Suggested Guide to Your Four Years at Pace
Pace University is committed to fostering student success throughout each student’s educational journey.
Below are suggestions for each academic year. These guidelines are flexible and many suggested ideas
can be substituted for different years or can be followed more than once. Please talk with your Academic
Advisor about using this plan to make the most out of your four years at Pace!
First Year:
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Meet with your Academic Advisor at least once each semester
If you have not chosen a major yet or would like to change your major, see an Academic Advisor in
the Advising Center for Exploring Majors who can help you explore your options
Map out your curriculum plan for upcoming semesters with your Academic Advisor
Work with your Advisor to make sure you take a variety of core courses to help you explore various
academic paths
Join campus organizations and clubs to learn new things and build your resume
Participate in volunteer activities through the Center for Community Action and Research
Attend a Career Services Education Information Session to find out about potential internships
Meet with a Career Services Counselor to help you explore career choices and draft a resume
Start an E-portfolio (a digital collection of your accomplished work at Pace)
Contact International Programs and Services to plan for a study abroad or travel course experience
in your sophomore, junior, or senior year (Remember to apply for the Gilman Scholarship)
Apply for a Watson Fellowship Opportunity with the Prestigious Fellowship & Scholarship
Coordinator
Attend a financial literacy program
Second Year:
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Continue working with your Advisor to take core courses that will help you develop transferable
skills and become more well rounded
Work on your E-portfolio
Join a campus organization and club
Get involved in student government - run for office
Become a student leader by being a peer leader, peer tutor, peer mentor, or orientation leader and
investigate leadership development programs offered at the University including ones provided by
Student Development and Campus Activities and Project Pericles
Attend career seminars and special topic workshops
Meet with a Career Services Counselor to explore internship opportunities in your field of interest
Work with your Career Services Counselor to develop a resume and apply for internships
Participate in volunteer or civic engagement activities through the Center for Community Action
and Research
Plan to declare your major (and possibly a minor) at the end of your 2nd semester, if you have not
already done so
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Meet with an Academic Advisor in the Advising Center for Exploring Majors to discuss majors and
minors, if needed
Apply to the Pforzheimer Honors College if your QPA is 3.5 or above
Petition for membership to a national honor society
Participate in a semester- or year-long study abroad program. You can also take travel courses, or
participate in an alternative spring break
Third Year:
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Map out your last 2 years of courses with your Advisor and be sure to review your major worksheet
with him or her to ensure that you have completed the necessary requirements to date
Make sure you have officially declared your major (and minor, if you have one)
Do research with a faculty member - this can be your faculty Advisor or a different faculty member
and can focus on graduate school, major-related internships and post-graduation interests
Continue working on your E-portfolio
Become a student leader by being a peer leader, peer tutor, peer mentor, or orientation leader and
investigate leadership development programs offered at the University including ones provided by
Student Development and Campus Activities and Project Pericles
Continue working with a Faculty Advisor
Attend lectures on campus by scholars and business experts
Become a member of an honor society in your major
Meet with a Career Services Counselor to update your resume, research employers and industries
and pursue an internship for the semester or summer
Attend career fairs on- and off-campus to gather information and to network
Attend career seminars and special topic workshops
Pursue a new volunteer experience through the Center for Community Action and Research
Begin to think about applying to graduate school and taking admission exams
Investigate prestigious fellowship and scholarship opportunities, like the Fulbright or Goldwater,
through the Office of International Programs and Services
Fourth Year:
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Make sure you have met your graduation requirements
Participate in and complete your Capstone Seminar
Continue working on and finalize your E-portfolio
Continue working with a Faculty Advisor
Pursue a final internship in your chosen field
Apply to graduate school and make sure you have taken any necessary admission exams
Meet with a Career Counselor to finalize your resume and develop your full-time job search
strategy
Participate in the Career Services Campus Interview Program for full-time jobs after graduation and
utilize Career Services’ online job database
Meet company recruiters and employment representatives at career fairs
Attend a financial literacy program for graduating seniors