Experiential Learning
Picture the typical university student: sitting in a lecture hall, diligently taking notes, and later memorizing theoretical information from a stack of flashcards. As our world has changed, this traditional, academic model—based on passive, memorisation-based learning—is giving way to new ideas about what the university experience should be. Today, students are looking for a more active, hands-on form of learning that will equip them with the soft skills they need in the workplace and allow them to learn through practice and reflection. This type of learning is called experiential learning, and it is gaining momentum at universities and shaping students’ and families’ university searches.
Interdisciplinary and co-op programmes, as well as integrated work experience, are gaining popularity, particularly in fields like engineering, architecture, and business. (You can read an earlier blog on co-op programmes here.) Rather than being purely academic, experiential learning—as an article from Inside Higher Education linked here points out—also is less hierarchical and incorporates pastoral elements (like the social and emotional aspects of learning). An instructor might take part in learning along with their students, or encourage them to build resilience through tolerating ambiguity in learning experiences.
A Gallup poll, linked here, reports that learners who take part in experiential learning are more likely to be more confident when searching for jobs, to be more engaged in their work when they move into their careers, and to experience a better sense of overall well-being.
A major shaping force behind students’ and families’ changing priorities is a shift in employers’ hiring preferences. In 2024, articles—like this one from Forbes—noted that employers were becoming less impressed with Ivy League credentials, as these graduates are likely to have less experience working and building workplace skills than students from other excellent colleges. The same year, a list of ‘New Ivies’ was released; you can read the 2025 list here. There seems to be a growing preference amongst applicants and employers towards colleges that prepare students for the professional world, rather than those with name-brand prestige.
How can you add experiential learning opportunities to your college search? Experiential learning (EL) often takes the shape of offerings like internships, co-op programmes, and ‘incubators’ in which students work to build businesses with guidance from faculty and established community firms. However, EL can also take other, less structured forms. When researching colleges, EL opportunities to look out for include small class sizes, interview preparation, mentorship, study abroad, and support with job searches.
The University of Vermont is an excellent institution that offers students a wide range of experiential learning experiences:
· UVM offers Community-Engaged Learning Courses, which are focused on civic and service learning and aimed at first- or second-year students. Participants take part in projects that connect with the wider community. Topics include traditional fields like cybersecurity, coding, law, education, and more unique areas like working with refugees.
· Engineering students complete senior projects: capstone design courses in which final-year students collaborate on challenges provided by real-world clients. Each spring, Senior Experience in Engineering Design and Civil and Environmental Engineering Senior Capstone Design students come together to share their projects on Engineering Design Night.
· CAS Communities of Practice are cohort-based, mentored internships on topics including sustainable urban planning, nonprofits & social change, and cultural education.
· The Vermont Legislative Internship Program matches students with Vermont lawmakers for internships in which they support legislators, committees and staff at the Vermont State House.
· The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources’ Perennial Internships range from tourism operations, to forest health monitoring, to working as a summer camp farm educator or a research vessel deckhand.
· For students interested in environmental and agricultural issues, the Animal Science CREAM programme is a student-run dairy herd, allowing students to experience the realities of farm life.
· The Field Studies in Costa Rica programme offers a semester abroad in which participants explore topics like sustainability, rural livelihoods, and ecosystem management.
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) also offers a wide range of experiential learning opportunities. You can read more about those below:
· Ampersand Programs in the College of Arts & Sciences: Interdisciplinary, small classes that span two or more semesters. These classes give students a chance to immediately jump into sustained academic inquiry into a particular topic and can involve fieldwork, research, or international or domestic study travel. Some examples of these programmes include:
- Global Citizenship Program: During the first semester, students will learn about global issues through a geographical lens and think critically about identity and positionality. In the second semester, students will examine global citizenship from a local perspective, learn about the history of St. Louis, and have the option to volunteer at a local organization. The programme may conclude with a trip at the end of the semester, to provide further opportunities for hands-on learning and interaction.
- Mind, Brain, & Behavior: First-year Mind, Brain, Behavior (MBB) students take two core courses that provide an introduction to the mind-brain from three different cognitive science perspectives: Psychology, Neuroscience, and Philosophy. In their second year, students are matched to a research lab studying mind, brain, and behavior to complete a year-long research project.
· The Center for Experiential Learning (CEL) in the Olin Business School: The CEL offers challenging programs to build resume and leadership skills. Each program earns class credit and is designed to help students develop business management consulting competencies, including project management, critical thinking, problem formulation, and leadership and communication skills.
- Taylor Community Consulting Program: Participants work directly with a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization to create positive change for the local community. This team-based program has partnered with such institutions as the Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis, the International Institute of St. Louis and the American Red Cross.
· The Gephardt Institution for Civic and Community Engagement: Campus centre committed to providing students community service, civic engagement, and leadership development opportunities in St. Louis and beyond.
- St. Louis Fellows Program: Through this competitive program, undergraduate students spend a summer immersing themselves in St. Louis by taking up full-time nonprofit or civic internships, attending a range of community events, and engaging in an experiential curriculum to understand St. Louis’ history, culture, politics, challenges, and opportunities. Each St. Louis Fellow receives professional development, structured supervision and mentoring, and a $7,500 (£5700) base stipend in lieu of summer earnings.
Experiential learning is quickly becoming a key factor in students’ and families’ college searches. With its hands-on, reflective approach, it allows them to explore what careers are truly like before even entering the work force. If you’d like help identifying colleges with great experiential learning programmes, or help with general questions about admissions, get in touch: we offer free calls with expert counsellors through the link here.
**Thank you to Molly Witt from University of Vermont and Victor Thomas from WashU for providing the information about opportunities at their respective universities.