Start summer planning now

It may be hard to think about summer when the weather still indicates winter, but students should start planning now to make the most of their break. Students have multiple choices such as an internship, a job, travel abroad or Summer Sessions -- all of which can help build a resume or clarify career goals.

"Students will likely have different goals for what they want to achieve during the summer depending on their year in school," said Marcie Kirk-Holland, project manager at the Internship and Career Center (ICC) on campus. "The most important thing is just to make the most of it."

Kirk-Holland suggests that students think about what they want to accomplish during those 12 weeks or so and then seek the appropriate opportunities to help them achieve those goals. But don't wait until the first week of summer break to do so; the time to plan is now.

Students who are close to graduation may need to take a Summer Sessions course to finish their requirements. Some students would like the experience of traveling or working abroad, and others may want to check out a particular field more closely through an internship to clarify career goals, develop skills and make professional contacts.

Internships

About 6,000 students take advantage of internships through the ICC each year, including the summer. Students receive transcript notation, which can be valuable when applying for a job or graduate school.

Kirk-Holland suggests that students who are considering an internship or job should check out the Aggie Job Link, which has thousands of listings in public, private and non-profit sectors -- some paid, some not. The ICC can also help students develop their own internship by working with the student to draft an agreement about the length of the internship, hours worked per week, and the goals of both the student and the individual or company providing the internship.

Students who need to work a summer job shouldn't feel they are somehow less competitive academically because they haven't "interned." Kirk-Holland said, in some cases, a summer job can be framed as an internship if an employer realizes a student's long-term interest in the profession and can provide more in-depth training. Students should seek advice through the ICC to see if they can use a summer job as an internship with transcript notation.

Rachael Sheridan, a fourth-year student in international relations and communications from Los Angeles, developed her own internship last summer. She lived and worked at an orphanage in Mozambique, Africa, for eight weeks. While the experience pushed her physical limits, it was well worth the discomfort, she said.

"The experience broadened my horizons and helped me develop as a person," Sheridan said. "I learned how blessed I am and gained a better appreciation for other cultures."

Summer jobs

Short-term paid jobs can also provide valuable experiences. Kelsey Buntjer, a third-year student in community and regional development from Livermore, served last summer as a resident adviser for COSMOS at UC Davis, a four-week residential program in mathematics and science for talented high school students.

Buntjer said she learned professionalism and stress management while she kept the kids safe and happy, and encouraged them in their studies. They also took numerous fun and educational field trips to places like Genentech, Microsoft and the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

"Not only did I get to hang out with cool high school students, but I was able to network with companies that I may end up working for someday," Buntjer said.

Buntjer enjoyed the experience so much that she plans to do it again this summer.

On April 16, the Student Employment Center will host a Summer Job Fair to connect students with employers on campus and in the community. In the past, summer jobs have included camp counselors, lifeguards, casino dealers, Web designers, lab technicians, gardeners, and truck and bus drivers. More than 80 employers are expected to attend.

Study abroad

Students looking to add a few credits to their transcript during the summer and a few stamps to their passport may find the Summer Abroad to be a perfect fit. What better place to study Shakespeare than in London?

These programs provide students with the opportunity to take UC Davis courses, taught by UC Davis instructors, in an international setting. This year, students can choose from 38 programs that travel to 24 countries -- from humanities in Russia and documentary filmmaking in the Caribbean, to engineering in Ireland and music in Slovenia. Applications must be completed by April 11, but many courses fill up sooner.

Summer Sessions

"Summer is a great time to fulfill requirements for a second major, take courses that are difficult to fit into the regular schedule and speed progress towards graduation," said Gary Ford, associate vice provost for undergraduate studies.

It's expected that about 700 courses will be offered during the two Summer Sessions: the first running June 22 through Aug.1, the second from Aug. 4 to Sept. 12. Students who complete Chemistry 118 (A, B, C) or Physics 7 (A, B, C) will get half the course fee back as a credit to their student accounts, and other incentives may become available.

Whatever students choose to do this summer, Kirk-Holland encourages them to follow their dreams -- uncovering what they are passionate about is key to knowing themselves better and finding their direction.