Whether you’re exploring STEM for a future career, planning to transfer to a university, or simply taking classes for personal growth, gaining experience beyond the classroom can make your journey more meaningful. STEM is not just only labs and lectures. It can also be about solving problems, building things, asking questions, and discovering new possibilities. No matter your goals, engaging in real-world experiences can help you apply what you’re learning, connect with others, and grow both personally and professionally. The following are different ways, big and small, you can build your STEM experience and find your place in the STEM community.
On-Campus Involvement*
Clubs, Organizations, Special Programs
Relevant Coursework*
Class Projects, Lab Experiments, Course Assignments
Campus Paid Positions
Student Help Jobs, Federal Work Study (FSW) Jobs, DSIG****
Industry Events
Challenges
Hackathons
Trainings/Workshops
Off Campus Opportunities***
Internships, Research, Volunteer Work, Shadowing, Independent Work, DSIG****
Experience Outside the US
Past Jobs, Competitions, etc.
College Athletes**
SMC Team Sports
* Sometimes the off-campus activities you are required to participate in as a result of your enrollment in a course or membership in a club may require F1 students to obtain work authorization from the IEC
** F-1 students who are also athletes and want to benefit from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), see the IEC
*** F-1 Students need to check with the International Education Center (IEC) to verify if you need employment authorization to participate in any of these off-campus activities
**** Undocumented students with or without an employment authorization card or social security number, check in with SMC’s Dream Program and Dream Resource Center for additional support and resources, including potential paid volunteer opportunities through financial aid for eligible students