Here are helpful suggestions to help students plan out their four years at Harvey Mudd College.

Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year

First Year

• Visit the OCS and get to know the staff.
• Meet with the OCS staff to discuss your goals and begin to identify your interests, abilities and values.
• Clarify your interests and skills through classes, student organizations, community service and a possible internship.
• Identify potential majors that relate to your interests and abilities; discuss plans with your academic adviser.
• Take advantage of relevant career workshops, programs and events.
• Keep your grades up and seek help if necessary through faculty, friends and tutors.
• Establish relationships with faculty members, staff and administrators who will assist you.
• Start your own career folder/file and maintain it with relevant information throughout your college years.
• Write your résumé and cover letter, and conduct a summer internship campaign.

Sophomore Year

• Narrow down your choices for a major; meet with faculty to get some clarification.
• Attend career workshops and programs
• Conduct informational interviews regarding your choice of major or careers
• Obtain relevant work experience through an internship, summer job or volunteer position.
• Begin to identify the three to five values that are most important to you in your career.
• Develop some short-term and long-term educational goals by meeting with the OCS staff each semester. 
  

Junior Year

• Relate your values, interests and abilities to two or three tentative career choices.
• Develop your career goals by meeting at least once a semester with the OCS staff.
• Research more thoroughly the occupations that you are considering.
• Continue to increase your skills through meaningful extracurricular activities, internships and work.
• Begin to research programs and entrance requirements if graduate school is in your future.
• Seek a summer position that will give you direct experience in a field you wish to pursue after graduation.
• Update relevant experiences and activities on your résumé and have it reviewed.
• Attend workshops, programs, career panels and career fairs to further explore your options.
• Build relationships with faculty and professionals who will serve as references.
• Consult with your faculty adviser to ensure you are on track for graduation.
• Read three recommended career books over the summer to get better prepared for the fall of your senior year.
• Study for graduate school entrance exams.
• Visit the Career Resource Library for resources on graduate schools.

• Sharpen your job-search skills early in the fall with career center workshops and programs.
• Apply to graduate school and take required entrance exam(s).
• Identify various funding sources for graduate and professional school.
• Have your graduate school essay critiqued by both your faculty adviser and the Writing Center staff.
• Buy interview clothes.
• Improve your interview skills with a mock interview
• Take advantage of on-campus and off-campus recruitment programs.
• Attend career fairs and career forums to learn more about the various career fields.
• Network with alumni and other professionals about your job search and opportunities.
• Write cover letters, visit employers, send follow-up notes, make phone calls and set up interviews.
• Create various versions of your résumé. Take one hard copy to interviews and career fairs; you will e-mail most often.
• Use many different strategies in your overall job-search.
• Consider joining a professional association that is related to your major or career field.