Parents

Information for Parents & Families

For many young people, college offers a chance to try out new roles, to take more control over their lives and decisions, and to assert their independence. While some parents are excited by their child’s new-found sense of confidence, others find this stressful. As we know from countless career advising sessions, your opinion and approval matter tremendously. Our research has shown that parents, not faculty members or peers, have the primary influence on students’ career choices.

The fact is you really can help your child adjust to Penn. Express confidence in their abilities and affirm their ability to make decisions. This can make a significant difference in how your young adult makes the transition to college and then to life after Penn. Self-confidence is a fundamental asset in any field of endeavor and one way we all develop it is by knowing that there’s someone important who believes in us.  Career Services is also here to support your student throughout the career development process – whether that be exploring careers to find a possible fit, developing a resume for an internship, or applying to graduate or professional school.  Upon graduation, Penn students enter a wide array of industries and graduate programs.  If you are curious, take a few minutes to explore our post-graduate outcomes from previous classes or our Four Year Undergraduate Timeline.  Of course, please also encourage your student to take advantage of the many career development resources provided at Penn and to schedule an appointment with a Career Services advisor through our Handshake platform.

Please note that new Penn students will gain access to Career Services, including the ability to access Handshake and schedule appointments with career and pre-graduate school advisors, once their first semester has officially started. 

CS Radio – Episode 202: Career Myths Busted

Episode 202—We’re back from Spring Break! Join Michael and Natty this week as they dispel career myths from far and wide. Does your major determine your career? Is your GPA too low? Do internships even matter? We answer all these …

By Michael DeAngelis
Michael DeAngelis Senior Associate Director, Communications & Technology
Read more

CS Radio – Episode 201: Spring Break, Employer Treks and Campus Clubs

Episode 201 – Happy Spring Break! While you are enjoying your Cancun trip, tune into this week’s episode as Michael, Natty, and Sam discuss a variety of topics. Join us as we talk about Sam’s recent NYC adventures, student clubs’ …

By Michael DeAngelis
Michael DeAngelis Senior Associate Director, Communications & Technology
Read more

A Summer at NetDB@Penn

Jingyi Li, Weitzman Masters in Historic Preservation, 2023

I’ve been lucky enough to explore a variety of fields during my time at Penn. My journey began as a student in the Historic Preservation program at the Design School, where I …

By Career Services
Career Services
Read more

My Summer at MASS Design

Leechen Zhu, Weitzman Master of Architecture, 2024

In the gallery of the MASS office, looking out towards Poughkeepsie’s Main Street, is a quote on the wall by the Austrian architect Walter Pichler: “Architecture is an embodiment of the power and …

By Career Services
Career Services
Read more

CS Radio – Episode 199: Making Smart Decisions in Interviewing

Michael and Natty tackle key post-interview steps, navigating interview conflicts with class schedules, and utilizing Career Services’ offices for interviews. They offer strategies for communicating with professors and employers to manage scheduling conflicts and highlight the value of conducting interviews …

By Michael DeAngelis
Michael DeAngelis Senior Associate Director, Communications & Technology
Read more

Location

Phone
(215) 898-7531
Address

McNeil Building Suite 20
3718 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Service Hours

Monday 9am-5pm
Tuesday 9am-5pm
Wednesday 9am-5pm
Thursday 9am-5pm
Friday 9am-5pm