Ohio State University is offering its students a real-world glimpse into potential careers with its career immersion program, an initiative that transports them across the country to connect with alumni and industry professionals in different cities. As reported by OSU News, the College of Arts and Sciences' Center for Career and Professional Success has been organizing these trips since 2018, catering to students wishing to explore their vocational interests up close.
It's not just your typical campus job fair, these trips aim to seriously bridge the gap between the theoretical and the practical. Josh Mink, a third-year majoring in moving image production, got to dive deeply into the film and entertainment world during a spring 2024 trek to Los Angeles. He toured places like Amazon MGM Studios and Nickelodeon, all while networking with industry insiders. "It gave me a lot of direction for what to do with regard to Los Angeles, the arts and combining that with my experience at Ohio State," Mink told OSU News.
The program includes both local and national trips, which means students have the chance to visit Columbus employers as well as travel to bigger cities. These are not just quick tours but include a thorough mix of panels, Q&As, and crucial networking slots. Shirley Wu, assistant director of industry connections, emphasized the importance of these experiences: "It's a great opportunity for students to really visualize what working there means," according to OSU News.
The strategy to move off-campus to where companies are headquartered clearly seems to be paying off. Scott Kustis, director of industry connections, said about the shift to workplace visits, "It provided a lot of value-add to move the opportunities to the employers' site, and we started to see we were getting better student engagement numbers by doing this," according to OSU News. This practical approach enables students to not only see, but to also truly feel out the rhythms and routines of professional life.
Networking is pivotal to the program's success, with Ohio State alumni playing a key role. Mink's connections, for example, led to an internship and further involvement with the university's Business of Entertainment Club. This symbiosis of learning and connecting has students like Mink excited to give back. "I'd kept up with people I met there, and now one is hopping on Zoom soon to talk with our Business of Entertainment Club," he explained, according to OSU News.
Looking ahead, the college continues to encourage all students to participate in the immersion experiences, many of which are subsidized. With planning underway for the spring 2026 treks, it's clear they're committed to providing these practical opportunities. As Wu advised, "We are very willing to help students at any stage in their career... Career success is for everybody, and we want everyone to take advantage of our resources."
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