Top things to know
- Attendance will be tracked by scanning a QR code.
- READY day will be held Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- Immersive experiences apply to freshmen only.
- You will have to attend 4 sessions on READY day.
- It is strongly recommended to download the guidebook app.
- Bring resumes to the destination fair.
Otterbein created a new program called READY Day designed to help students get internships and develop career skills.
All students will have to participate in READY Day before they graduate. Seniors must go to the first READY Day on Sept. 24. Juniors will have to attend the next two, sophomores will have to attend two of three, and freshmen will have to attend three of four.
Otterbein will also start requiring an immersive experience to graduate. The immersive experience requirement will only apply to freshmen who started this fall.
Colette Masterson, the associate director of experiential learning at Student Success & Career Development, says that the immersive experience will help students narrow down what they wish to do with their future degree by letting them experience what it would be like to work in that career.
Immersive experiences will differ for each major. Masterson said there are different ways to fulfill the requirement. "It's not just an internship or study abroad," she said. "Students can do a leadership project. They can do a community service project. Students can do research. It could be an employment opportunity that they may already have.”
A few senior year experience (SYE) classes will fulfill the immersive experience requirement if students cannot meet it earlier. There will also be another SYE class with an immersive experience prerequisite. This will be a two-credit class that reflects on the immersive experience, what was learned, and how to apply that knowledge to a job application.
On READY Day, there will be a destination fair in the Clements Recreation Center. There will be around 120 tables set up from 20 graduate schools and 100 businesses and organizations. It is recommended that if you are looking for an internship, to bring resumes and dress professionally. You can find the list of participants on Handshake.
Decompression spaces will be available for those who need time in a quiet space. These spaces can be found all around campus, and they will also be listed on the READY Day app map. The app will also be used for attendance and to build a personalized schedule of breakout sessions.
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