

The Spring Forward initiative is an exciting collaboration between DukeLIFE and the Duke Career Center, specifically tailored to offer valuable career experiences for first-year and sophomore undergraduates from first-generation and lower-income backgrounds. Spring Forward is a project-oriented experience that is held during Duke’s Spring Break, March 10-14, 2025.
As a participant in the Spring Forward program, you will have the opportunity to engage in an on-site project with a local organization. These projects cover a variety of focus areas and welcome students from all backgrounds and interests. The goal is to enhance your transferable skills, provide exposure to potential career paths, facilitate informal networking, and to have some fun as well!
Program Details
- Name of Program: Spring Forward
- Date: March 10-14, 2025
- Application Deadline: Extended to January 24, 2025!
- Objective: To provide first-year and sophomore students from first-generation and lower-income backgrounds with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working in small teams on a project at a local organization.
- Duration: Three days onsite at organization’s location, followed by a celebration luncheon on Duke’s campus. A pre-departure workshop will be held the Monday of spring break
“This was an awesome opportunity to help accelerate my career growth!” – Ciaran B., T’27
“The Spring Forward program changed my trajectory as a Duke student. Through the experience, I was able to land a Summer internship at the EPA and invaluable connections. I would have never had this opportunity as a Freshman without this experience and I am so grateful!” – Macy M., T’27
Why Participate
- Explore career paths: You will have the opportunity to learn about the different types of internships and professional opportunities that exist within your host organization.
- Gain hands-on experience: As a participant, you will be working with another Duke student to complete a project related to the host organization’s mission and goals. This will be a great addition to your resume!
- Develop transferable skills: While projects may differ in topic, all are designed to be completed by Duke students regardless of major or prior coursework. Projects will focus on the development and refining of transferable skills and competencies that can be applied to academics, extracurricular activities, and future internships.
- Network and develop relationships: You will be working closely with professional staff as you complete your project. In addition, you will have the opportunity to meet leaders (and possibly some Duke alumni!) within the organization.
Potential Student Projects
- Analysis: Utilize your analytical skills to conduct a SWOT analysis based upon a problem the company aims to solve.
- Advertising: Explore your creativity by developing a pitch deck or media campaign for a specific organizational need.
- Customer Research: Apply your investigative abilities by conducting thorough research to identify companies and contacts aligning with the organization’s ideal customer profile.
- Content/Project Management: Showcase your organizational talents by creating content, planning a simulated event within a specified budget, and establishing connections with locals.
- Technology: Demonstrate your technical aptitude by creating a project outline to address a specific problem or need within the organization using technology. (No coding experience required.)
- Operations: Use your strategic thinking to address realistic operational challenges such as organizational restructuring or office relocation.
- Human Resources: Practice your problem-solving skills by tackling pertinent Human Resources initiatives, such as fostering a culture of inclusion and support within an organization.
- Additional projects may be added as host organizations finalize their plans.
Project Assignments
Considering students’ preferences and the project requirements, the Duke Career Center and DukeLIFE will facilitate the connection between students and available opportunities
As part of the application process, you will be asked to choose three projects of interest from the curated list provided above. The assignment team will make every effort to match you with one of your three selected projects. However, it’s important to note that we cannot guarantee placement with a specific organization or project. Details about your assigned project will be provided in advance of the program date, ensuring you have ample time to prepare.
“The Spring Forward Career Immersion Program provided me with an incredible opportunity to gain hands-on experience in data analysis and explore real-world applications of my skills. Working with the Duke Career Center Assessment Committee, I analyzed thousands of student engagement metrics from Handshake and contributed to the development of dashboards that drive long-term strategy. The chance to work closely with staff and apply tools like Tableau, Excel, and even explore NLP applications helped me understand the crucial role of data in supporting career services. This experience not only enhanced my technical abilities but also gave me invaluable insight into how data can shape decision-making processes. I highly recommend this program to any first-year or sophomore student looking to take their career development to the next level.” – Marco C., T’26
“The Spring Forward Program was a fantastic experience where I had the chance to meet peers I’d never met before, expanding my network in a meaningful way. One of the highlights was working at the Duke Lemur Center, which truly demonstrated the value of data science in real-world applications. This experience not only broadened my understanding but also reinforced my passion for continuing in the field of data science. I would recommend it to anyone else who may not be sure what they want to pursue in the future!” – All K., T’27
Program Logistics
Housing
Duke students are allowed to remain on campus during Spring Break. There are no special accommodations or permission required to stay on campus.
Transportation
Transportation will be arranged by Duke University from campus to your assigned organization location and back for each day. To ensure safety, students should not be transported by any other method.
Lunch
We have requested that site supervisors arrange lunch for you each day. During this time, you may be introduced to staff, current interns, and/or Duke alumni (if applicable) to allow for informal networking and information sharing. Your site may also offer Lunch and Learn opportunities.
Stipends
Participating students will receive a $500 award to cover any costs (food, professional attire, etc) that they incur while in Durham for spring break.
Please note that these funding awards are contingent upon the successful completion of the Spring Forward program. Students who depart early from the program will be required to repay the full amount of the award.
Application Process
Students who wish to be considered for the Spring Forward program should complete the online Student Application no later than 11:59 p.m. on January 17, 2025.
Application Tip! As part of the application, you will be asked to submit short statements on why you would like to participate and what you hope to accomplish during the program. These statements will be influential during the selection process so it is recommended that you take time to develop and express your thoughts effectively.
Late applications will not be accepted.
If you have questions or would like discuss the program in more detail, please feel free to reach out to Jared Smith or Sydney Reid in the Duke Career Center.
