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Our 4-Year Strategy for Success

Overview

As you begin your academic/co-curricular and career journey, we strongly encourage you to become familiar with the 4-Year Strategy for Success. These components guide you through a series of tasks, activities and events that will assist you in making the most out of your Academic/Co-Curricular and Career-Related choices. You will learn how the Academic/ Co-Curricular and Career Choices you make each year can contribute to your successful development as a student, leader, and professional, and ultimately lead you to a rewarding and fulfilling career.

4-Year Strategy for Success

Freshman Year

During your Freshman Year you'll learn about the curriculum and resources that are available, engage in co-curricular activities, and develop as both a student and leader. You'll also begin your professional development by creating a GWSB-approved resume and cover letter, and learn how to network with industry professionals.

Academic / Co-Curricular

  • Meet with an Academic Advisor each semester (required).
  • Learn the curriculum in order to make informed choices about your major/ concentration and to create an academic plan for your Freshman Year.
  • Familiarize yourself with the resources that are available to you at GW, GWSB, and FDFCC** for a successful transition into the University.
  • Attend the Back to Business Fair.
  • Research and consider joining student organizations.
  • Engage in volunteer and community work.
  • Attend the Beyond the Concentrations event.
  • Develop your presentation skills.
  • Attend your professors’ office hours at least twice during each semester.

Career

  • Become OCR (On Campus-Recruitment) compliant.
  • Create a resume and cover letter and have both approved by the FDFCC. **
  • Develop your professional correspondence skills (reading and sending emails, thank you letters, etc.)
  • Purchase professional dress/suit (Suggested).
  • Read business news in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and others.
  • Start researching companies and summer jobs or internships.
  • Develop your elevator pitch and attend networking events.
  • Conduct an informational interview.
  • Attend career workshops to learn about different career options.
Sophomore Year

In your Sophomore Year you are expected to declare your major and minor, join student organizations, and participate in events and activities that will engage you in community and volunteer work. Additionally, you will learn key skills for pursuing internships and externships by enrolling in a Career Management Course

Academic / Co-Curricular

  • Meet with an Academic Advisor each semester and adjust your academic plan for the year.
  • Declare your major / concentration and minor.
  • Research and consider study abroad opportunities.
  • Look into research opportunities with faculty.
  • Join student organizations and help to lead an activity within the organization.
  • Engage in volunteer and community work.
  • Participate in a case study competition.

Career

  •  
  • Meet with Your FDFCC** Career Coach.
  • Research and register for the Career Management Strategy Course and take the Career Leader Assessment.
  • Learn how to develop your own marketing plan.
  • Attend career-related events (e.g., Career Week, career treks, career fairs, and career panels, career workshops) sponsored by the FDFCC**, GWSB Undergraduate Programs, or Student Organizations.
  • Create a LinkedIn profile and use it to identify networking contacts.
  • Continue informational interviews and research job opportunities.
  • Apply for internships and externships.
Junior Year

Your Junior Year is the perfect time to begin researching graduate schools, pursue leadership opportunities within student organizations, and engage in volunteer opportunities. Many juniors obtain a significant internship and begin connecting with GWSB alumni for mentoring and career guidance.

Academic / Co-Curricular

  • Meet with an Academic Advisor each semester and adjust your academic plan as needed.
  • Research and consider graduate school.
  • Participate in a case study competition.
  • Continue leadership opportunities with student organizations.
  • Engage in volunteer and community work.

Career

  • Meet with Your FDFCC** Career Coach.
  • Refine your marketing plan.
  • Attend career-related events (e.g., Career Week, career treks, career fairs, and career panels, career workshops) sponsored by the FDFCC**, GWSB Undergraduate Programs, or Student Organizations.
  • Connect with GWSB Alumni for mentoring and career research.
  • Obtain a significant internship.
Senior Year

During your Senior Year you will continue coursework in your concentration and major, pursue leadership roles in student organizations, prepare for graduation, and decide on graduate schools or develop a targeted job search resulting in a full time job offer and successfully transition to the workplace.

Academic / Co-Curricular

  • Meet with an Academic Advisor to ensure you are on track for graduation.
  • Participate in a case study competition.
  • Continue leadership roles with student organizations .
  • Engage in volunteer and community work.
  • Apply for graduation!

Career

  • Meet with Your FDFCC** Career Coach.
  • Attend career-related events (e.g., Career Week, career treks, career fairs, and career panels, career workshops) sponsored by the FDFCC**, GWSB Undergraduate Programs, or Student Organizations.
  • Continue informational interviews.
  • Refine and implement your marketing plan.
  • Land your dream job and successfully transition into the workplace.

The GWSB Undergraduate Student 4-year Strategy for Success was created in collaboration with GWSB alums, the GWSB Student Satisfaction Committee, the Office of Undergraduate Programs, and the F. David Fowler Career Center at the George Washington University School of Business (GWSB).

** FDFCC – F. David Fowler Career Center

4-Year Strategy for Success PDF