Professional Pathways & Future Possibilities
Professional Pathways and Future Possibilities is a Winter Quarter academic program offered through a collaboration between the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) and Student Enrichment Services (SES). The one-credit course supports second-year first-generation and/or low-income students as they explore their professional interests, consider possibilities for the summer, and take concrete steps toward securing an experience that aligns with their interests and values.
Through reflection, collaboration, and action, students will consider how their personal backgrounds, lived experiences, and cultural and socioeconomic contexts shape their understanding of opportunity and their professional futures. Students will explore summer possibilities while developing the skills, confidence, and connections to pursue them.
Overall, by participating in Professional Pathways and Future Possibilities, students will gain:
- Academic credit through a one-credit SESP course
- Greater clarity about their professional interests, values, and future possibilities
- Practical skills for exploring opportunities, applying for positions, networking, and interviewing
- Hands-on support as they identify and pursue a summer experience aligned with their interests and values
- A $6,000 stipend to help reduce financial barriers to pursuing an unpaid or low-paid summer experience
Community & Support
Community is central to the course experience. Students learn alongside a cohort of second-year peers who bring different identities, experiences, interests, and aspirations to the classroom. Through discussion, reflection, collaboration, and peer support, students will explore how identity, class, culture, and access shape professional possibilities while building relationships with others who are also thinking intentionally about their futures.Students will engage with guest speakers, including previous participants of the course, FGLI professionals across industries, and participate in workshops in partnership with Northwestern Career Advancement to build practical skills and expand their professional networks.
Beyond the Winter Quarter
Professional Pathways and Future Possibilities extends beyond the Winter Quarter. Students who successfully complete the Winter course will be automatically enrolled in a zero-credit Spring/Summer course that provides continued support as they secure, prepare for, and participate in their summer experience.
During the Spring and Summer, continued support includes individualized guidance from the program's Graduate Assistant. Students will also reflect on their progress and complete evaluations to help track their experience and inform the continued development of the program.
Who Should Apply
Professional Pathways and Future Possibilities is designed for students who:
- Are second-year undergraduate students
- Identify as first-generation and/or low-income
- Are committed to exploring their personal and professional development through reflection, collaboration, and action
How to Apply
Applications for Winter 2027 will open in late October 2026
As part of the application, students will respond to the following questions:
- Describe how your personal background, lived experiences, and academic interests have shaped your understanding of social identity, class, and opportunity. How do these perspectives influence the way you think about your future career goals?
- Students in this course commit to exploring their personal and professional development through reflection, collaboration, and action. What do you hope to gain from this course and how do you see yourself contributing to the learning community?
Application Timeline
- Week of October 26: Application opens
- Week of November 9: Applicants notified of their application status