University of Chicago Career Toolkit

Schedule 1:1 appointments via Handshake: Career Center tab → Appointments → Schedule a New Appointment. First-years select '1st Year Assigned Adviser Appointment.' In-person, phone, or virtual options all available. Send all application materials to your adviser at least 24 hours before any document review appointment. Come prepared — advisers are most useful when you have specific questions about a role, industry, or application, not when you're starting from zero.

Career Advancement explicitly advises students to: research their target organizations before the appointment, subscribe to career newsletters for their fields of interest, monitor Handshake for new postings, review the Metcalf spreadsheet for current opportunities, and come with specific questions rather than general ones. For document review appointments, send materials at least 24 hours in advance. For interview prep, request a Practice Interview appointment specifically — it's a different appointment type from general advising.

Career Advancement's 14 specialized industry communities each have a dedicated adviser with real industry background, industry-specific programming, employer relationships, and curated resources. Communities: Arts & Humanities, Business & Finance, Consulting, Data & Technology, Education & Social Sciences, Engineering & Physical Sciences, Environment & Sustainability, Global Health & Health Policy, Government & International Affairs, Law, Media & Communications, Medicine & Life Sciences, Public Interest, and Social Impact. Use these as the entry point for industry-specific advising — not as substitutes for it.

Career Advancement publishes regular industry newsletters including: Metcalf Program (weekly opportunity spreadsheet), Careers in Arts and Humanities, Careers in Law, Careers in Policy and Social Impact, Climate and Energy Careers, Global Health and Health Policy, Careers in Technology, and more. The Metcalf newsletter alone is worth subscribing to from your first week — it includes a filterable spreadsheet of every current internship opportunity available to UChicago students, sortable by industry, location, and eligibility.

Career Advancement advises on law school, MBA, PhD, MD, and all other graduate and professional program applications — personal statements, program research, timelines, and interview prep. UChicago's 90% law school acceptance rate reflects both strong advising and institutional reputation. Important: nationally competitive fellowships (Rhodes, Marshall, Gates Cambridge, Churchill, Schwarzman, NSF, Goldwater, Truman, Fulbright) are handled by the College Center for Research and Fellowships (CCRF), not Career Advancement — go to CCRF separately for those.

Structured mock interview program — book as a 'Practice Interview' appointment type in Handshake, separate from general advising. Specify your target industry, employer, and interview format (behavioral, technical, or case). Advisers provide written feedback after each session. Most useful after you have done self-practice and know your STAR stories — the practice interview is final preparation, not the starting point.

Shadow a UChicago alumnus or parent to experience a 'day in the life' at their organization. Duration is 1–5 days, available virtually or in-person. Scheduling is flexible around your academic calendar including winter, spring, and summer breaks. The most accessible career exploration tool for first and second year students who don't yet have internships — no prior experience needed, no selectivity, just curiosity. Access via the Career Advancement student opportunities page and apply well before your target break.

Log in with your CNet ID. In the Jobs tab, type 'metcalf' in the search bar and select the current year's Metcalf label to filter to Metcalf Program opportunities. Set up job alerts for your target industries and role types — new postings are added regularly. All Metcalf postings are reviewed by Career Advancement staff. Attend employer info sessions in the Events tab — recruiters track attendance and it meaningfully improves your application odds at those firms.

Critical rules every UChicago student must know: Employers expect a response to offers within one week. If you receive multiple offers simultaneously, contact Career Advancement — do not renege without consulting them first. Reneging on any accepted offer is grounds for permanent deactivation from campus recruiting in UChicago Handshake. Metcalf fellowships are taxable income (with limited exceptions). International students working off-campus Metcalf internships in the US must apply for CPT through the Office of International Affairs. Students studying abroad are encouraged to apply and should disclose their abroad status in the cover letter.

Paid short-term professional projects (20–40 hours, 2–4 weeks) posted on a rolling basis and completable remotely year-round. Listed in Handshake alongside regular Metcalf postings — search for 'micro-metcalf.' An excellent way to build resume content between internship cycles, test out employers before a longer commitment, and explore industries without a multi-month time investment. Employers span all industries including tech, nonprofit, finance, media, and research.

Team-based paid co-op projects facilitated by an employer. Students work in small groups on a defined business challenge with a real deliverable. Different from a traditional internship — structured around the deliverable rather than a daily role. Good for students who want team consulting-style experience, want to explore a specific company before a formal application, or prefer project-based work. Access via Handshake alongside regular Metcalf postings.

Hundreds of employers conduct first-round interviews on campus at UChicago each year. All on-campus recruiting events and interview sign-ups are in Handshake. Attending an employer's information session before applying to their on-campus job posting meaningfully improves your odds — recruiters track event attendance internally. Finance, consulting, and technology firms are especially active on campus in the fall quarter.

Career Advancement's International Resource Center provides specialized guidance for international students navigating the US job and internship market. Covers CPT/OPT planning (coordinate with OIA for authorizations), H-1B visa sponsorship considerations in applications, US interview expectations and norms, and international internship searches. Book an 'International Job/Internship' appointment type via Handshake for a dedicated advising session covering your specific situation.

Written guides and downloadable templates for resumes and cover letters across all industries. Includes discipline-specific samples for business/finance, consulting, technology, law, public interest, science research, and arts/humanities. Review these before scheduling a 1:1 appointment — advisers are significantly more useful when you've already attempted a draft. A finance resume for Goldman looks very different from a consulting resume for McKinsey or a research CV for a PhD application.

Book a document review appointment via Handshake. Send materials at least 24 hours in advance. Request an adviser from the career community most aligned to your target field for the most targeted feedback — a business/finance adviser will give different feedback than a law adviser even on the same document. If you are targeting multiple industries with different resume formats, book separate appointments for each.

Book a 'Practice Interview' via Handshake — a separate appointment type from general advising. Specify your target industry, employer, and format (behavioral, technical, or case) in the notes. Advisers provide written feedback you can act on. Best used after you've done substantial self-practice and know your core STAR stories. For finance technical prep (valuation, LBO, DCF), supplement with the Trott Business Program and Careers in Business resources rather than relying solely on advising appointments.

Written guides for all 14 Careers In communities covering what roles exist, how recruiting works, what employers look for in UChicago candidates, the recruiting timeline, and recommended resources. Read the guide for your target field before your first advising appointment to establish shared context with your adviser and focus the conversation on your specific situation.

Career Advancement runs structured preparation programs timed to the recruiting calendar. The August Finance Recruiting Roadmap (Aug 12, 2025 edition: 'Networking Essentials for Summer 2027 Internships') covers finance recruiting timelines and networking strategy. The Recruiting Bootcamp Series (Aug 14–Sept 30) covers resume, cover letter, and interview foundations for all industries. Check Handshake for current year dates — these programs are offered annually and are specifically timed to fall recruiting.

Career Advancement organizes employer-partnered competitions each quarter that build skills and add a verifiable team project to your resume. The Rural Innovation Challenge (fall, sponsored by Byron Trott AB'81 MBA'82) puts teams together to design ventures for rural communities. The Fall Policy Competition works on local policy challenges with real organizations (Fall 2025 topic: Chicago budget and tax reform with the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability). Competitions are open to all experience levels and majors — no prior business background needed.

Searchable directory of UChicago alumni by industry, employer, role, and graduation year. The Network 101 guide (linked from the Career Toolkit section) provides a step-by-step framework for effective alumni outreach — including specific language for introductory emails and how to structure an informational interview conversation. UChicago alumni respond well to sincere, specific outreach. Aim for 3–5 targeted alumni per industry before recruiting season opens, not 30 generic messages.

Small-group trips bringing UChicago students on-site to visit organizations in target cities. Organized by career community — Technology treks go to Silicon Valley, Boston, New York, Shenzhen, and Tel Aviv; Business treks go to major financial centers; Policy treks go to Washington DC and Chicago government organizations. Attending a Career Trek creates a relationship foundation with a firm before formal applications open — a significant competitive advantage over cold applications. Treks are listed in Handshake events and fill quickly.

Annual week of immersive employer visits and industry exploration organized by Careers in Technology and other communities. Students visit top employers' offices, participate in workshops, and meet alumni and recruiters in a setting that makes relationship-building genuinely easier than a standard career fair. Careers in Technology specifically notes this as a way for students to 'demonstrate their talents to employers' — not just observe. Open to students of all majors.

AI technology hackathon organized by Career Advancement and open to all College majors — coders and non-coders both welcome. Teams design and ship real-world solutions using AI tools. A distinctive employer-facing event that adds a verifiable team project to your resume without requiring a CS background. Employers partner with this event specifically because they want to identify creative problem-solvers from across disciplines.

Annual networking event specifically for sophomore students interested in finance and business careers. Organized by Careers in Business alongside the Trott Business Program. Connects second-year students with alumni and employers at a stage when formal recruiting pipelines haven't yet opened — the goal is relationship-building before applications, not applications themselves. Listed in Handshake events each fall quarter.

Primary summer internship funding for all UChicago College students. You must have a secured internship offer before applying — the grant funds the experience, it does not find you one. Funds summer experiences only (academic-year internships use separate streams listed below). Review the current grant cycle timeline on Handshake for application dates — typically opens in late winter or early spring. Contact Career Advancement immediately if you have a conflict between two offers while waiting on a grant decision.

Funds off-campus academic-year internships in journalism, arts, and media during Fall and Spring quarters — distinct from summer grants. The Summer JAMGrant covers the same field for summer internships. Fall JAMGrant applications go live September 1 via Handshake each year. Additionally: the Practitioner Program funds paid projects mentored by working artists, writers, and journalists — a separate program from JAMGrant itself.

Specialized summer funding for internship experiences in human rights — with advocacy organizations, international bodies, legal services organizations, and policy groups. Listed under the internship grants page. Contact the Careers in Policy, Government & Nonprofits community adviser for program-specific details and the current application timeline. Strong for students with pre-law or international affairs interests.

Funds career projects directly connected to your academic major — particularly strong for students in sciences, social sciences, and humanities who are pursuing major-aligned applied experiences rather than traditional corporate internships. Contact your career community adviser for eligibility guidance; the key is demonstrating a direct, substantive connection between your proposed experience and your academic coursework.

Funding specifically for biological sciences students pursuing summer research internships. Distinct from the general Metcalf Summer Experience Grant — apply through the Biological Sciences Collegiate Division funding process. Access via the internship grants page or contact the Careers in Medicine & Life Sciences adviser for current cycle details. Strong for students planning careers in biomedical research, pharmaceutical companies, or health sciences.

Funding for Odyssey Scholars completing academic-year (fall or spring quarter) internships. Unlike the summer grants, this covers the academic year period specifically. Contact Career Advancement for current cycle details — program structure and timeline vary. Odyssey Scholars should contact their Odyssey adviser in addition to Career Advancement when planning academic-year internship funding.

UChicago's official directory of all 400+ Recognized Student Organizations. Filter by category (academic, cultural, service, professional, arts, athletics, identity-based) or search by keyword. Every RSO in good standing with CLI appears here — not every club has a visible external website, making Blueprint the definitive directory. Updated each Autumn Quarter when RSOs re-register.

CLI supports all RSOs with dedicated staff advisers, facility access, leadership development workshops, and two funding mechanisms: Annual Allocations (major grant cycle once per year in late Winter to mid-Spring) and the Student Government Finance Committee (smaller, ongoing funding requests reviewed weekly during quarters). If you want to start a new RSO, apply through CORSO during Fall Quarter — you'll need a minimum of 5 interested members and a faculty or staff adviser.

A selective, three-year program preparing UChicago students for careers in investment banking, sales and trading, consulting, and corporate management. Organized around four pillars: career exploration, foundational skills (Excel, accounting, financial statement analysis, case frameworks, networking), recruiting expertise, and employer networking events. Year-1 workshops cover Excel modeling, networking protocol, and financial statement analysis with real case studies. Signature events include the Consulting Symposium, Marketing Pathways, and Sophomore Finance Networking Night. Students who complete all requirements (workshops, Financial Accounting + one other Booth course with a letter grade, 3.0 GPA minimum) earn a special transcript designation. Described as having near-perfect full-time job placement rates annually. Applications open in Winter Quarter of first year — next cycle opens December 2026. Apply immediately when it opens.

Year-long program for first-year students exploring law and legal careers. Cohort benefits include tailored 1:1 career advising focused on law, networking events and expert speaker panels across legal specialties (intellectual property, entertainment law, corporate law, public interest), access to 3rd/4th year and law school student mentors, professional development workshops on resume writing and law school applications, and funded legal internship and research opportunities. Open to all incoming first-year students — no prior legal experience required. Applications evaluated during the summer before matriculation.

First-year cohort providing career resources, leadership development, and funded internship opportunities for students pursuing public interest careers including government, policy, think tanks, nonprofits, and social services. Funded internship support is a key differentiator — students in Civic Career Corps have financial access to unpaid or low-paid public interest internships that would otherwise be inaccessible. Part of Career Advancement's first-year cohort ecosystem. Applications evaluated during the summer before matriculation.

Selective first-year cohort introducing students to global and public health career paths including think tanks, multilaterals (WHO, International Rescue Committee, Médecins Sans Frontières), government, and domestic and international nonprofits. Programming includes Career Exploration Week in New York, Introduction to Global Health Careers, Global Health Policy Case Challenge, Public Health Research Careers overview, Employer Spotlight Sessions with International NGOs, and Mentorship and Networking Dinners with Global Health Scholars alumni. Contact Isabelle Trier at itrier@uchicago.edu for current cycle details.

One-year program for first-year students combining the UChicago Arts and Humanities curriculum with career skill development in film, literature, visual arts, music, gaming, theatre, animation, and academia. Brings together early-career students to explore how a humanities education translates to creative, communications, and academic careers. A direct response to the perception that UChicago's humanities strengths don't translate to careers — they do, and this cohort is structured evidence of that. Applications evaluated during the summer before matriculation.

Career Advancement organizes employer-partnered competitions each quarter building real skills and providing verifiable team project experience. The Rural Innovation Challenge (fall) tasks teams with designing ventures for rural communities — sponsored by Byron Trott AB'81 MBA'82. The Fall Policy Competition addresses Chicago-specific policy challenges with real nonprofit judges (2025: Chicago budget reform with the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability). Students receive coaching and feedback from experts regardless of outcome. Open to all experience levels and majors.

CCRF supports undergraduates in two ways: (1) undergraduate scholarly research through faculty mentorship, research grants, and the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium; and (2) nationally competitive fellowships — Rhodes, Marshall, Gates Cambridge, Churchill, Mitchell, Schwarzman, Boren, Goldwater, Truman, Udall, Fulbright, and NSF Graduate Research Fellowships. In recent cycles: 2 Marshall Scholars (Logan Hanssler and Elijah Jenkins), multiple Goldwater Scholars, multiple Fulbright recipients. Career Advancement does not advise on CCRF programs. Go to CCRF directly for both research opportunities and fellowship applications.

Searchable database of undergraduate research opportunities at UChicago — institutional, domestic, and international. Search by type: Research Opportunity (structured projects), Research Funding (grants to support your own project), Mentor (faculty who specifically invite undergraduate researchers), and Labs Institutes and Centers (research groups that regularly involve undergraduates). Important caveat from CCRF: most undergraduate research opportunities are found by reaching out directly to faculty whose published work interests you — not through the database alone. Read a professor's recent papers, identify a specific question, and send a targeted email.

CCRF's primary guidance on finding undergraduate research: identify faculty whose published research aligns with your genuine intellectual interests, read 1–2 of their recent papers in full, and send a personalized email explaining your background and specific interest in their work — not a generic 'I want to help with research' message. Generic outreach rarely succeeds. Specific, informed emails to 5–8 targeted faculty typically yield 1–2 responses. CCRF also hosts quarterly Undergraduate Research Information Sessions to help students start — check the CCRF website for current dates.

CCRF manages several grant programs supporting undergraduate research including the College Summer Institute (CSI) in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences for faculty-mentored summer research, and the Quad Faculty Research Grant Program which includes grants of up to $4,000 for third-year students conducting research in Africa for a minimum of 8 weeks. Contact CCRF for current grant cycles, amounts, and eligibility — grant programs are updated periodically and the CCRF website lists current offerings.

CCRF hosts the annual UChicago Undergraduate Research Symposium — the only campus-wide interdisciplinary celebration of undergraduate scholarly work. Students present research across all disciplines through exhibitions, oral presentations, and performances. Presenting at the symposium is a strong credential for graduate school applications and demonstrates sustained scholarly engagement that admissions committees specifically value. Any undergraduate conducting faculty-supervised research is eligible to present.

CCRF's fellowships team advises on all major national scholarships and postgraduate fellowships: Rhodes (Oxford), Marshall (UK graduate study), Gates Cambridge, Churchill, Mitchell (Ireland), Schwarzman (China), Boren (language immersion), Goldwater (STEM undergrad), Truman (public service), Udall (environment/Native American issues), Fulbright (international exchange), and NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Join the CCRF listserv (linked from the CCRF website) for upcoming information sessions, opportunity announcements, and deadlines. CCRF advises: attend an information session in your first year to understand the landscape, even if you won't apply for several years.

An early decision opportunity to attend UChicago Law School available exclusively to College alumni and current fourth-year students. Includes a merit scholarship of $150,000. Applications for the 2027 seminar open in February 2027. This is one of the most distinctive law school pathways of any university — a direct, institution-backed pipeline from the College to the Law School with substantial financial support. Students interested in this pathway should begin working with the Careers in Law adviser no later than the start of their third year.

Dedicated to promoting the success of future law students, with a special focus on students from low-income families and underrepresented backgrounds. Open to rising third- and fourth-year students planning to apply to law school within the next five years who can commit to taking the LSAT during the program year. Benefits: free LSAT prep course, a mentor currently working in the legal field, LSAT registration reimbursement, and access to presentations and programs on succeeding in law school. Applications open at the beginning of Spring Quarter; the program starts in June. Apply by April 15, 2026 for the 2026–2027 cohort.

Selective one-year program for rising second-, third-, and fourth-year students interested in the intersection of law and politics. Covers career paths in legal and political institutions. Deadline: April 15, 2026. Commitment: one year including expected meeting attendance and a capstone project. Contact Ben Morris-Levenson for current cycle details and application requirements.

Non-credit seminar offered to second- through fourth-year undergraduate students providing an introduction to legal research and writing. Covers: (i) case law research using Westlaw, (ii) basics of statutory and administrative law, (iii) reading and dissecting case law through case briefing, and (iv) components of a legal memo. Taught by Careers in Law in partnership with faculty from the D'Angelo Law Library at the Law School. A rare opportunity to build genuine legal research skills before law school — most undergraduates arrive at law school without any exposure to legal research methodology.

Careers in Medicine & Life Sciences covers pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, pre-PA, and other health professions pathways. Advisers help with academic planning, clinical experience strategy, personal statement writing, research experience planning, and application timelines. Clinical and research experience at UChicago Medical Center and associated labs is accessible through faculty connections and the CCRF Research Opportunities Database. The Global Health Scholars Program (CCRF-adjacent, managed by Career Advancement) is a relevant first-year cohort for students targeting global health careers.

Career Advancement's Careers in Business community provides personalized support from advisers with professional business experience. Resources include: industry roadmap and recruiting ramp-up sessions, the Sophomore Finance Networking Night, signature industry networking events, employer site visits and career treks to Chicago and national business hubs, and the Financial Markets NASDAQ program. Advisers coach students in exploring career paths, identifying summer opportunities, and preparing resumes and cover letters for business roles. Open to any College student regardless of major.

The most direct pipeline to investment banking, sales and trading, consulting, and corporate management from UChicago. Three years of structured preparation including foundational skills workshops (Excel, accounting, financial statement analysis, networking), recruiting strategy sessions, employer networking events, and the Sophomore Finance Networking Night. Transcript designation upon completion. Near-perfect full-time job placement annually. Apply in Winter Quarter of your first year — applications open December 2026 for the incoming class.

Industry-specific cohort tracks for students who want to go deeper in a specific business area. Finance Track: financial modeling for real estate deals including pro forma and valuation, guest speaker panels with developers, investors, and industry leaders. Consulting Track: case interview training and structured problem-solving techniques, data analysis and storytelling for consulting projects, networking opportunities for consulting recruiting. Corporate Track: focus on marketing, communications, operations, and corporate strategy careers. Open to students in their 2nd–4th year; requires attending all sessions.

Career Advancement's Financial Markets Program in partnership with NASDAQ. Provides structured education in financial markets, trading, and market structure for students targeting roles in equity research, sales and trading, asset management, and related fields. Access via the Careers in Business page. Listed in the 2025–2026 Recruiting Ready programs as a key preparation resource for finance recruiting.

Annual recruiting readiness event specifically for students targeting finance internships. The 2025 edition (August 12): 'Networking Essentials for Summer 2027 Internships' — covers the finance recruiting timeline, how to build relationships before applications open, and how to navigate the recruiting process at bulge bracket banks, boutiques, and buy-side firms. Offered at the start of each academic year timed to fall recruiting. Check Handshake for current year dates and registration.

Dedicated advisers specialize in CS, data science, tech, and gaming careers. Adviser Claire Silcox formerly led recruiting at LinkedIn; Adviser Joey has a background at Microsoft and Target early career programs. The community runs Career Exploration Week with employer site visits, career treks to Silicon Valley, Boston, NYC, Shenzhen, and Tel Aviv, and a dedicated Slack workspace for peer networking and interview practice. Works closely with UChicago's Department of Computer Science on both career placement and graduate school preparation.

UChicago alumni and current students can join the Careers in Technology Slack for peer networking, career discussion, and interview practice. Channels include: #interview-practice (advice on recruiting, offer to practice coding challenges with students), #side-projects (share exciting projects or find collaborators), and #article-sharing (discussions on CS and technology topics). Access via the Careers in Technology page — one of the more active alumni-student communication channels at any university career center.

One-year pre-professional cohort providing professional development programming, community engagement, and funded research and internship opportunities for students pursuing careers in quantum computing, advanced engineering, R&D, and related fields. One of the more distinctive programs in the country at the intersection of physics, CS, and business. Particularly relevant given UChicago's leading position in quantum information science. Access via the First-Year Career Cohorts page.

Annual AI technology hackathon organized by Career Advancement. Open to all College majors — coders and non-coders both compete. Teams design and ship real-world solutions using AI tools. Employer partners evaluate teams and it functions as a recruiting event as well as a skills-building experience. One of the few employer-facing career events at any university that genuinely welcomes non-technical participants and evaluates creative problem-solving across disciplines.

Careers in Technology works closely with UChicago's Department of Computer Science to prepare students for graduate programs in CS and technology. Resources for students applying to MS CS and PhD CS programs are available through both Career Advancement (personal statement guidance, application strategy) and the CS department directly (faculty recommendation letters, research mentorship). Students targeting top CS PhD programs should combine CCRF research experience with Careers in Technology advising.

Dedicated law career community providing advising on law school pathways, legal career exploration, LSAT preparation guidance, personal statement support, application strategy, and law school interview preparation. UChicago's 90% law school acceptance rate reflects both rigorous advising and the institutional reputation of the College. Book a Careers in Law appointment via Handshake to work with an adviser specifically experienced in legal careers.

Two-stage law career pipeline: Aspiring Attorneys (open to all first-year students, no experience required) provides mentorship, networking, professional development workshops, and funded legal internship opportunities. Rising Attorneys (rising 3rd/4th years planning to apply to law school within 5 years) provides a free LSAT prep course, mentor match with a practicing attorney, LSAT registration reimbursement, and law school preparation programming. Rising Attorneys deadline: April 15, 2026. Contact Priya Laroia at plaroia@uchicago.edu.

The Chicago Law Scholars Program (CLS) is an early decision opportunity to attend UChicago Law School available exclusively to College alumni and current fourth-year students. Includes a $150,000 merit scholarship. Applications for the 2027 seminar open February 2027. This is the most direct institutional pathway from UChicago College to UChicago Law School — and one of the most financially significant law school scholarships available through any university's undergraduate-law school pipeline. Begin working with the Careers in Law adviser by the start of third year if this pathway interests you.

Non-credit seminar offered to 2nd–4th year students covering legal case research using Westlaw, statutory and administrative law basics, case briefing methodology, and legal memo structure. Co-taught by Careers in Law and D'Angelo Law Library faculty. One of the few opportunities for undergraduates nationally to receive structured legal research training before law school — the skill is expected from day one of 1L but almost never taught as an undergraduate course.

Selective one-year program for rising 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students interested in the intersection of law and political institutions. Combines legal career preparation with political career exploration. Employers and alumni from legal and political fields run programming throughout the year. Capstone project required. Application deadline April 15, 2026. Contact Ben Morris-Levenson for details.

Legal internship employers who have hosted UChicago students include: Brooklyn Defenders Service, Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law, Hudson Valley Justice Center, International Refugee Assistance Project, Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund, NYU Law School's Policing Project, Ropes & Gray, Sidley Austin, and UChicago Law School. This range reflects the breadth of legal career settings UChicago students access — from Big Law to public defenders to international human rights organizations.

Dedicated community covering pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, pre-PA, and other health professions pathways. Advisers help with academic planning (course sequencing for health professions prerequisites), clinical experience strategy, research experience planning, personal statement writing, and application timelines. Book a Careers in Medicine appointment via Handshake. The community also runs programming on health careers outside clinical medicine — public health, health policy, pharmaceutical research, and hospital administration.

Selective cohort for students interested in global and public health career paths including think tanks, multilaterals, government, and domestic and international nonprofits. Programming includes Career Exploration Week in NYC, Introduction to Global Health Careers, Global Health Policy Case Challenge, Public Health Research Careers overview, Employer Spotlight Sessions with WHO, International Rescue Committee, and Médecins Sans Frontières, and Mentorship and Networking Dinners. Contact Isabelle Trier at itrier@uchicago.edu for current cycle details.

Clinical and laboratory research experience is a non-negotiable component of medical school applications. CCRF's Research Opportunities Database lists faculty at UChicago Medical Center and affiliated labs who accept undergraduates. The direct-outreach approach (reading faculty's recent papers, sending targeted emails) is more effective than the database alone. BSCD Summer Fellowships (managed through Career Advancement's grants page) additionally fund biological sciences research for undergraduates in the summer.

UChicago's Pritzker School of Medicine is on campus, creating unique access to clinical shadowing, research mentorship, and healthcare career exploration that most undergraduates at other universities don't have. Careers in Medicine advisers maintain relationships with Pritzker faculty and staff to help undergraduates identify shadowing and research opportunities. The pre-health community on Blueprint (search 'pre-medical' in the RSO directory) provides peer support and coordination on clinical volunteering.

A three-year selective track for students pursuing public sector careers. Covers social/urban policy, education policy, environmental policy, health policy, global affairs, international development, nonprofit administration, and government. Requirements: attend at least one Career Advancement trek while enrolled, meet with a career adviser once per quarter, attend required programming. Commitment extends from enrollment to graduation — students who complete all requirements receive a transcript designation. One participant described the program as essential to 'feeling more confident in going after my dream job at the U.S. State Department with treks, career advising, and funding for government internships.'

First-year cohort providing career resources, leadership development, and funded internship opportunities for students pursuing public interest careers — government, policy, think tanks, nonprofits, and social services. The funded internship component specifically addresses the financial barrier of unpaid public sector internships that would otherwise be inaccessible. Applications evaluated during the summer before matriculation — one of the most important reasons to engage with Career Advancement before arriving on campus.

Career Advancement's Careers in Policy, Government & Nonprofits team partners closely with the Pozen Family Center for Human Rights to offer internship opportunities for students exploring global human rights careers. The partnership provides direct access to human rights organizations, international NGOs, and policy institutions that do not recruit on campus through standard channels. Contact the Careers in Policy community for how to access Pozen Center internship opportunities alongside standard Metcalf and grant funding.

First-year cohort introducing students to career paths across federal agencies, defense and intelligence organizations, policy institutions, and mission-driven private sector roles. A relatively rare program nationally — few universities have an organized cohort specifically addressing intelligence and national security career paths for liberal arts undergraduates. Applications evaluated during the summer before matriculation.

Consulting-specific career advising covering career path exploration, case interview preparation, resume and cover letter review for consulting applications, and recruiting timeline strategy. Employer relationships include McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Accenture, Deloitte, EY-Parthenon, KPMG, PwC, and others. Advisers have professional consulting backgrounds. Career Advancement's framing: 'Employers in the industry highly value UChicago students' critical thinking, research, and analytical skills.' Book a Careers in Consulting appointment via Handshake.

Part of Careers in Business Specialized Tracks. Consulting-specific track covers: case interview training and structured problem-solving techniques, data analysis and storytelling/presentation skills for consulting projects, networking opportunities specifically designed to prepare students for consulting recruiting. Cohort-style experience requiring attendance at all sessions. Open to 2nd–4th year students. Combines technical case prep with the relationship-building needed for MBB recruiting at UChicago.

The Trott Business Program includes a Consulting Symposium as one of its signature events — a networking and case practice event specifically connecting Trott participants with consulting employers. If you are in Trott and interested in consulting, the Consulting Symposium is the most direct employer access point. Trott also covers structured problem-solving and case frameworks in its foundational skills workshops. See Section 7 for full Trott Business Program details.

Student-run consulting club providing peer case practice, career information sessions on consulting careers, and community for students targeting MBB and Big Four strategy roles. Find via Blueprint (search 'consulting'). UCSG members typically run peer case practice sessions throughout fall and winter quarters timed to recruiting. Joining in your first year and practicing regularly through your sophomore year is the standard preparation timeline for MBB summer analyst recruiting.

Dedicated advising community covering career paths in writing, publishing, film, theatre, visual arts, music, gaming, animation, academia, and related creative and communications fields. Advisers help students translate a UChicago humanities education into specific professional skills and career narratives. Common misconception: a humanities degree from UChicago does not limit career paths — it opens them, particularly in consulting, law, policy, writing, and research-driven industries.

One-year program combining the UChicago Arts and Humanities curriculum with cutting-edge skill development for careers in film, literature, visual arts, music, gaming, theatre, animation, and academia. Specifically designed to address the perceived career gap for humanities students and provide concrete professional preparation. Applications evaluated during the summer before matriculation. One of the few first-year career cohorts nationally that specifically addresses arts and humanities career paths at this depth.

Funds off-campus academic-year internships (Fall and Spring quarters) in journalism, arts, and media. The Summer JAMGrant covers the same fields for summer internships. Fall applications go live September 1 via Handshake. The Practitioner Program (separate from JAMGrant) funds paid projects mentored by working artists, writers, and journalists — providing access to working professionals in creative fields that don't recruit through standard channels.

Covers journalism, digital media, publishing, advertising, public relations, entertainment, and communications careers. Students have secured opportunities at major media organizations, publications, and communications firms through Metcalf and direct employer recruiting. The Chicago Maroon and WHPK student radio station provide practical media experience directly translatable to journalism and media industry applications.

The College Center for Research and Fellowships is the primary resource for students targeting PhD programs, academic research careers, and competitive national fellowships. Resources include the Research Opportunities Database, quarterly information sessions, grant programs for research funding, and the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. The fellowships team advises on Goldwater (for STEM undergrads targeting research careers), NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, and all major postgraduate fellowships. Begin engaging with CCRF in your second year at the latest.

Career Advancement advises on PhD application strategy including program identification, statement of purpose writing, faculty outreach strategy, and application timelines. CCRF complements this with research experience support and fellowship advising. For STEM PhD programs, the Goldwater Scholarship application process (advised by CCRF) is directly aligned with doctoral program applications — Goldwater recipients are significantly more competitive at top PhD programs. Coordinate between Career Advancement and CCRF rather than choosing one over the other.

UChicago regularly produces NSF Graduate Research Fellows, Goldwater Scholars, Marshall Scholars, and Fulbright recipients across all disciplines. CCRF manages the advising, institutional endorsement process, and application review for all major national fellowships. Join the CCRF listserv for information session announcements — the listserv is how CCRF communicates fellowship opportunities and deadlines. Begin fellowship planning in sophomore or junior year; senior-year applications require preparation that starts years earlier.

Annual campus-wide interdisciplinary research showcase where undergraduates present work across all disciplines through exhibitions, oral presentations, and performances. Presenting at the symposium is a strong credential for PhD and graduate school applications — it demonstrates the ability to conduct and communicate original research, which is the primary qualification committees evaluate. Any undergraduate conducting faculty-supervised research is eligible to present. Check the CCRF website for current year dates.