At Whitman School, Internship Success Starts Before Day One

Landing an internship is a major milestone. Knowing how to succeed once you get there is another. 

At the Whitman School of Management, preparing students for the workplace doesn’t begin on their first day in the office. It begins long before they walk through the door. 

This spring, the Whitman Career Center launched Internship Launch: Start Strong, Stand Out, a new professional development session designed to help students transition confidently from the classroom to the workplace. Developed from direct feedback from employers and internship supervisors, the session equips students with the practical strategies, professional habits and confidence to make a strong impression from day one. 

Nearly every student who attended reported feeling more prepared and more confident after completing the session in a recent survey. 

Built by Employers, Designed for Students 

The Career Center didn’t create Internship Launch based on assumptions. It was built around what employers consistently say separates good interns from exceptional ones. 

The one-hour session prepares students before they begin their internships by focusing on four key areas: preparing before day one, making the most of the first week, building a professional presence and network, and navigating challenges with confidence. 

Before the session begins, students are asked to reflect on what excites them, what worries them and what they still hope to learn before starting their internship. Their responses reveal something important: regardless of major or industry, many students share the same concerns. 

The most common fear? Feeling underprepared or not having the technical knowledge expected of them. Those are exactly the questions Internship Launch is designed to answer. 

The Lessons Students Remember Most 

While students expected practical advice, many left talking about lessons they hadn’t anticipated. Setting healthy workplace boundaries emerged as one of the session’s biggest takeaways. 

“I learned that I don't need to burn myself out because a company doesn’t own me,” one student shared. 

Others appreciated simple but meaningful advice, like bringing a notebook on the first day to remember names and titles, asking for feedback early and often, volunteering for additional work during slower periods, and requesting opportunities to shadow colleagues in other departments. 

Students also valued the conversation around making mistakes. 

“Rather than freezing or internalizing it, I learned the different ways to handle the situation: communicate through the issue, listen, take accountability and ask for help when needed,” another student wrote. 

Perhaps the most reassuring takeaway came from realizing they weren’t alone. “I learned that a lot of my fears are shared within my peers, and this is super reassuring.” 

A New Chapter in Career Readiness 

Internship Launch is more than a one-time workshop. Beginning in fall 2026, it will become a cornerstone of Whitman’s new Internship Milestone, a strategic evolution of the school’s former internship requirement. 

The name change reflects a broader philosophy: internships are not simply requirements to complete. They are transformational learning experiences that deserve intentional preparation and reflection. 

“An internship is one of the most impactful learning experiences a student can have, but the greatest growth happens when students are equipped to enter it confidently and reflect intentionally,” said Alicin Welsh, associate director of the Whitman Career Center. “The Internship Milestone ensures our students gain not only experience, but also the skills, confidence and self-awareness to succeed in their careers.” 

The Internship Milestone supports students before, during and after their internship. Students begin with a pre-internship self-assessment and Internship Launch before completing at least 120 verified internship hours. Afterward, they participate in a post-internship self-assessment that measures growth in professional competencies and complete the Post-Internship Playbook, a workshop that helps students reflect on their experience, strengthen their professional network and prepare for the next step in their career journey. 

By building reflection and professional development into every stage of the internship experience, Whitman ensures students don’t simply complete internships. They maximize them. 

The result is another example of Whitman’s commitment to preparing future-ready leaders through intentional, real-world learning. 

As one student summarized after the session: “I am leaving way more confident. I have a better understanding of what I need to do to prepare and a better understanding of how I want to perform.” 

Learn more about the Whitman School Career Center and start the internship journey at the Career Center website.