The Independent Study Program admittedly provides Wooster students with an edge over other job applicants; however, the I.S. Program is, for the most part, theoretical and involves little field work for students of most majors (with the exception of recipients of Copeland funding). I.S. does not provide students with hands-on experiences in live work place settings which can only be attained through internships ó and guess what? Wooster’s small size does not meet the threshold for firms to conduct on-campus recruitment for jobs or internships. The Global Social Entrepreneurship Program† (GSE) at Wooster provides students with an outstanding hands-on experience in a range of problem-solving skills in an international environment. Previous participation in study-abroad programs or research enhances your application for Local or Global Social Entrepreneurship; however, there are no explicit pre-requisites and course requirements to apply for GSE.
From an employer’s perspective, participation and successful completion of the GSE Program signals not only your strong commitment to professionalism but also your flexibility to work in an environment as different as India, which is an opportunity provided by this program. This is precisely the type of experience that stands out in all sorts of job applications ó from law firms to management consulting firms. The most significant advantage that GSE holds over all other types of internships is simply that it is universally valuable. It shows to the employer that you paid for an internship experience, traveled across continents and stepped out of your comfort zone for over a month solely for the purpose of learning in a practical setting. This is exactly the type of qualities many employers are searching for in job applicants.
For those who share my belief that education should not be taken as a means to an end; rather, it should be an end in itself -ó it makes perfect sense to combine the dual learning experience of problem-solving and a rich cultural exchange. India is host to many rich and enlightening cultures of the world that date back to the Middle Ages. Thus, participation in the GSE Program primarily focuses on problem-solving in different settings but it also inevitably results in a rich cultural exchange.
Most importantly, participation in the GSE Program gives you credits worth two courses. For graduate school and job applications, an internship worth two credits on your transcript carries an implicit message that the College recognizes that the internship was intensive in terms of learning. Considering how much the program enhances your chances of securing a well-paying job right after graduation, or how it neatly shapes your graduate school applications, I think the cost of participating is well worth what you get out of it. I have applied for the Local Social Entrepreneurship program, which is the first step towards GSE, and I am determined to make the most of this excellent opportunity that is available to us here at Wooster.
Usman Gul is a Senior Staff Writer for the Voice. He can be reached for comment at UGul13@wooster.edu.