create a draft resume and meet with a career advisor in VCU Career Services to discuss it.
- Engage deeply in master classes and workshops.
- Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation with the da Vinci Center.
- Explore The Vault to learn about employers/ job titles related to your field.
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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.
- Seek out volunteer and work study opportunities related to music.
- Talk to your professors about research interests, picking future classes, and strategies for success in your program.
| | - 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.
- Expand your knowledge of non-European musical cultures and practices in MHIS 120 Introduction to World Musical Styles.
- Apply for a Dean’s International Study Grant.
| - Apply for scholarships to participate in summer music festivals or other summer opportunities.
- 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.
| - 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.
- Develop professional performance skills through lessons, theory and aural skills, and ensembles.
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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.
- Discuss research interests with faculty and consider developing an independent study proposal.
- 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.
- Complete a foreign language through the 102 level.
| | - Apply to be a Diversity Ambassador with the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.
- Consider taking a service-learning course such as Music and Social Justice.
- Richmond is known for hosting a wide array of festivals! Learn about new cultures, food, and music by attending one of these events.
- Update your resume to include how you have developed your communication and interpersonal skills for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
- Practice and improve your language skills in CLC conversation groups. If pursuing, complete your semester study abroad.
| | - 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 VCU Career Services about graduate school versus a job.
- Make a business plan for freelance work and meet with a Money Coach at The Money Spot.
- Create a professional website and use social media to connect with audiences and other musicians.
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| Excel | Year 4 | - Attend professional organization conferences such as MTNA, ACDA, NATS, ASTA, or JEN and participate in mentorship programs.
- Engage in Cross-disciplinary Arts or other courses that integrate project-based and collaborative learning.
- Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation to ensure all graduation requirements will be met.
- Complete capstone experience integrating resume preparation and professional development within the field of music in APPM 492: Senior Project: Portfolio Review.
| | - 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.
- Analyze music in different cultural contexts through courses such as Music History I & II, Jazz History, and Music of the African Continent and Diaspora.
- Consider applying for a year-long service opportunity after graduation through programs like VCU AmeriCorps, Literacy Lab, Peace Corps, Fulbright Student Scholars, Teach for America and City Year.
| - Continue to engage in research to create more content for your ePortfolio.
- 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).
- Learn about relevant topics such as copyright, business organization, music production, management, recording, freelancing, grants, and careers allied with music in MHIS 380: Survey of the Music Industry.
| - 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.
- Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
- Develop connections with musicians, businesses, and organizations in your field. Apply for an internship through the Music Department and a VCUarts internship grant.
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