First Year Career Cohorts

The AI, Computer Science & Data Science cohort empowers first-year students to explore the vast landscape of computing, from software engineering and artificial intelligence to cybersecurity, data science, and more.

Sample Employers

Abbvie
Amazon
Apple
Argonne
eBay
Epic
Google
IBM
Meta
OpenAI
Palantir Technologies
Snowflake
TikTok

Questions?

Please contact Joey Velez at jvelez09@uchicago.edu.

The Arts & Humanities cohort helps students discover career paths that share storytelling, artistic production, and communication at their core, as well as explore the dynamic changes that these industries are undergoing. This fall-quarter program brings together early-career students focused on combining the robust UChicago Arts and Humanities curriculum with cutting-edge skill development to prepare to make an impact on film, literature, visual arts, music, gaming, theatre, animation, academia and more.

Sample Employers

• ABC News

• Art Institute of Chicago

• Disney

• Penguin Random House

• Film Independent

• UChicago Press

• Simon & Schuster

• The New York Times

• The Point Magazine

• The Goodman Theater

• HBO

• Red Wagon Pictures

Questions?

Please contact Ben Waltzer at waltzer@uchicago.edu.

The Business cohort empowers first-year students to explore the dynamic world of business, from finance and consulting to entrepreneurship, marketing, and more.

Sample Employers

Accenture
Amazon Bain & Company Boston Consulting Group
Capital One
Evercore
Goldman Sachs
Google
JPMorgan Chase
McKinsey & Company
Morgan Stanley
PwC
UBS
Walmart

Questions?

Please contact Jackson Lehmar at jlehmar@uchicago.edu

The Biological Sciences cohort empowers first-year students to explore careers at the intersection of biology and data, spanning biotech, bioinformatics, neuroscience, pharmacology, and more, by harnessing the power of computer science and analytics to answer big questions in the life sciences.

Sample Employers

AbbVie
Argonne National Laboratory
Biogen
Broad Institute
Genentech
Ginkgo Bioworks
GlaxoSmithKline
Illumina
Moderna
National Institutes of Health
Pfizer
Tempus
Tessera Therapeutics

Questions?

Please contact Isabelle Trier at itrier@uchicago.edu.

The Global Health cohort introduces students to diverse global and public health career paths including think tanks, multilaterals, government, and domestic and international nonprofits. Students will explore the connections between global, national, and local public health issues and the research, communication and collaboration skills needed to address them.

Sample Programs

Career Exploration Week in New York
Introduction to Global Health Careers
Global Health Policy Case Challenge
Public Health Research Careers & Skill Building Overview
Preparing for your non-profit summer internship
Employer Spotlight Sessions with International NGOs with International Rescue Committee, Medecins Sans Frontieres and WHO
Mentorship and Networking Dinners with Global Health Scholars

Sample Employers

mWater
NYC Health + Hospitals
International Aids Foundation
International Rescue Committee
Central American Network of Health Informatics
Population Services International

Questions?

Please contact Swapna Shaw at srshaw@uchicago.edu.

The Healthcare cohort program helps first-year students kickstart their career discernment journey in clinical roles such as physicians, dentists, social workers, and more. This program will introduce students to professional development resources and activities they can utilize to pursue careers as skilled, compassionate, and dedicated care providers.

Sample Employers

Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Chicago Center for HIV Elimination
Dimension Bio
Heartland Alliance
Illinois Department of Public Health
Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Mayo Clinic
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Yale School of Medicine

Questions?

Please contact Elise Gruneisen at egruneisen@uchicago.edu.

The Law cohort helps first-year students kickstart their career discernment journey in the legal field by introducing them to resources and activities they can utilize to plan their journey to law school and a legal career.

Sample Employers

Brooklyn Defenders Service
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law
Hudson Valley Justice Center
International Refugee Assistance Project
Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office
Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund
NYU Law School’s Policing Project
Ropes & Gray
Sidley Austin
University of Chicago Law School

Questions?

Please contact Priya Laroia at plaroia@uchicago.edu.

The National Security, Intelligence, and Government cohort introduces students to career paths across federal agencies, defense and intelligence organizations, policy institutions, and mission-driven private sector roles. Students will explore opportunities in national security analysis, cybersecurity, intelligence, defense strategy, operations, and public service, while gaining insight into how these roles contribute to global stability and U.S. security interests.

Sample Employers

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
U.S. Department of State
National Security Agency (NSA)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Deloitte Government & Public Services
Booz Allen Hamilton
Palantir Technologies
MITRE Corporation
Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
Atlantic Council

Questions?

Please contact Jack Shaffer at jbshaffer@uchicago.edu.

The Physical Sciences & Engineering cohort empowers first-year students to explore dynamic careers across these scientific disciplines! Programming will support students interested in applying their knowledge to research and industry careers.

Sample Employers
Argonne National Laboratory
Duality
EeroQ
qBraid
Infleqtion
Qblox
GLCT
Quantum Rings
Ingenii
HRL Laboratories
Qoro
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Questions?

Please contact Lauren Banks at laurenbanks@uchicago.edu.

1CC Curriculum Overview:
Each cohort will meet at least three times during Fall Quarter for hands-on, industry-specific sessions. Sessions build on one another, moving from exploration to preparation to practice.

Session 1: Map The Market: Recruiting 101 & Industry Timelines
Get oriented to your field of interest. What does a career path actually look like, and what does it take to break in? In this first session, we'll map out the landscape of your industry—key roles, hiring timelines, and the skills and experience that make candidates competitive. You'll leave with a clearer picture of where you're headed and what to do next.

Session 2: Build Your Brand: Crafting Your Resume, Cover Letter & LinkedIn
Turn that clarity into a compelling application. We'll dig into what makes a strong resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile in your specific industry. Working alongside your career adviser and cohort peers, you'll revise your resume and discuss best practices for networking.

Session 3: Make Your Move: Networking with Peers & Practicing Your Pitch
In this final session, you'll put your skills to work, networking with upperclassmen who've navigated this process and practicing how to talk about yourself and your interests. You'll finish fall quarter with momentum, connections, and the confidence to go after opportunities.

For more information about First Year Career Cohorts, please contact Beth Uding at uding@uchicago.edu.