Alternative, Short-Term Summer Experiences

Did you know that many students or soon-to-be graduates don’t yet know what they’re doing this summer?  

Many students make summer plans that don’t last the entire summer season — maybe you’re studying abroad for just six weeks, or perhaps your plans don’t begin until July, or you’re an athlete with preseason commitments, or you just need to plan to rest for a period of time, for example.  

Many others just know they’re going to be home, or here on campus, and that’s all for now. This is so much more normal than students realize.

Here are some alternative, short-term ways to get experience that fit around your summer commitments or that can fit together to make a great summer. All of these things are resume-worthy!

Cawley staff are available for drop-ins or appointments in advance on Handshake to discuss your individual circumstances and to help you plan your career strategy.

How do I get started if I’m seeking short term or remote work?

  • Browse Handshake and other job search sites using keywords like virtual or remote in your fields of interest. 
  • Check out these sites to find various paid, remote opportunities: FlexJobs (has a subscription fee, but is popular and reputable in the world of remote jobs), Jobspressso, Remote.co, We Work Remotely, Working Nomads for remote jobs. Roles include tutoring, data entry, customer service, writer, and many more.
  • Search for remote micro-internships (short-term, paid professional assignments) on Parker Dewey.
  • Search for freelance projects or temporary work in fields like copywriting or copyediting, content creation, design, tech, marketing or social media marketing, development, customer support and more. Check out sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and GURU to see examples and put your name out there. 
  • The following temp agencies in the DC area have been used in the past by Georgetown students and alumni. Georgetown is not affiliated with these agencies and Cawley staff can’t endorse them, but we have worked with students who’ve had good experiences.

What are other ways I can gain experience?

Volunteer

  • Search Idealist, VolunteerMatch, or Catchafire for volunteer projects related to COVID-19 or an area of interest for you. In-person and remote opportunities are available.
  • Review additional ideas for volunteering online provided by Idealist.
  • Review neighborhood email lists or reach out to local nonprofits to find tangible ways to support your neighbors.

Self-Study

  • Enroll in online courses on Coursera, EdX or Udemy. Here is a list of free courses offered by Ivy League schools. 
  • LinkedIn Learning offers free courses for Georgetown students and “learning paths” in a wide variety of creative, business and tech areas.
  • Learn a new language or advance your level. Mango may be available for free from your local public library.
  • Set up a study plan to define your goals, track progress and stay accountable. A good framework to use is SMART goals.
  • Buddy up. Schedule virtual study sessions with friends.

Independent Projects

  • Consider computer programming or web/app development projects.
  • Create an independent, low-budget art/music/film/design project or vlog.
  • Start a writing project or blog on a topic about which you are passionate.
  • Create and polish your portfolio.

How can I use part of my summer to prepare for graduate school?

Learn more about universities that interest you. Visit or inquire about virtual tours and information sessions.

  • Consider taking an online GMAT, MCAT, GRE or LSAT prep course.
  • Check out our Graduate School Guides for tips on searching and applying.
  • Research or ask about career outcomes, alumni stories, and career development support associated with the programs you’re considering.