“I shadowed three Illinois graduates – one of which was a flight director. I spent time in Mission Control, the Neutral Buoyancy Lab and I even got to fly the motion simulator. My sponsor answered all of my questions and I feel much more confident in my career choice.”

“My externship allowed me to see a wide variety of opportunities available in the field of international security. I met with an ambassador, an editor of an arms control magazine, the visionary of the Global Security Institute and those who did the work behind the scenes. This experience let me see the inner workings and inspired me to truly take a proactive role in pursuing a career in international security either with the CIA or the State Department.”

“Not only did the program open doors to an internship with a Fortune 500 company, it also showed me what it means to have steel in my blood and rust in my veins.”

“I shadowed a psychiatrist in Beverly Hills, CA and was actually able to sit in on a few sessions with clients. I was given the opportunity to talk with a few other psychiatrists and psychologists specializing in adolescents and children. My sponsor allowed me to read through his intake and diagnosis paperwork and ask questions about the terms and methods he used to assess his patients. This was by far the most rewarding experience in psychiatry I have ever experienced.”

“My sponsors allowed me to shadow the entire finance department and granted me unlimited access. In one whirlwind week, I gained more business experience than I could have ever expected.”

“I shadowed the editorial director for three magazines. I proofed an issue of one of the magazines before it went to print, learning about the whole process and the different areas that go into it like design, sales, advertising, etc. I really received a great look into the industry. Overall, a very informative and insightful experience.”

"When I first set foot on campus, I didn't have a major, let alone a definite career interest in mind. Two years later, when I discovered the Illini Externship program, I still only had a vague idea of what I wished to do after graduation. I am very thankful to have been an extern through this program because it allowed me to explore my career interest at the time, network, land an internship in that field and finally realize that it wasn't the best fit for me. My externship experience triggered a series of events, which eventually led me to discover my true calling. I encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful program because you will be given an invaluable opportunity to investigate your particular field of interest and see if it is truly something you wish to pursue."

"The Illini Externship program is a unique opportunity that will give you a chance to test out the "real world" situation that you want to be a part of. For my externship, I was placed at the Department of Children and Family Services because I was interested in social work. After my experience I realized that I was more interested in public policy than having clients. However, without this weeklong experience, I would still be wasting my energy and time by pursuing social work as a career. Now I can take the knowledge that I gained from my externship and apply it to a profession in a similar field. This is the type of experience that all college students should have the chance to take part in."