One-of-a-kind professional development program equips students for future career success

MIT’s distinctive Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP) offers a year-long career development course specifically designed for second-year students to prepare them for various professional experiences in industry, research, and public service, setting the stage for their future careers beyond MIT. Launched in 2001 by Thomas Magnanti, who was then the dean of the MIT School of Engineering, UPOP addresses the need to enhance MIT students’ technical education with essential soft skills crucial for workplace success.

“UPOP presents an invaluable chance for MIT sophomores to cultivate essential skills that complement their academic studies and enable them to effectively express and showcase their value in a professional environment,” explains Kendel Jester, the assistant director for early career engagement at MIT Career Advising and Professional Development (CAPD). “Moreover, through UPOP’s curriculum, students can tap into tangible resources, including MIT alumni and staff, to advance both their professional and personal growth.”

Employing experiential learning methods, UPOP enriches students’ professional growth by instilling effective communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities within an engaging setting. The program commences with fundamental career skills such as crafting resumes and cover letters, networking, and interview readiness before progressing to more advanced competencies like negotiating salaries, professional communication strategies, and fostering inclusive environments.

“The most significant advantage of participating in UPOP for me was the boost in self-confidence as a professional,” shares rising senior Jehan Ahmed, who completed the UPOP program in 2023 and subsequently worked as a course assistant for the program. “Before embarking on my initial industry internship, UPOP equipped me with the necessary collaboration skills. I learned how to approach my manager proactively, set expectations, and establish goals, which proved immensely beneficial, particularly as a sophomore new to the industry. It made me feel more prepared to delve into my project, despite not yet being fully proficient technically.”

UPOP specifically targets sophomores due to the perceived lack of tailored support and resources compared to first-year students. Completing the UPOP program gives sophomores a competitive edge in securing summer opportunities, which traditionally favor juniors and seniors, positioning them as strong contenders. The period following sophomore year pivotal in one’s career trajectory, and UPOP aids its students in staying ahead.

“Although UPOP’s time commitment was modest, the program provided me with invaluable connections and support systems,” reflects rising senior Jade Durham, another UPOP alum who returned to work within the program.

Being part of the UPOP community yields numerous benefits. Students gain access to UPOP’s exclusive mentor and employer networks, offering unparalleled connections and prospects otherwise inaccessible. UPOP mentors, comprising industry experts and many MIT alumni, along with the program’s network of over 100 employers, are keen to recruit UPOP students who stand out for their unique skill set. Besides networking opportunities, students receive personalized guidance from UPOP’s dedicated staff and exclusive chances to collaborate with MIT’s campus partners.

“UPOP guides sophomores in exploring post-graduation paths by linking them with professionals from various fields,” notes Marianne Olsen, an MIT/UPOP alumna whose company, Chartwell, is part of the employer network. “Personally, I greatly benefited from meeting operations consultants through UPOP, which helped me discover a job that allowed me to apply my engineering background to manufacturing while enjoying the variety of project consulting. Prior to this encounter, I believed I had to choose between the two paths.”

While UPOP is a three-credit course lasting a full year, it boasts a lighter workload and greater flexibility compared to other MIT classes. It comprises three to four hour-long milestone workshops during the fall and spring semesters, focused on the aforementioned career readiness curriculum.

Aside from the milestone workshops, UPOP’s flagship event is the Team Training Workshop (TTW), an intensive, multi-day experiential learning experience where students form small teams, each mentored by a UPOP mentor. Teams engage in a series of activities centered around developing skills indispensable in their future professional ventures, independent of their MIT majors. TTW’s unique structure immerses sophomores in various practice opportunities such as project management, negotiation techniques, and professional presentation skills, all while fostering camaraderie and enjoyment.

“Given the ample networking practice and professional skills acquired from seasoned mentors, TTW undoubtedly proves its worth in time investment,” asserts Ahmed. “Participants gain insights into diverse occupational fields from experts, learning essential communication and emotional intelligence skills crucial for job success, experiences usually lacking in our academic and technical classes.”

UPOP’s core mission prioritizes students’ career readiness requirements as its foremost goal, continually evolving to cater to these needs. This year, UPOP initiated programming earlier than ever to accommodate students pursuing fields with fall internship application deadlines. This initiative saw the launch of a brand-new First-Year Speed Networking event held on April 23, allowing prospective UPOP applicants to refine their elevator pitches alongside MIT and UPOP community members, including program alumni and networked employers.

The UPOP application portal is currently active, with admissions accepting submissions throughout the summer until the deadline on Sept. 13.

“I would advise my first-year self that UPOP presents an excellent opportunity to enhance networking confidence and serves as a valuable resource during the internship search phase,” reflects Ahmed.