Princeternship Stories: Keeley Walsh ’19, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital

Over intersession, I spent three days shadowing Dr. Shah ’96, a neonatologist at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Westchester Country, New York. Dr. Shah went to Cornell Medical School after graduating from Princeton. He later completed his residency at Duke University Children’s Hospital followed by a fellowship at NYU Children’s Hospital. Not only is he a practicing neonatologist but he also is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as a co-chairman for the Society of Pediatric Research. I was very lucky to spend three days shadowing Dr. Shah because I was able to see the daily life of a neonatologist, a researcher, and an advocate for Children’s health policy.

Day one began with Dr. Shah showing me around the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). He spent time explaining the functions of all the different apparatuses used in the unit. I was amazed that not one baby had the same combination of treatments. Each patient was carefully assessed and given a unique treatment to help improve their health. After touring the unit with Dr. Shah, I completed the daily rounds with the residents and the on-call neonatologist.

During rounds we went through all 48 patients in the NICU, discussing the babies’ measurements and specific treatments. Measurements included everything from the baby’s weight to vitamin intake. The doctors, fellows, and residents would all converse on what they believed would be the best way to treat each’s unique condition and then decide from there. This ensured that every baby received the best possible care. After completing rounds, I could not wait to come back on day two to see the progress that some babies had made. I only interacted with the patients for a short time, maybe five minutes each, but I already felt connected to them and wanted each and every one to get better.

On day two I began with daily rounds with the on-call team. Similar to the day before, we saw each patient assessing their specific needs. This day was by far my favorite because I was able to see the positive progress that many of the babies had made. When some of these babies first came into the unit, they were smaller than three soda cans and had serious respiratory problems. I imagine treating babies with some of the most life-threatening problems is the hardest part of the job. But as the days pass and the team continues to adjust the treatments and medications, the patients get better, which I believe to be the most rewarding part of the job. On this day, many of the babies’ parents were in the unit as we were completing the daily rounds. I particularly enjoyed seeing the happiness on the parents’ faces when the doctor would comfort the parents and let them know that their child’s condition was improving. Day two concluded with me watching Dr. Shah conduct stem cell research at New York Medical College.

Day three was very different than the first two. As mentioned earlier, Dr. Shah is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is very passionate about children’s healthcare and wants to ensure that every child has access to necessary treatments. We traveled to several Congress members’ offices and discussed the provisions of the Affordable Care Act and how they benefited children in particular. It was interesting to see another side of medicine that I never thought of, but is just as important.

Before this experience, I was on the fence about continuing on the pre-medicine track. My goal to pursue pediatrics was solidified after completing rounds with the team and seeing what a neonatologist’s daily life in the hospital is like. I specifically enjoyed the second day of rounds because I was able to see some of the babies’ conditions improve. Dr. Shah was very welcoming and willing to discuss things that I did not understand. I enjoyed all our talks because I not only gained knowledge about neonatology but also about life in general. I am so grateful to have completed this Princeternship because I now have a better understanding of what I hope to be my future career path.

Featured Jobs and Internships of the Week – Princeternship edition

This week’s picks features seven of the many great Princeternship positions for this winter. What’s a Princeternship? We’re glad you asked.

Princeternships match undergraduate students with alumni for job shadowing and project experience over one to five days during winter break or intersession. They provide a “day in the life” in the workplace, with students often participating in board, client or patient meetings; office tours; seminars; case studies and projects. It’s a great way to explore career options without the commitment of a job or internship.

  • HarperCollins (publishing, editorial, communications)
  • athenahealth (healthcare, research & development, design)
  • Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP (architectural design, engineering, urban planning)
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (law, environment, government, information technology, policy, customer experience)
  • MacArthur Foundation (communications, social media, digital marketing)
  • SmartAsset (public relations, editorial, marketing, personal finance, technology)
  • Massachusetts General Hospital (medicine, surgery, research, cardiology, healthcare management, disaster medicine)

You can read the descriptions of all the positions and apply in Handshake.

There are nearly 120 positions available with 52 different organizations during this session, including opportunities in arts and entertainment, business, consulting, entrepreneurship, education, government, healthcare, law, nonprofit and STEM. To learn more about the program and get a firsthand look at past experiences through student blogs, visit our Princeternship page. Applications for the winter Princeternship sessions open Oct. 11 and will close Nov. 7. Undergraduate students of all years are eligible to apply.

Princeternship Stories: Jaein Jung ’20, Massachusetts General Hospital

Meeting Dr. Sundt and the Cardiac Surgery team at Massachusetts General Hospital was one of the most amazing moments of my life. Although the internship was only two days, I learned so much about the field of medicine and the importance of passion, communication and knowledge. I am so grateful to be able to have this wonderful experience. Continue reading →

Princeternship Stories: Lisa Sheridan ’19, New Jersey Superior Court

Over winter intersession, I had the privilege of spending a week shadowing the Hon. Alberto Rivas ‘82 in his capacity as a presiding judge in the Superior Court of New Jersey. During this time, I gained an invaluable insight into the operation of the criminal justice system, with its many perspectives and challenges.

When shadowing Judge Rivas, our routine was to sit at the front of the courtroom and watch the many different types of hearings he presided over. We saw a full scope of the criminal justice process, from detention hearings to sentencing hearings.

After the flurry of hearings on the first day, I was overwhelmed by a vast and complex prescribed set of legal terms and processes that I was unfamiliar with. My fellow intern and I scribbled pages full of notes, questions and comments that Judge Rivas patiently and enthusiastically addressed between sessions. When we left the court at the end of each day, we would continue excitedly discussing and debating what we had seen until we got back to campus.

Later on, in the week, Judge Rivas arranged for us to sit in on trials in other courtrooms. We learned not just about how a trial proceeds formally, but also about the more implicit agendas and strategies at play. We had the privilege to witness the proceedings with and without the jury’s presence and to speak with professionals such as law clerks, attorneys and judges to gain a complete insight into the situation.

As we watched more of Judge Rivas’ hearings, our questions began to change. We had the rare chance to sit with Judge Rivas after a hearing and learn about his perspective as an authority on the law, asking questions such as, “What made you decide on this particular sentence?” and “What evidence was most pertinent to you for making your decision?” It was fascinating to be able to analyze Judge Rivas’ rulings with him; rulings informed by decades of work in the legal system and a holistic analysis of the situation from many perspectives (the defendant, the defense, the prosecution, the public, his peers and colleagues.) I was amazed at the scope of information that Judge Rivas must consider before making a ruling for which he alone shoulders a great deal of responsibility.In light of this, I came to admire Judge Rivas for his enduring dedication to empathy, fairness and rehabilitation, when he is often subject (as all judges are) to a great deal of criticism in the media for unpopular yet just rulings.

We were lucky enough also to see the newly instated criminal justice reform in action, whereby defendants are scored based on their risk of reoffending upon release from detention. These scores are designed to indicate the conditions under which a defendant could be released pending further proceedings. One of the things I learned from speaking to Judge Rivas is how the law and judicial system is not as concrete as I once thought, and it is constantly open to revision, refinement and replacement.

Overall I had a wonderful experience with Judge Rivas and his chamber team. I learned and reflected a lot about the legal system but also about the essential skills of impartial, logical thought and strong decision making. I am very grateful for these experiences and for the friends and mentors I made at the Superior Court.

Princeternship Stories: Korlekuor Akiti ’19, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

My Princeternship with Dr. Jeffrey Katz at Brigham & Women’s Hospital (BWH) was truly an invaluable experience. Going into the visit, I was very unsure about my interest in pursuing medicine as a career. However, I quickly came to realize that my understanding of the field of medicine was so much narrower than the reality. Through talking with Dr. Katz and his team, sitting in on meetings and observing clinic, I got a glimpse of a side of medicine that I had never seen before. I knew I was interested in research going into this experience, but after talking with several Research Assistants in Dr. Katz’s lab, I am now seriously considering serving as an RA during my glide year(s).

I am shocked at how much I was able to experience in less than 48 short hours. My first day began by sitting in on a rheumatology case conference with Dr. Katz and several of his colleagues at BWH and Mass Gen. I then had a chance to speak with Harvard Medical School student who is taking time off after his third year to work as an RA for Dr. Katz. It was extremely informative to hear about his path to medical school and how his experiences have prepared him for the work he is doing today.

After speaking with several other RAs, I sat in on a Skype call with Dr. Katz and a team in the Netherlands about a paper that they are in the process of publishing. After lunch, we listened to a visiting speaker at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and ended the day with a meeting regarding an activity on sexual assault on campuses that he is coordinating.

The next morning, we attended Medicine Grand Rounds and listened to the distinguished Dr. Neil Powe of UCSF speak about disparities in renal disease and the disproportionate effect that this has on the African American population. Afterword, we headed straight to the clinic where Dr. Katz saw seven different patients (before lunch) with varying types and degrees of arthritis.

I was so impressed by the work environment of Dr. Katz’s lab and the hospital as a whole. The team culture was so strong and everyone, from the youngest intern to the oldest and most decorated doctor, had a voice and was respected. I was also surprised to learn that only a few RAs had any experience or training specific to epidemiology or rheumatology before working in the lab. Rather, the other lab members taught them as they went and they learned through experience.

I would certainly recommend, in fact, urge, other students to take advantage of the Princeternship program. It was an incredible experience and a wonderful opportunity to get to know a very successful Princeton alumnus. I am so incredibly grateful for everyone at Princeton and BWH, especially Dr. Katz, who helped make my visit such a success.

Princeternship Stories: Irene Hsu ’20, Education Through Music-LA

Being a Princetern for Education Through Music-LA (ETM-LA) was an extremely rewarding experience. Firstly, talking with Victoria allowed me to learn so much about working at a nonprofit. What stood out to me the most was the organization’s focus on its mission. This united everybody and allowed them to work together passionately to reach their goal. Talking with Victoria also gave me insight into running a company. She mentioned how important it was to be surrounded by people who support the same values. This made me reflect a lot about networking and being an entrepreneur. I also found it very interesting how a nonprofit funds and publicizes itself. Effective nonprofit work is very much based on connections and reaching out to sponsors and local organizations. I find this aspect of this type of career very exciting and I will keep this in mind when figuring out what I want to do in the future.

Continue reading →

Featured Jobs and Internships of the Week – Electrical Engineering

Each week the Career Services team will highlight new or unusual opportunities in for undergraduates, graduate students and alumni.

This edition features electrical engineering opportunities, an area of focus for our employer outreach team. Looking for opportunities outside of software? We have some great picks for you.

Handshake Jobs & Internships:

UCAN Internships*:

Do you have any questions? Are there any specific employers or industries that you’re interested in? Let us know!

*UCAN is an internship-only site that is shared by 20 member schools, including Princeton. To use UCAN in addition to Handshake, you’ll need to register for a new account. Instructions on using UCAN are available here.

Featured Jobs and Internships of the Week – Arts, Publishing & Communications

Each week the Career Services team will highlight new or unusual opportunities in for undergraduates, graduate students and alumni.

This edition features picks in arts, publishing and communications. The path to jobs and internships in these industries may not be as straightforward as some others, but rest assured there are a bunch of opportunities in Handshake. Remember, the Career Services team is here to help you explore opportunities in areas that interest you and assist you with your search overall.

Do you have any questions? Are there any specific employers or industries that you’re interested in? Let us know!

Class of 2017: It’s Back to School and Back to Your Job Search

When you were a student, the fall was a time for fresh, new beginnings (think new backpack and sneakers!). As a recent graduate, you can still experience the excitement of “back to school” season. If you took time off this summer or haven’t connected with the right opportunity yet, the fall is the perfect time to reinvigorate or reboot your job search.

Here are a few “back to school” inspired tips and tools for your job search:

Prepare your “what I did this summer” story.

Think of this as a two-minute account of what you have been doing since graduation. Perhaps you took time off to travel, visited family or volunteered in your local community– whatever you did, weave it into a narrative to show how your summer experiences helped you learn more about yourself and prepared you for your next professional step. Wrap up this story by articulating the type of entry-level opportunity you are looking for and your key qualifications for the role.

Establish a schedule and get organized.

Be sure to carve out time every day to devote to your job search activities. Just like when you were in school, this means setting goals and getting organized. It also means having a plan. The LinkedIn Job Search Guide offers 38 pages of great advice that can help you develop a strategy and overcome common obstacles in your job search.

Gather the right “supplies.”

Start by updating your application toolbox with a refreshed resume, cover letters and LinkedIn profile. Keep up on the latest opportunities by searching online resources like Handshake and WayUp regularly and explore industry-specific sites as well. Be sure to check out the LinkedIn Job Search app as a way to supplement your search.

Do your homework.

Research organizations, industries and identify key alumni contacts using a variety of resources. Draw connections between the needs of the organization and your qualifications or interests. This pre-interview worksheet offers a framework for using your research to prepare for upcoming interviews.

Reconnect with fellow classmates and alumni.

Networking is the number one way to land a job! Keeping in contact with and expanding your network is one of the most important components of any job search. Now is the perfect time to reach out to former classmates and fellow alumni. Search the alumni directory and use LinkedIn’s alumni tool to find those you may have lost touch with. Join alumni groups on social media and participate in discussions. Attend alumni events on-campus and/or those happening in your region. Your classmates and fellow alumni can offer support, advice and perhaps, referrals.

Meet with a career adviser.

Members of our career advising team are ready to help by phone or Skype and in-person appointments. If you are near campus, you are welcome to attend our workshops and Meetup events. If you didn’t have a chance to attend one while in school, our Career & Life Vision workshop will be offered several times this fall and can help you proactively assess and reflect on your experiences and preferences in a way that will help you identify and align with meaningful opportunities.

While the average length of a post-graduation job search is about six months, finding a job doesn’t involve adhering to a specific timeline, however it does involve a significant investment of time, a strong commitment and a solid plan.

Remember, you don’t have to go it alone—we’re here to help! Even if there really isn’t such a thing as a fairy job mother, I’ll be sending you tips this fall to help keep your job search on-track. You can follow my posts here or on Twitter using #fairyjobmother. We look forward to hearing from you!

Any updates to share?

If you have recently accepted a position or made a decision about your next step– congratulations! Please let us know by updating your responses to the First Destinations Survey. Be sure to also let us know if you had conversations with alumni that helped shape your plans by updating that question as well. Thanks!

Evangeline “Eva” Kubu (@eva_kubu) is interim executive director of Career Services at Princeton University where she leads efforts to help prepare and empower all Princeton students and alumni as they pursue meaningful careers — she is also known as the #fairyjobmother.