Bridge the Gap: From College to Career

For years employers have told us that the most important factor in hiring recent college graduates is internship experience—they want to hire employees who already have experience with the company, or with another company in the industry. Students, however, are telling us that the biggest hurdle to them applying for and accepting more internships is financial considerations—they cannot afford to move, drive, or dress for an internship in addition to their tuition, room and board on campus. This year the Career Center is focused on bridging that gap to ensure all Marietta College students have access to internships, and get a head start on the job market.

Last academic year, the Career Center raised about $8,000 for internship grants, and we were able to support almost 20 students who accepted Summer internships. Since July, we have already raised 50% of last year’s total, and used some of that to offer funding for Spring internships. Those grants provided students with paid internships roughly 25% of their anticipated start-up costs, including relocation or the first month of rent and groceries, while students with unpaid internships received approximately 35% of their total expenses, such as transportation and professional wardrobe.

If we reach our goal of $15,000 this year, the Career Center could fund 50% of anticipated expenses for every student who accepts a Summer internship. We could literally get our Pioneers half way to their career goal before they even graduate.

We often tell prospective students to consider the Return on Investment of a Marietta College degree; that the cost of their four years here will earn them, according to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, more than $1,000,000 over the next forty. Help us lead by example, with a pool of funds that we can invest in our students internships now, with the promise that they will pay off in fulfilling careers and excited alumni in the future.