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Often a college graduate’s first job is at the same company where he or she interned. In a highly competitive job market, that’s a nice advantage.

We’ll remind you about some of the things that make Wilkes University special and a great fit. You’ll also hear from some people who were in your shoes not too long ago.

Before her first day in law school, Sydney already had her day in court. Her mentor, Andrew Miller, associate professor of political science, pointed her in the direction of an internship opportunity with Luzerne County Judge Lesa Gelb. This complete immersion in the legal system built knowledge and confidence.

Kyle Kreider, professor of political science and pre-law advisor, helped Sydney set a precedent for law school success. “I know Wilkes was a good value for my education as I sit in my current law school classes feeling significantly ahead of my classmates.”

The law classes I took with Dr. Kreider seriously made me feel so prepared for my law school classes.

Jack discovered the power and opportunity to use his talents both in and out of the classroom. His creative work in campus cocurriculars, including WCLH and Wilkes Now, helped him learn through failure and success, giving him the confidence to land a position coordinating a variety of elements to get a TV news show ready for air.

He found a supportive cast and crew all over campus. “There was not just one mentor at Wilkes. Almost every professor I had within and outside my major impacted me in reaching my goals. Students can talk personally with every professor about where they want to go and what they want to do.”

Lucas had the opportunity to experience the life of an environmental science professional. His work with monitoring and sampling equipment, as well technical writing, set him ahead of the pack and gave him the knowledge to hit the ground running with geophysical surveys and hazardous waste emergency response.

During a three-year project with Assistant Professor Matt Finkenbinder, he was part of a team that examined stable isotope composition in rainwater. And Lucas discovered a role model for research methods, critical thinking and intellectual curiosity.

I was able to accept a job months before graduation and had interest from many other companies and firms, which already shows the investment paying off.

Almost immediately after arriving on campus, Stephanie discovered her spot in the lab. Working alongside Wilkes faculty members, she researched high-level topics, including the effects of metformin on neurodevelopment and the synthesis and characterization of organic semiconductors.

“I’ve had many different experiences at Wilkes that have helped me find my path, but the one that had the biggest impact was the Guthrie Scholars Program. This program allowed me to shadow and do clinical research at a hospital. It reinforced the idea that medicine is my passion and allowed me to explore different fields in medicine, as well as interact with patients.”

Kayla’s passion for the environment stemmed from watching the rising water level in her hometown over the course of her life. She knew a bachelor of science degree in environmental engineering would put her on the path to help make a difference in the climate crisis.

With a tip from her brother and a letter of recommendation from Marleen Troy, professor of environmental engineering, earth sciences and geology, Kayla earned a prestigious position that gives her the power to put her commitment to the planet to work as a RAY Clean Energy Diversity Fellow.

“Dr. Troy was the one professor who always supported me and what I wanted to do 1,000%. Dr. Troy was always offering volunteer and research opportunities and made me feel seen and of value at Wilkes.”

Plenty of students work summer jobs, but Jacob used internship opportunities with Talen Energy to engineer a full-time career after graduation. Jacob’s first-year advisor, faculty member Robert Taylor, helped set the gears in motion, guiding him toward a major that suited his goals and talents.

The University’s small campus, mentoring culture and big opportunities were definitely the right fit. “I feel that the small class sizes really made Wilkes a great investment.”

All of my professors were willing and able to help with any problems I had whether they were about my classes or other things regarding my career path.

Alanah turned advocacy into action, putting her top-notch skills to work in leadership positions for a variety of student organizations. Now she uses those same skills to advocate for her patients as an RN.

Though she came to Wilkes as a biology major, her academic advisor in University College helped Alanah discover a commitment to patient care and encouraged her to reach her academic and professional goals.

The nursing program was tough, but it challenged me every single day to be better, do better.

“That pushed me to passing my NCLEX in 75 questions and landing a job in a progressive care unit.”

Matthew found opportunities to collaborate with professors and peers at Wilkes, finding a passion for psychiatric nursing in the process. His undergraduate research led him to examine diverse issues such as glucose control for people with diabetes and nurse-guided therapy for patients with schizophrenia.

Now Matthew is advancing his education in the psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner program at Wilkes while working as a charge nurse in adolescent psychiatry.

“From my first day on the clinical floor, I have been taken to recruiting events and was offered jobs upon graduation. I never had a single worry that I would struggle to find a job after graduation, unlike many other students at other schools.”

For Zara, Wilkes had the perfect prescription for a well-rounded pharmacy education. During her advanced pharmacy practice experience rotations, Zara explored pharmacy career options like hospital pharmacy, industry, research and specialized areas such as oncology.

She credits Kimberly Ference, associate professor of pharmacy practice, with showing her the importance of work-life balance. The tight-knit pharmacy community made a healthy impact.

The people I met at Wilkes plus my experiences as a student are what helped me stand out in my residency interviews and ultimately led me to match at my top choice for residency.

At Wilkes, Patrick learned that pharmacy is about more than prescriptions; it’s about people. Faculty and staff from the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, the Office of Admissions and Student Development were all vital members of the educational care team that helped chart the PharmD course. A recommendation from a classmate helped Patrick get his start in his current community pharmacy position.

He learned that if you put in the work and put yourself out there, you’ll find opportunities to succeed. “I learned so many lessons academically, socially and professionally throughout the diverse experiences I was able to participate in because of Wilkes. It’s a great investment because so many people care about your personal growth along with your academic achievements.”

Small class sizes and real-world teaching experiences made for unforgettable memories. She believes great teachers make great teachers, inspired by her mentor, Suzanne Galella, associate professor of education, and the rest of the faculty in the School of Education.

“The moment I stepped foot in the classroom, I knew this was what I wanted to do the rest of my life. Also, having partnerships with local school districts for professional development hours weekly was a great plus.”

Wilkes University’s education department offers students the ability to start in the classroom freshman year.

For Landon, Wilkes offered a combination of experiences that added up to put him at the head of his own classroom. He immersed himself in high-level math and education classes, gaining real-world experience with a variety of observation and student teaching opportunities in schools close to campus.

He challenged himself with advanced coursework as a member of the University’s Honors Program and challenged opponents on the court as a guard for the Division III Colonels basketball team.

“I consider Coach Izzi Metz a tremendous mentor...Coach Metz taught discipline, time management, teamwork and communication skills that are invaluable in the real world.”

Emily discovered her leadership potential all across the Wilkes University campus. She credits Assistant Professor HyeRyeon Lee with pushing her out of her comfort zone, giving her the opportunity to serve as a research assistant and present at national conferences.

She also helped guide potential students and families as an admissions ambassador, helping others find their way to their goals at Wilkes.

“From the moment I stepped onto campus, I felt at home, and the same energy was infused into each professor and each lecture. I learned leadership skills that have changed my life, and these skills have helped me realize that not every manager is a leader. There is a reason why the major is hospitality leadership. It’s because they’re teaching the leaders of tomorrow.”

Taylor made the most of his internship potential, exploring four hands-on learning opportunities during his time at Wilkes. His internship as an investment analyst marked the moment he knew he wanted to pursue a career in financial investments, helping people reach their financial goals. He also collaborated with faculty mentors on research regarding the impact and logistics of cryptocurrency’s securitized tokens in the private equity secondary market.

“Wilkes granted me access to a plentiful amount of resources to grow in my field.”

The finance lab is a great place for students to expand their knowledge on the industry, and the small classes allow students to receive one on one attention.

One way to add value to your degree is to take on an internship. Wilkes University’s Center for Career Development and Internships can help.

Wilkes students intern at some of the most prestigious companies in the country, including:

You are coming to the end of an exciting, and perhaps daunting, process. It’s not every day someone makes a decision this big. We feel that Wilkes provides an exceptional value when you consider all we have to offer, including:

Secure your place in the entering class at Wilkes by submitting a $300 tuition deposit.

Please write the student’s name in the memo line.

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Wilkes University is within a few hours' drive from the biggest population centers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

84 West South Street Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18766