Established in 2021, the Chancellor’s Career Fellows program is a comprehensive career education experience for selected WashU second-year undergraduate students whose family income is less than $75,000. The goal of the program is to jump-start career access and future career success by helping participating students land a summer internship. Internships serve as an important bridge from college to career. Research by the National Association of Colleges and Employers has demonstrated that internship experiences are avenues to increased skills, expanded networks, and enhanced social capital, and offer pathways to job offers and jobs. The Chancellor’s Career Fellows program aims to assist more students in finding and securing internships aligned with their career goals.
Students participate in a 1-credit course that gives them advanced and personalized career education and advising. They also have access to exclusive career preparation events such as networking and etiquette meals with employers, alumni, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and university leaders. The structured course and tailored events support students in their search for a summer internship. Following the summer internship, students’ experiences are showcased by the Center for Career Engagement to further promote career growth.
The Center for Career Engagement oversees the Chancellor’s Career Fellows Program in partnership with the Taylor Family Center for Student Success and Student Financial Aid.
The Chancellor’s Career Fellows Program includes the following components:
- Connection with other Chancellor’s Career Fellows and faculty, staff, alumni mentors, and university leadership for the purpose of building community, friendships, and support
- Enrollment in a one-credit career education course during the spring semester
- Participation in exclusive career prep and professional development events during the spring semester
- Access to personalized career advising toward a summer experience
- Participation in a pre-professional experience (e.g. an internship, research experience, or other meaningful professional development opportunity) during the summer break immediately following the spring semester course
- Students who secure an unpaid qualifying summer pre-professional experience are eligible to receive funding to support their living expenses.* (More information below in the FAQ section.)
- Celebration events with University leadership
- Featured recognition on the Center for Career Engagement’s website
Program Eligibility
- Current second-year WashU students
- Full-time degree-seeking undergraduate student
- Family annual income of $75,000 or less
- Students must be able to work in the United States
- Preference given to first-generation students
- Preference given to students who have not yet participated in a significant internship, pre-professional experience, or other career development program
How to Apply
Eligible students will be contacted via email with an invitation to apply and a link to the application questionnaire. Applications will be accepted until Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM CST. Decisions will be communicated the week of October 27, 2025.
If you have further questions, please reference the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below or contact Sarah Sims, Assistant Director, Internships & Experiential Learning in the Center for Career Engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Chancellor’s Career Fellows program does not assign students to internships. Students receive support in identifying, applying to, and interviewing for internships and other summer pre-professional experiences.
Yes, CCF gives preference to eligible students who are also first-generation status, but first-generation status is not a requirement for eligibility. If you are not a first-generation student, we still encourage you to apply.
Admission to CCF will be based on your written application. There will be no interview process after submitting your application. Please carefully consider your responses to the short essay questions. Priority will be given to applicants who will benefit from guided career education and/or who have had few or no previous pre-professional experiences.
No. Students must be based in St. Louis in the spring semester to partake in CCF as the program’s class component is in-person on the Danforth Campus.
While it is possible to secure a summer pre-professional experience before, after, or even during study abroad, please be aware that finding an opportunity with such constraints has proven very difficult for past CCF participants. While this doesn’t disqualify you from the program, we strongly recommend that students planning to study abroad in summer 2026 do not participate in CCF.
Yes! Pre-professional experiences based outside of St. Louis qualify for the program’s experiential learning component.
“Career Education for Chancellor’s Fellows” is a one-credit spring semester course for all Chancellor’s Career Fellows. All fellows must register for one session.
Course description: This course supports students in the Chancellor’s Career Fellows Program as they explore their professional interests, navigate their career development process, and identify summer 2026 experiences. Students will engage in career education through applying career development frameworks and completing individual portfolios. Interactive class sessions will see students practice interviewing skills, build networking resources, workshop documents, and engage in small group discussions and activities. Students will gain professional knowledge and confidence by connecting with alumni mentors, various Washington University resources, and employers. Registration is limited to students enrolled in the Chancellor’s Career Fellows Program.
No, this program is designed for students who will benefit from guided career education and support. If you already have a summer experience secured, and it is unpaid, we encourage you to instead apply for the Summer Internship Fund (for qualifying experiences).
We recognize that unpaid internships can present a significant barrier to participation for many students, and that students who have paid internships have better career outcomes. To expand equitable access to internships and other pre-professional experiences, the Chancellor’s Career Fellows program provides funding to support students who have unpaid internships. Students who secure an unpaid qualifying summer pre-professional experience, and who have successfully completed the spring program are eligible to receive a funding award of up to $5,000.
The unpaid experience must be at least 160 hours.
Experiences at WashU, WashU Medicine, and WashU alumni-led start-ups are not eligible for the Chancellor’s Career Fellows funding.
Experiences where students have to pay to participate are not eligible for the Chancellor’s Career Fellows funding.
Working on political campaigns are not eligible for the Chancellor’s Career Fellows funding.
The total funding amounts are determined by several factors including, but not limited to, number of weeks working, hours per week, location, budget and financial need. Financial need status is determined by Student Financial Aid. The funding is intended to support the fellow’s ability to participate.