Q: How can students make the most of experiential learning opportunities in college?
A: “Students can engage in a variety of experiential learning opportunities during college such as internships, co-ops, study abroad, practicums, clinicals, assistantships, student teaching, undergraduate research, field experiences and work or volunteer experience related to their major,” says Laura Carey, career services director at the University of Akron. “Students who start early and participate in multiple experiential learning activities maximize the benefits by gaining a variety of experiences related to their major. Internships and co-ops help students gain transferrable skills and apply the methods and theories learned in the classroom to real world practical experiences in the workplace. They allow students to evaluate an employer and a prospective career path prior to making a commitment to a full-time job. Students who participate in experiential learning increase their marketability upon graduation and often facilitate higher starting salaries.”
