UW-Madison Career Exploration Center

Summer’s here, and while internships get all the talk, they’re not the only way to gain valuable experience. Explore these five creative alternatives to build your skills, grow your network, and make the most of your summer!

As you settle into your summer routine, you may find yourself with a little time and mental space to plan for what comes after your degree. You don’t have to navigate these questions on your own. The Career Exploration Center will remain fully staffed throughout the summer, offering career counseling, workshops and digital tools both on campus and online, ensuring support is available wherever your summer takes you.

Read more:

5 ways to explore careers, build resumes this summer Career services advisors share their best tips to explore careers and boost resumes while enjoying the summer.

Arriving on campus without a declared major is a reality for many first‑year students, and yet it often comes with doubt.

UW-Madison Freshman Mina Bhargava was no exception.

However, through conversations, involvement, and intentional exploration, she learned that clarity rarely comes all at once and that the journey toward choosing a major is just as important as the destination.

Check out her story here: https://cec.wisc.edu/2026/05/12/how-conversations-and-campus-spaces-helped-mina-bhargava-choose-her-way/

Once on track for a career in psychology, Teresa’s perspective shifted when a philosophy elective and a summer internship opened her eyes to new possibilities. Experiences shape our direction, and that summer, Teresa learned as much about what she didn’t want to pursue as she did about what truly sparked her interest.

Teresa has since interned as a paralegal at a Madison criminal defense firm and is exploring post-grad paths that reflect her interest in civil discourse, education research, and possibly law.

Read more about her story here: https://cec.wisc.edu/2025/10/01/teresa-nelson-and-the-magic-formula/

When Harper Sollish realized her first two majors weren’t the right fit, she felt lost in the major maze. However, with the help of a career advisor, she explored her different strengths and ultimately found a new route.

The Career Exploration Center (CEC) helped her transform uncertainty into a path that aligned more with her skills and interests.

Harper’s journey shows that changing course isn’t failure; it’s growth.

Read more about Harper's story here 👉🏽 https://cec.wisc.edu/2025/12/30/harper-sollishs-major-changes/

We'll be here all summer! See how Elise R-R. used the CEC to kick off her exploration.

To learn more about her story, check out this link: https://cec.wisc.edu/2026/03/27/elise-rouleau-rivera/