Frequently Asked Questions on Treks
Below are some of the most common questions about treks. If your question is not listed here, please contact CATreks@uchicago.edu.
Most treks last two to three days. Students will usually arrive in the trek destination the night before the first day of the trek and depart on the day the trek concludes.
Each individual trek's itinerary will vary. However, some common activities include::
Q&A sessions with host organization employees
Presentations from recruiters on applying for job and internship openings
Networking receptions with alumni working in the area
Employers will receive a resume book for all trek participants.
For most treks, students will need to submit a short application form. The application will be available on the main treks page.
Career Advancement staff members serve as trek leaders to accompany participating students.
The number of site visits per trek varies, but most treks visit six to nine different employers.
Employer site visits usually last between one and two hours.
Most treks happen during University break periods. These include:
Summer Break (September)
Winter Break (December)
College Break Day (February)
Spring Break (March)
In addition, smaller treks in the Chicagoland area take place throughout the academic year.
Treks take place throughout the United States and around the world. The specific destinations change each year. Please visit the main treks page for a list of upcoming destinations.
All undergraduate students are eligible to attend most treks. Please check the listing for your desired trek to see if there are special eligibility criteria.
Students are responsible for the following costs associated with the trek:
A program fee that will be charged to your student account by the Office of the Bursar upon completion of the trek. These fees support program benefits such as hotel accommodations and ground transportation. Please visit each Handshake application page for more information, as a different fee will be assessed for each trek.
Airfare to and from the trek destination
Transportation to and from the airport and between the airport and hotel
Lunches and dinners during the trek
Students with demonstrated need are eligible to apply for program fee waivers and financial support for travel to and from the trek destination. You can indicate your interest in financial assistance on the trek application form.
Students are eligible to receive travel assistance and a waived program fee for up to one domestic trek and one international trek during their time in the College. This limit includes any treks previously attended with travel assistance.
Students are welcome to participate in additional treks beyond this limit; however, they will be responsible for covering the full program fee and all associated travel costs for any additional programs.
Career Advancement may cover more or fewer expenses for each individual trek. Please consult the listing for the desired trek to see which expenses will be covered by Career Advancement.
Students are required to wear business professional attire. Students should also plan to wear sensible shoes that will allow them to walk comfortably.
Students are welcome to arrive early or stay later, but Career Advancement only pays for housing and transportation during the trek dates. Career Advancement also cannot guarantee that students will be able to stay in the same hotel outside of the trek dates.
This will vary for each individual trek. Students will sometimes be able to stay with family or friends, but other times this could interfere with trek logistics. Students should consult their trek leader to see if they can stay with family or friends.
To participate in an international trek, students must have a passport that will remain valid at least six months beyond the date of the trek. Depending on their nationality and the trek destination, students may also be required to purchase a visa. Students are responsible for determining their own visa needs for each trek and ensuring that they obtain their visa in a timely manner before the trek operates.
All trek participants are required to complete a one to two page reflection and a survey on their experience. Career Advancement may also request to use your name, photo, and trek reflection to promote the program. Students are also expected to follow up with trek site visit hosts and send thank you letters or emails.