CMC Parent News - Fall 2022
In this issue:
Summer Experiences
Ningqi (Carina) Zhao '24.5 • Chloe Kastl '25 • Lilly Chertock '25
Are You About to Call Your Student?
¿Está a punto de llamar a su estudiante? Antes de hacerlo, aquí encontrará cuatro sugerencias
Job Shadowing Program
Supporting Your Student in Their Job Search
1946 Challenge
Parent Network Board Meeting Minutes
Summer Experiences
Each summer our CMCers go off into the “real world” through internships to explore their interests. Many stay stateside and intern with local companies or help their professors with research. Others travel to foreign countries to dive into a different culture. No matter the experience, they all venture back home with great stories to tell. Here are personal accounts from three CMC students.
Ningqi (Carina) Zhao '24.5
This summer I stayed in Uganda for two and a half months, where I helped CMC alum Takako Mino '11 in launching Musizi University, the first liberal arts college in the country. Musizi University is intended to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and empathy to transform their communities, Africa, and the world.
I have been helping Takako with remote work since fall 2021, and I went to Kampala for onsite work this summer. My job was mainly involved in three areas: First, we visited several local high schools and interviewed many local high school students. During the visit, we introduced the idea of Musizi University to them, as well as learning their needs for attending university. Second, we visited several local universities, such as Makerere University, and interviewed current students to learn about the problems within the current higher education system. Lastly, we interviewed local entrepreneurs across different industries to gain their insights for designing a successful Entrepreneurship major curriculum. Besides conducting market research, I also drafted an admission plan, employability plan, and industry sector report for the university.
This summer was the first time that I came to Africa, and I enjoyed the experience of immersing myself into a new culture and constantly learning new things. The internship was sponsored by Kravis Leadership Institute, and I really appreciate CMC for providing such a unique opportunity.
Chloe Kastl '25
Over the summer I had the opportunity to voluntarily teach English at summer camps in Italy. While working with The English Camp Company I led morning songs, taught daily English lessons, and led my group through afternoon activities aimed at giving students the opportunity to practice their English. While stationed in Forli, Italy, I stayed with an amazing host family, consisting of a mom and dad and two young girls. We would eat dinner, explore the surrounding areas, go to amusement parks, and play with their nine outdoor cats as a big family. While I was able to gain a lot of experience in teaching and dealing with a language barrier, I was also able to learn a lot about Italian culture and family dynamics. Throughout my time in Italy, I made unforgettable memories and met amazing people from all over the world. This experience allowed me to explore more parts of the international community and a career I am interested in.
Lilly Chertock '25
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This past summer, I spent eight weeks conducting research at UC Santa Barbara as part of the National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. I was among eight students participating in the Ocean Global Change Biology REU at UCSB’s world-renowned Marine Science Institute. For my project, I worked with the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory. I studied the environmental correlates of great white shark presence in the Carpinteria area, utilizing data and drone footage from their SharkEye program. I also became familiar with other research programs from this lab to help reduce ocean plastic pollution and prevent whale-ship collisions. It was a fantastic introduction to data science! In November, I’ll present a poster of my findings at the Western Society of Naturalists conference in Oxnard, CA. Through the REU program, I got to visit Santa Cruz Island and Montaña de Oro State Park, and take a whale watching trip (saw 10 humpbacks and 1000+ dolphins)! Santa Barbara was a wonderful place to spend the summer, and the building I worked in every day was only steps away from the beach bluffs. I was also extremely fortunate to receive SIE funding from the Soll Center, and I can’t thank them or CMC enough for making my summer possible.
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Are You About to Call Your Student? Here are Four Suggestions:
As a parent of a first-year CMC student, I sense there is still some adjusting to college life taking place. With midterms around the corner, this could cause some additional schoolwork pressure. A 2018 study demonstrated that stress and anxiety levels rise steadily during the first semester of college and remain elevated throughout the second semester. That is why it may be important to remind our students of the academic and personal resources available to them at CMC.
It could also be advantageous to converse with your student about building in downtime during their week and identifying specific ways to de-stress. CMC has resources on campus to help.
Furthermore, you may want to remind your student to do their best to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Getting enough sleep will make your student feel better and perform better. A 2019 study showed a positive correlation between regular sleep schedules and academic performance. To improve sleep, the CDC suggests limiting caffeine intake in the afternoon/evenings, avoiding eating a big meal late at night, and going to bed around the same time every night. The Dean of Students Office can help your student put together a personalized well-being plan to help with sleep and other kinds of well-being challenges.
Feelings of homesickness may also be kicking in if they have not been there already. Mental health professionals suggest coping skills such as recognizing these feelings are temporary and normal and taking advantage of opportunities to connect with others through clubs and volunteering. As parents, we may consider including familiar items from home when sending care packages which could help boost their spirits too. Home baked treats and pictures of family pets are always favorites!
Please note the updated mailroom address removes “North” from their Story House address. All packages sent to students should read as follows:
Student Full Name, Mailbox #
742 Amherst Ave.
Claremont CA 91711
¿Está a punto de llamar a su estudiante? Antes de hacerlo, aquí encontrará cuatro sugerencias
Por Dahlia Jabro P'26 | Traducido por Carmen Amaya P'25
Como padre de un estudiante de primer año de CMC, siento que todavía se está adaptando a la vida universitaria. Con los exámenes parciales a la vuelta de la esquina, esto podría causar una preocupación adicional al rendimiento académico. Un estudio publicado en 2018 demostró que los niveles de estrés y ansiedad aumentan constantemente durante el primer semestre de la universidad y se mantienen elevados durante el segundo semestre. Por eso puede ser importante recordar a nuestros estudiantes los recursos académicos y personales que CMC ofrece.
También podría ser conveniente conversar con su estudiante para crear tiempo libre durante la semana y buscar maneras simples para aliviar el estrés y la ansiedad. CMC cuenta con recursos en campus para ayudar a los estudiantes.
Salas de oración y meditación con acceso a capellanes:
Asimismo, puede recordarle a su alumno que duerma al menos 7 horas cada noche. Dormir lo suficiente hará que su alumno se sienta mejor y rinda más. Un estudio realizado en 2019 mostró una correlación positiva entre los hábitos de sueño saludables y el rendimiento académico. Para mejorar la calidad del sueño, los CDC sugieren limitar el consumo de cafeína por la tarde/noche, evitar comer abundantemente a última hora de la noche y procurar acostarse todos los días a la misma hora. La Oficina del Decano de Estudiantes puede ayudar a su estudiante a elaborar un plan de bienestar personalizado y ayudarle a crear una rutina productiva.
Los sentimientos de nostalgia también pueden aparecer si no lo han hecho ya. Los profesionales de la salud mental sugieren estrategias de afrontamiento como reconocer que estos sentimientos son temporales y normales, y aprovechar las oportunidades de conectar con otros a través de clubes y voluntariado. Como padres, podemos considerar la posibilidad de incluir artículos familiares de casa cuando enviemos paquetes de atención que podrían ayudar a levantar su ánimo también.
Por favor, tenga en cuenta que la dirección actualizada del correo elimina "North" de su dirección de Story Hhouse. Todos los paquetes enviados a los estudiantes deben decir lo siguiente:
Nombre completo del estudiante, buzón #
742 Amherst Ave.
Claremont CA 91711
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Job Shadowing Program
By Jay Cohen P'23
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Like many of you, when I was in college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. During my first two years of school, my career goals varied between being psychiatrist, a lawyer, a computer programmer (now known as coding I believe), and an investment banker. Part of my problem was that I really had no idea what any of these jobs actually entailed and had no tools to gain that understanding. Fortunately for CMC students, there are some great resources available to them to gain better insight into potential careers, what these jobs entail, and the skills needed to be successful. Chief among these resources is the job shadowing program.
Job shadowing is exactly what it sounds like. Students spend a day or half-day with a parent or alumni who works in the field they have an interest in. They have a great opportunity to see first- hand what it is like to be a psychiatrist, lawyer or investment banker and have a chance to pick the brain of someone who is successful in that field. It a chance to ask the kinds of questions that can really inform career decisions: What do you love about this job? What don’t you like? What are the characteristics needed to be successful?
Three years ago, I hosted seven students during a job shadowing day at Bank of America where I worked as a stock analyst. I was terribly impressed with the students that attended, most of whom were first-years. They had some fantastic questions - many of which I was able to answer. I also commandeered some colleagues with the different roles at the firm to speak to the group provide an even bigger glimpse into opportunities at a large financial institution. The students were all curious, respectful, professional and eager to learn what a career in equity research might be like. A number of students have stayed in touch with me and reached out for career advice.
The success of the program is heavily dependent on parents being willing to take some time to spend with students and discuss their own careers. The more parents that participate, the wider and more diverse job shadowing opportunities will be for students. Our parent community at CMC is a unique resource that can truly enhance our student’s college experience and help guide them through the job search process. Please sign up for a job shadowing experience to allow a student to benefit from your professional experience and success.
If you are interested in being a host during the first two weeks of January 2023, please fill out this short Google Form by Friday, November 6. It should only take 5 minutes. Once you complete the form, Jesal Patel from CMC's Soll Center for Student Opportunity will be in contact regarding next steps and to confirm logistics. Please reach out to Jesal if you have any questions in the meantime.
CMC Job Shadowing
Parent Volunteer Opportunities
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Supporting Your Student in Their Job Search
By Steve Kapner P'22
“It’s only the second week of school and all my friends have job offers!” — An anonymous CMC senior
If that refrain sounds familiar, read on. We’ll cover the recruiting timeline and process, what your student can do, and what you can do to support them.
[Reprinted and updated from Fall 2021]
RECRUITING TIMELINE
For first-years, sophomores, juniors: summer internships
The summer internship recruiting process heats up after winter break. As such, today’s article will focus on the seniors. We’ll talk about the internship process in the winter edition of CMC Parent News.
If you want a preview, check out CMC’s Sponsored Internships and Experiences program. (Applications for SIE open up in February.) You can also learn about Handshake and Interest Clusters.
For seniors: post-graduation work
The timeline varies by industry. For students interested in consulting, software engineering, product management, federal government, and some financial services careers, the primary recruiting season happens in the fall. Consulting, in particular, is happening right now. But these sectors account for only 40% of the CMC student interest.
For the other 60%, the crunch time is spring, especially during spring break. Companies recruiting in the spring are not typically looking to build incoming cohort classes. Instead, they are looking for individuals who can start in 6-8 weeks. This is good! Students can use the time between now and then to build their professional networks, focus on academics and clubs, write their thesis, and then launch into recruitment in spring.
Note: Some investment banking and technology firms use their junior summer internships to fill their post-graduation classes. So for those students, it actually is true that they already have their jobs lined up.
For seniors: grad school
About 12-15% of seniors go straight to grad school. Applications are typically due in December or January, depending on the program.
RECRUITING PROCESS
According to Ursula Diamond, Director of Student Opportunities, we are happy to report that many organizations, particularly consulting firms, have started returning to campus this fall to recruit in-person at the Claremont Colleges. To support students who are invited to recruit online, CMC provides six soundproof interview rooms that students can book, so they don’t need to do Zoom job interviews from their dorm rooms!
BUT: Only 14% of students find full-time work by applying online without any in-person connection at the organization! Another 30% find opportunities by directly (and relentlessly) attacking a target company. The rest find work through networking.
I’ll say that again. 56% of students find work through networking! That is, they got a lead from someone they know—family, friends, alumni, professors—and the job offer came about because that person had them top of mind at the right time, advocated for them, and coached them on how to navigate the recruitment and interview process.
The networking path timeline
This is where you can tell your senior, “Don’t panic,” because they can start now and be right on schedule. Your student would do “Informational Interviews” this month and next, stay warm with their contacts in January, and then they might suddenly get an opportunity in March. But, this is a numbers game. Your student will have to do this with literally dozens and dozens of contacts to have a chance of something coming through in the spring.
And remember, as Ursula says, “It’s never too early and it’s never too late to come to Career Services for advice and support.”
ACTIONS FOR YOUR STUDENT
- Make an appointment to talk to Career Services. Ursula Diamond, Director for Student Opportunities, invites every single senior to meet with her personally to make sure they are feeling supported as they figure out their career goals and plans. First-years and sophomores would sign up to meet with Jesal Patel, Assistant Director of First-Year and Sophomore Programming. Juniors meet with one of three Career Coaches, based on their specific career interests.
- Connect with Industry Cluster coaches to get notified about coffee chats, info sessions, and mock interviews. Students can do this by checking off the relevant Interest Cluster boxes in their Handshake profile.
- ABC—Always Be Connecting. To start planting the seeds for a job offer from networking, your student can meet with Career Services about how to do Informational Interviews. Ursula can run reports from Linkedin to identify CMC alumni in your student’s areas of interests, and that’s a list your student can start calling!
- Check out CMC’s new Career Services website. Note: This is publicly accessible, so parents can view this too!
- For international students: CMC recently rolled out a new platform called Interstride specifically designed to help international students find internships and jobs in the US.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP STUDENTS
- Tell Career Services if you know of any internship or job opportunities. These don’t need to be at your organization.
- Sign up to host a virtual job shadow or networking visit. Check out the article in this newsletter from Jay Cohen on how to become a host employer during this winter’s in-person job shadow program. Volunteer to be an Expert-in-Residence and serve as a resource for students to reach out to. Note: You don’t really need to be an expert :-). Having parents volunteer for this can be especially helpful to first-years and sophomores who might be more nervous about reaching out, as this is a way for them to ease into networking. More details on CMC’s Career Services for Families site.
- And if you want to be even more involved, consider joining the Parent Network Board Careers Committee. If interested, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement at parents@cmc.edu or 909-621-8097.
SEE PAST CAREER SERVICES ARTICLES
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Thank You CMC Parents and Families!
We were blown away by the support we received during the 1946 Challenge. Each of your gifts make an impact for our CMC students. Did you miss the Challenge? You can still support CMC by going to cmc.edu/givenow.
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Parent Network Board Meetings
The Parent Network Board meets quarterly to discuss ways to enhance the College experience and to hear from College leadership. Read the October 2022 Board meeting minutes here.
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Past Parent Newsletters:
Fall 2023
Summer 2023
Spring 2023
Winter 2023