With three years of intensive Chinese language training and potentially two semesters of internships in Washington, D.C., and Beijing respectively, Cornell graduates with a major in China and Asia-Pacific studies will be well suited for entry- or higher-level positions in consulting, journalism, law firms, businesses, financial services, NGOs, diplomacy, and other government and public service agencies. An undergraduate Levinson Program degree also readily prepares one for graduate studies in law, business, and other disciplines with a focus on China.
As a Levinson Program student, you will need to be particularly diligent about your career planning as you will be away from campus when much of on-campus recruiting occurs. For some fields, such as finance and consulting, it crucial that you attempt to secure an internship in your field during the summer following junior year since you will miss much of the recruiting in these fields during senior year. For other fields, such as government, policy, and public service, internships are also valuable and participating in the Levinson Program does not greatly limit your access to employers during senior year. For example, one’s final semester is the prime job search time for policy and public service as these organizations tend to hire much closer to the start date for a position.
Typically, about 20-25% of Cornell undergraduates find jobs through on-campus recruiting. Another 20% find jobs through previous internships, which is why we encourage you to start your career planning early. Others find jobs through networking with alumni and employers as well as through job postings on Handshake and other on-line systems. We strongly encourage you to work with the Arts & Sciences Career Development Center they offer various career development tools and services to help liberal arts students define and pursue their goals. Advisers are available to meet with students from freshmen to seniors to discuss career exploration, job search strategies and communication with employers, including resume reviews and practice interviews. Career interest and skill assessment tools are available via group sessions and individual career counseling appointments.