UPOP

About UPOP

1. For Employers: click for more

   UPOP employers gain access to an elite pool of MIT students who have been coached in collaboration, presentation, and leadership skills.

   UPOP offers employers:

   1. Well-rounded interns ready to integrate into employers’ teams
   2. Early access to MIT talent
   3. A pipeline to top-notch future full-time employees
   4. Improved on-campus branding and visibility
   5. Staff consulting to provide the best match between student and employer
   6. The opportunity to sponsor events, participate in UPOP activities, and introduce students to the work of the company

   Register now!

2. For Students: click for more

   For students, UPOP provides a unique opportunity to infuse academic study with practical experience.

   Sophomores benefit from:

   1. Access to the UPOP employer network: many companies target UPOP students, offering a significant advantage to sophomores who are otherwise competing against upperclassmen.
   2. One-on-one coaching throughout the internship search
   3. A track record of success: In 2007, 84% of UPOP students received one or more internship offers. Ninety eight percent pursued some form of summer employment.
   4. Mentors: UPOP provides many opportunities for students to meet industry leaders: networking events, panel discussions, and the January Professional Development Seminar.
   5. The Professional Development Skills Week: Perhaps the best-known feature of UPOP, the intensive event is “serious fun.”

   Interested in applying?

   The UPOP Program is underway for the Class of 2012. Applications are now closed.

3. Main: click for more

   The Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP) is a credit-bearing professional development program that prepares talented MIT sophomores for success in the workplace. Since the program’s inception in 2001, more than 1,250 students have benefited from the combination of top-flight instruction and high-touch support. The program is housed in the School of Engineering.

   Over the course of their sophomore year, students receive academic training, networking and mentoring opportunities, and personalized coaching; the program culminates in a summer internship. Upon return to campus, UPOP participants engage in reflective activities that connect their summer learning to their course of study.

   The year-long program features:

   1. Workshops on: networking, professional etiquette, interviewing, job search strategies, and career management.
   2. The Professional Development Skills Week: in January, faculty from the Sloan School of Management and the School of Engineering deliver an interactive seminar that is facilitated by mentor-instructors from industry. Topics include: leadership, interpersonal communication, and presentation skills.
   3. Alumni panels: Through presentations and informal discussions, alumni share their expertise and experiences with UPOP students.
   4. Site visits: during the summer, UPOP staff members meet with students and employers to ensure the success of internship placements.
   5. Reflective phase: when students return to campus in the fall, they engage in reflective activities: debriefing with staff, and in roundtable conversations.
   6. Ongoing coaching: UPOP’s “open door policy” means that students are welcome in the office anytime: no appointment is necessary for resume review, interview coaching, and support throughout the internship search and beyond.