Fourth-Year Parents
- Family Weekend
Family Weekend, in the middle of Autumn Quarter, is an opportunity for families to see students in their environment, learn more about the College’s curriculum and traditions, visit model classes, and ask questions about programs and services. Families can meet the President, the Dean of the College, the Dean of Students, Resident Masters and Resident Heads, and their student’s academic advisers. It is a time, too, to get to know better your student’s roommates and friends, and enjoy a trip downtown for shopping, dining, or sightseeing. Additional information can be found on the Family Weekend website.
- Convocation
Convocation is a formal academic ceremony that was instituted in 1893, at the close of the University’s first quarter. At the end of each quarter—summer, autumn, winter, and spring—the University of Chicago holds a Convocation. Unlike many other institutions, graduates of the University of Chicago are presented with their diplomas individually. Spring Convocation takes place in Harper Quadrangle; convocation is held in Rockefeller Memorial Chapel in other quarters. Students may graduate if they have applied for their degree, completed all degree requirements, and met all financial obligations by the stated deadlines. Students may only march in the ceremony in the quarter in which their degree is conferred.
In May, graduating students will be able to register for up to six tickets for family and friends for the Spring Convocation. More information regarding travel to Chicago will be mailed to parents at the beginning of the Spring quarter prior to graduation and can also be viewed on the parents website in the months preceding the ceremony. The schedule will highlight events designed for families to celebrate their student’s achievements. Please visit the University’s official Convocation website.
- Career Services
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As students enter their fourth year in the College, they are faced with new challenges and exciting opportunities. The average job search takes four to nine months and involves six to ten hours per week dedicated to researching prospective employers, networking with alumni and other contacts, creating targeted resumes and cover letters, preparing for interviews and interviewing. These numbers may be daunting to fourth-years (and their parents) who are starting out on their job search, but CAPS provides resources and staff support to assist your fourth-year student, regardless of his or her career interests.
Suggestions to offer your fourth year student:
- Schedule an appointment with CAPS
Meet with a member of our Undergraduate Preparation Team to talk about your resume and what types of career fields interest you. - Visit the Chicago Graduate and Professional Studies website
This site has resources and materials about applying to graduate school. - Log into your Chicago Career Connection account.
Search two or three times each week for internships and opportunities that sound interesting. - Participate in On-Campus Recruiting
To participate in On-Campus Recruiting, schedule an appointment at CAPS to get activated in our system. Over 300 for-profit and non-profit employers come to campus throughout the academic year to meet with students and interview for positions on campus. - Schedule a Practice Interview
CAPS' Practice Interviewers hail from a variety of industries and can help students prepare for both internship and full-time interviews. To schedule a practice interview, call CAPS at (773) 702-7040. - Apply for an Industry Immersion Camp
These unique programs give students the opportunity to learn more about careers in the business, science, arts, and public service and non-profit fields. Each program lasts between one to two days, and provides students with resume and cover letter writing advice and opportunities to network with alumni working in these fields. - Attend a Career and Internship Fair
Career fairs are a great opportunity for students to meet with organization representatives from a variety of fields and learn more about opportunities that are available. The Fall Career Fair takes place in mid-October, the Winter Career Fair takes place in mid-January and the Hire Big Ten Plus and Public Service Fairs both take place in April. View information about upcoming fairs. - Use the Alumni Careers Network
The over 15,000 University of Chicago alumni who are part of this network have volunteered to talk with current students about how they went from a liberal arts degree to being successful in their field of choice.
For more information and resources for parents and families, please visit https://caps.uchicago.edu/parents/.
- Schedule an appointment with CAPS
