MIT’s Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP) is a co-curricular, yearlong professional development program for MIT sophomores of all majors.
UPOP helps students throughout the entire process of finding, acquiring, and thriving in their first professional experience and beyond—whether in industry, academia, or public service. We help students develop an amazing resume and cover letter, ace interviews, effectively communicate with employers and colleagues, build a professional network, develop relationships with mentors across many sectors, and just generally stand out from the crowd as they embark on their professional lives.
We do this by offering:
- One-on-one advising with UPOP staff.
- Seven fall and spring Milestone workshops that start with the fundamentals (resumes, cover letters, and making professional connections), and progress to how to thrive in the workplace (project management, professional communications, and interpersonal skills).
- The Team Training Workshop (TTW), a multi-day experiential learning opportunity that focuses on teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.
- A network of UPOP mentors who offer valuable connections and perspectives from their own professional experiences.
- The UPOP Employer Network, representing organizations from a variety of sectors that are interested in hiring UPOP sophomores. Employer network members provide UPOP with listings for open opportunities for students, and sponsor-level members host company information sessions. Our annual Employer Networking & Career Events take place after the second and third TTW sessions each year and are exclusive to the UPOP community.
- Access to UPOP resources for life!
