Revolutionary Perspective: My Summer Internship Experience
10/27/2023 10:01:00 AM | Gymnastics, Academic Services
In our fourth edition of Revolutionary Perspective, we learn about Marlee York, who is a junior on the GW gymnastics team. York spent the summer as a Summer Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics Accelerator at the University of Chicago.
Name: Marlee York
Sport/Year: Gymnastics | Junior
Major:Â Data Science
Internship: Summer Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics Accelerator
Company/Organization: University of Chicago
Type: Academic/Research Programs
Location: Chicago
Questions:Â
1. How would you describe this internship experience to others?
I participated in a math program at the University of Chicago designed to improve my candidacy for graduate school and explore my interests in different fields of mathematics and statistics. In short, I got paid to spend a summer learning math and exploring the city of Chicago! I had the opportunity to connect and build relationships with students and professors with interests similar to mine while taking classes that grew my passion for statistics.
2. What was the process of acquiring your internship? Application, interview, networking?
Acceptance into this program was based off of a written application and letters of recommendation. I worked with Julia Browne to ensure my personal essay reflected my strong candidacy and used letters of recommendation from faculty that I felt best knew the extent of my abilities and work ethic.
3. What are your lessons learned from your process?
This process taught me the importance of building strong personal connections with professors and academic faculty! Letters of recommendations from faculty that you have built a personal connection with are pivotal in any type of academic related application, as well as others. These faculty members can also point you towards opportunities that they believe you would be a good fit for.
4. Tell us about any new skills, techniques, and knowledge you gained this internship.
Throughout this program, I was able to explore where my interests in statistics lie and what academic and professional future I am interested in pursuing following undergraduate. Most importantly I had the opportunity to spend my summer with and learning from like minded undergraduate and doctoral students, contributing to my passion for my studies and growing my network and support system significantly.
5. What is your greatest takeaway from your internship experience? Or What is the greatest lesson you've learned from your internship?
My greatest takeaway from this experience is the importance of building a strong network of people in all stages of your field of interest. Fellow students, recent graduates, professors, and people in the field all offer different types of perspective, encouragement, and resources that you can benefit from on your journey!
6. How does this experience inform your next step in your career path?
This experience shaped my goals for pursuing graduate studies in statistics while also giving me the resources and knowledge to successfully get there. I was challenged to explore different parts of statistics and mathematics that I previously had not, allowing me to pinpoint where my strengths and interests in the field best lie.
7. What recommendations do you have for other students looking for jobs and internships?
If you are struggling with internship applications, consider applying to different academic/research programs such as the one I participated in. Many of these have little to no prerequisites other than interest in the field and provide stipends that are equivalent to an internship!
To access additional resources for your own job or internship search login into Handshake. Scroll down to see upcoming career events and click on "Career Center" to make career coaching appointments, access resources, and search for jobs and internships. Don't forget to sign up for Industry Newsletters with the latest opportunities: Arts/Media/Comm |  Business/ Finance/ Consulting | International Affairs/Intelligence | Public Health/Health Sciences | STEM | US Government/ Human Services/Law
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Name: Marlee York
Sport/Year: Gymnastics | Junior
Major:Â Data Science
Internship: Summer Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics Accelerator
Company/Organization: University of Chicago
Type: Academic/Research Programs
Location: Chicago
Questions:Â
1. How would you describe this internship experience to others?
I participated in a math program at the University of Chicago designed to improve my candidacy for graduate school and explore my interests in different fields of mathematics and statistics. In short, I got paid to spend a summer learning math and exploring the city of Chicago! I had the opportunity to connect and build relationships with students and professors with interests similar to mine while taking classes that grew my passion for statistics.
2. What was the process of acquiring your internship? Application, interview, networking?
Acceptance into this program was based off of a written application and letters of recommendation. I worked with Julia Browne to ensure my personal essay reflected my strong candidacy and used letters of recommendation from faculty that I felt best knew the extent of my abilities and work ethic.
3. What are your lessons learned from your process?
This process taught me the importance of building strong personal connections with professors and academic faculty! Letters of recommendations from faculty that you have built a personal connection with are pivotal in any type of academic related application, as well as others. These faculty members can also point you towards opportunities that they believe you would be a good fit for.
4. Tell us about any new skills, techniques, and knowledge you gained this internship.
Throughout this program, I was able to explore where my interests in statistics lie and what academic and professional future I am interested in pursuing following undergraduate. Most importantly I had the opportunity to spend my summer with and learning from like minded undergraduate and doctoral students, contributing to my passion for my studies and growing my network and support system significantly.
5. What is your greatest takeaway from your internship experience? Or What is the greatest lesson you've learned from your internship?
My greatest takeaway from this experience is the importance of building a strong network of people in all stages of your field of interest. Fellow students, recent graduates, professors, and people in the field all offer different types of perspective, encouragement, and resources that you can benefit from on your journey!
6. How does this experience inform your next step in your career path?
This experience shaped my goals for pursuing graduate studies in statistics while also giving me the resources and knowledge to successfully get there. I was challenged to explore different parts of statistics and mathematics that I previously had not, allowing me to pinpoint where my strengths and interests in the field best lie.
7. What recommendations do you have for other students looking for jobs and internships?
If you are struggling with internship applications, consider applying to different academic/research programs such as the one I participated in. Many of these have little to no prerequisites other than interest in the field and provide stipends that are equivalent to an internship!
To access additional resources for your own job or internship search login into Handshake. Scroll down to see upcoming career events and click on "Career Center" to make career coaching appointments, access resources, and search for jobs and internships. Don't forget to sign up for Industry Newsletters with the latest opportunities: Arts/Media/Comm |  Business/ Finance/ Consulting | International Affairs/Intelligence | Public Health/Health Sciences | STEM | US Government/ Human Services/Law
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