First-Year Interest Group Seminars (FIGS) give incoming students the chance to gain the wisdom of upper-classmates by learning about various paths of study and the vast resources available to the Rutgers community.
Beyond the Classroom
Some lessons can’t be learned within four walls.
Gain the Edge
Getting hands-on experience in your chosen field before graduation is a genuine advantage, providing invaluable insider knowledge and the opportunity to connect with future peers and professional contacts.
Real-World Learning
Enhance your campus classes and research with the real-world experience offered through internships, externships, cooperative education, service learning, and more. Rutgers' proximity to New York and Philadelphia gives you access to rich experiences that will help you stand out in today's job market and rise above the competition.
82
%
of students graduate with real-world experience
89
%
post-graduation career outcome rate
Class of 2023
3,500+
students completed job interviews with employers on campus
75
%
of students engaged with Career Exploration and Success
Take Advantage
Opportunities for off-campus learning abound in the arts, communication, and journalism; health and public policy; business and management; and engineering and the environment. Gain relevant work experience that will prepare you for the world of work.
Internships and Co-ops
Internships and cooperative education placements are prime avenues to gaining real-world experience. Check with your college, school, or department to learn about additional fieldwork, practicum, internship, and cooperative education possibilities.
Study Abroad
In an increasingly global economy, nothing beats global experience. Rutgers expands students’ education through 180 study abroad and service-learning abroad programs. With scholarships available for everything from a six-day trip to a full academic year and in every world region (Europe, The Far East, South America, Africa, and more), study abroad is within reach of every Rutgers student.
Study Abroad Scholarship
New friendships, deeper understanding, and unexpected confidence await undergrads studying abroad.
Rutgers Study Abroad Scholarship Video: Tsuru University
Just for First-Years
Special programs have been designed with first-year students in mind to help them settle in, start off right, and gain a deeper understanding of the tremendous possibilities ahead.
These one-credit, pass/fail courses offer hands-on research opportunities with topics in the humanities (including “The Books That Make Us”), sciences (“Is There Life on Mars?”), and social sciences (“Golf as an Aid to Your Career”).
Take up to three common first-year courses together with a supportive social/academic network of like-minded students while building relationships with faculty in and out of the classroom.