Gain hands-on experience while giving back to your community or while seeing the world. Inspire youth in the inner cities. Teach sustainable farming in Africa. Work toward your major in the cultural context of Paris, Beijing or Sydney. The world has never been closer than at Oregon State.
Volunteering is great for society and it’s great for you — it builds your résumé and helps you network and determine careers of interest. So, when possible, pick community service opportunities that will help you grow professionally, too.
"I began volunteering at the campus food pantry last year, and it has helped me gain an awareness of the needs of the community. Through this experience, I have gained an appreciation of the organization it takes to run a program."
— Sydney Hellman, Class of 2020
Majors: Speech Communication; Business Administration
Need to get experience in your field now, but have no time? Consider volunteering on the weekends, keeping track of robust course projects, tracking techniques you learn in class and completing additional certifications online. All of these experiences can go on your résumé.
If you are interested in more robust service commitments, below are some to consider. These options are popular for students wishing to take a gap year before pursuing full-time work or graduate school. Some of these organizations come with benefits such as debt forgiveness or preference points on federal applications.
Want to study, intern, work or research abroad? Oregon State is just the beginning. Where do you want to go? The Oregon State Office of Global Opportunities (OSU GO) offers nearly 200 programs in more than 70 countries — these include faculty-lead programs, university exchanges, departmental programs, IE3 Global Internships, research abroad and more. Contact OSU GO to learn more.
GoinGlobal is a great tool for students interested in living or working abroad. It provides an overview of the job market and application guidelines for various countries to help you plan.