Overview  

The Academic Year Internship Program in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions provides a paid professional experience for WashU students to share their story and experience with prospective students and their guests. Interns will gain exposure to the various functions of admissions at a highly selective institution. The internship provides a mixture of responsibilities that work with prospective students and families, and will have significant project work with specific leadership roles. The internship will operate in a hybrid-model, tasking students with a combination of in-person and virtual responsibilities. 

Key responsibilities 

All interns will hold one liaison/leadership position within one of the following areas:

Recruitment & Selections Team

  • Leads the interview and selection process for new Bear Ambassadors. 
  • Champions diversity and fosters a culture of inclusivity and equity in the recruitment process 
  • Maintains a record of interested current students who want to work as Bear Ambassadors 
  • Schedules and coordinates interviews for new Bear Ambassadors 
  • Reviews the hiring logistics for newly hired ambassadors 
  • Creates agendas for and leads monthly staff meetings for all Bear Ambassadors and Academic Year Interns 

Training & Examination Team

  • Organizes, plans, and leads all mandatory trainings required for Bear Ambassadors. 
  • Plans all logistics for training, including the schedule, make-up training, ordering food, etc. 
  • Updates handbooks regularly for lobby shifts, tours, Bear Chats, and other standard operating procedures 
  • Creates examinations through online modules and evaluates new members for readiness. 
  • Creates agendas for and leads monthly staff meetings for all Bear Ambassadors and Academic Year Interns

Management & Operations Team

  • Oversees the daily schedule for all campus tours, interviews, and lobby shifts 
  • Oversees the daily schedule for all campus tours, Bear Chats, and lobby shifts 
  • Utilizes scheduling platform, Welcome to College, to oversee availability for all student workers, create recurring shifts, and communicate coverage needed for any uncovered shifts  
  • Creates agendas for and leads monthly staff meetings for all Bear Ambassadors and Academic Year Interns

Visit Experience (VX) & Events Team

  • Coordinates the logistics and staffing for all in-person and virtual special events held by the Undergraduate Admissions Office. 
  • Creates shifts and manages student staffing for major events, special groups, and special visit requests 
  • Focuses on the visit experience for all prospective visitors and guests including programming and promoting/advertising events 
  • Develops helpful guides for WashU and the surrounding area 

Additional responsibilities

  • Giving in-person and virtual student-led campus tours to groups 
  • Managing breakout rooms and the Q&A function of  Zoom sessions 
  • Handling the daily check-in process for visiting guests in the Sumers Welcome Center and other visit areas on campus 
  • Facilitating in-person and virtual Bear Chats with prospective students 
  • Engaging with prospective students electronically via email, Zoom, etc.  
  • Providing support for special virtual events, such as panels, information sessions, Webinars, etc. 
  • Assisting with special in-person events, such as special visit days, group visits, luncheons, and overnight programs 
  • Managing the mock residential hall space 
  • Co-presenting the admissions information session with a professional staff member to groups of 300+ daily visitors 
  • Other administrative tasks as assigned 

Required skills/characteristics

  • WashU current student from the Class of 2026, 2027, or 2028 
  • Good academic and judicial standing with the university (your application gives us permission to check your standing) 
  • Enthusiasm about the university and what it offers students 
  • Must have previously held a Bear Ambassador or Academic Year Intern position within Undergraduate Admissions 

Desired skills/characteristics

  • Hiring preference will be given to students who can fulfill the role in a hybrid capacity 
  • Strong written and oral communication skills 
  • Comfortable with public speaking in both small and large groups 
  • Commitment to providing the highest level of customer service to every prospective student/family 
  • Self-starter who takes initiative and is willing to jump-in and assist however is needed 
  • Interest in exploring higher education as a potential career field 
  • This position is open until filled. 
  • We value a diverse workplace and encourage LGBTQIA+ individuals, members of racial or ethnic underrepresented backgrounds, and others from diverse or historically marginalized groups to apply 

Hours 

  • The internship is a part-time position (10-14 hours/week) with some weekends required. 
  • The Undergraduate Admissions Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am-5pm with occasional programs on early mornings, evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays. Interns should expect to work the majority of their shifts between Monday – Friday with the occasional Saturday or Sunday as needed. Non-paid vacation time is available. 
  • All interns are required to attend a mandatory training that will occur early in the spring semester of 2025 and late August of 2025. Meals and on-campus housing will be provided free of cost to all interns for the duration of August training. 

Compensation 

  • Interns will be compensated at a rate of $14.75 per hour. This position is Federal Work-Study eligible. 

Application process

Apply via Handshake and include: 

  • A current résumé –including major(s)/minor(s), cumulative GPA, involvement at WashU, relevant skills/experience. 
  • A cover letter – should include why you are interested in the Intern position and which functional area(s) you are interested in. 
  • Contact information for 1 reference. This can be a WashU community member (advisor, professor, research mentor, etc.) or someone who can speak to your character and work ethic that is not a peer, family member, or friend. 

By applying, students give the Admissions Office permission to access university standing and academic record. 

Questions?

Please reach out to Jennie Jean-Jacques and Jessica Napier at BearAmbassadors@email.washu.edu