April 2026
Can you believe it? This semester is almost over. If you are like me you are probably already awaiting the summer. Are you looking for ideas on how to find opportunities this summer? There are so many opportunities for college students. If you are trying to figure out how to find opportunities this post is for you. Note that the deadlines for some of these may have passed but there is always next year!
Internships
Finding internships can vary from different departments but you can check for opportunities through TribeCareers.This is a website that has regular job/ internship opportunities for students. You can also try finding internship opportunities through popular companies in your field and checking the websites for recent postings. If you are interested in marine sciences VIMS also has regular postings for undergraduate opportunities.
Certifications/ Licensing
Certifications can be a great way to open doors to new positions. If you are Pre-Health or Pre-Dental you may be able to earn an online or in person certification to gain some exposure and experiences. Some certifications/ licenses you may be able to get over the summer are
Phlebotomy
Certified Medical Assistant
Dental Assistant
Nursing Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
EMT
Coding
Data Analytics
Design Courses
Summer Courses
William & Mary offers online summer courses. These can be a great way to get ahead on some coursework and maybe even graduate early. There are also some summer study abroad courses available to learn and explore another culture. There is more information available on the W&M website through the Reves Center: https://www.wm.edu/offices/revescenter/geo/studyabroad/study-abroad-programs/term/summer_programs/
Research Experiences
There are a couple of different ways to get into research labs and experiences. This can be difficult but William and Mary has the resources to help.
- Cold email/ meet them in person: One way you can approach this is by going through the faculty websites and finding professors that are running research labs in the field you are interested in. You can approach the professor in person or send an email explaining that you are interested in their work and have read through their publications. However note that professors do have limited spots.
- Symposiums : Another way you can find available professors for research experiences is through symposiums. These are events where students and professors present their research and give you opportunities to learn more about research. Find one that you are interested in and don’t be afraid to reach out! The next upcoming symposium will be Friday April 3, 2026 this tabling event will be held in Sadler.
- GRI – The Global Research Institute. We may have missed the deadline for this upcoming summer but you can always visit the Global Research Institute Website for W&M students and apply through here.
Volunteering/ Shadowing Programs
Shadowing can be valuable and even required for some professional programs like pre-law pre-med and pre-PA. There are a couple of different ways to find shadowing opportunities. Some people are able to get opportunities through their personal connections. Try contacting someone who you personally know. You can also attempt to email/ cold-call. This sometimes works but you have to be very persistent. I can reassure you that once you are able to get your foot in the door and establish yourself people are more likely to refer you to their colleagues.
Don’t forget to kick back and relax. You deserve it! And always remember that there is always next year: Do not be discouraged.
Leave a Reply