Career Support for Early College High School Students
Welcome to your career resource page! As an early college high school graduate, your journey through higher education is filled with exciting opportunities. This page offers essential tools and guidance to help you explore your career path with confidence. By using these resources at your own pace, you can build valuable skills and set a strong foundation for long-term success. Let’s start turning your career aspirations into reality!
Let us assist you, schedule a one-on-one appointment with your college representative.
Uncertain about your major? Explore to learn who hires your major, common career paths, strategies to maximize opportunities and connect with professional associations.
Still undecided? Choices360 is a career planning tool used to identify majors and careers to match your interests, abilities, and work-related values.
Visit our office for Career Advising - no appointment needed.
Enhance your résumé and open future opportunities by getting involved as soon as possible:
- Join a student organization, fraternity, or sorority through
- Apply for on-campus employment at
- Look for volunteer experience in The CUE
- Start networking at a career event - view our Upcoming Events Calendar
- Gain FREE certifications from Coursera Career Academy and add them to your résumé
Visit our office for Career Advising - no appointment needed.
Apply to internships early on! Start searching and applying now to target your career choice and expand your résumé
- An internship can help you:
- Obtain real world experience in your field
- Build a professional network
- Increase chances of securing a job
- Start a !
- Gain hands-on experience in a specific field or industry through a brief, project-based internship, typically lasting a few weeks
- Develop practical skills and build connections with professionals
- Provide insights into potential career paths and enhance your résumé
Come to our office for internship support - no appointment needed.
Starting college as a sophomore or junior may feel daunting with minimal experiences, but your journey is unique! It’s okay if your résumé is less experienced based on your classification. Here are some tips to help you build a strong résumé:
- Emphasize your leadership skills by expanding in volunteer and community service experiences.
- If you don’t have work/volunteer experience, consider using the sample which targets key skills.
- Highlight big projects and relevant accomplishments from your time in Early College.
- NEVER include personal information like your age, marital status, SSN, etc.
- NOTE: Any high school information should be removed from your résumé after your first semester at UTEP.
View our Sample Résumés, and have your résumé reviewed in our office - no appointment is needed.
Remember, you are not alone in your transition to college. UTEP is here to support you every step of the way. Here are some resources:
- Contact the ECHS Academic Success Center for transition support and questions.
- As an ECHS student, college can bring a lot of stress both physically and mentally. Check out the Student Success Resource Hub for information on:
- Financial Assistance
- Food and Supply Assistance
- Housing and Utility Assistance
- Physical Health, Mental Health, and Crisis Resources
- Technology Resources
- And more!
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
My early college experience can be summarized in two words: Survival Mode. My biggest lesson was learning to be compassionate towards myself during moments of uncertainty and stress; I always had my back. Remember, YOU are the greatest project you'll ever work on. Restart. Reset. Refocus as many times as you need; there is no rush to graduate. Invest time in exploring what you can do with your major, which jobs you can pursue, and what companies you can work for. Challenge yourself to face uncomfortable situations, as only then will you grow into the best version of yourself. Don't let self-doubt hold you back; if an opportunity presents itself, it means you are ready for it.
As an early college graduate, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to get a head start in both my education and career. This experience taught me how to navigate challenges and approach opportunities with courage and the necessary skills for a successful career. However, many unspoken pressures come with this path. An accelerated graduation date brings high levels of stress. It often felt like time was slipping away, and I didn’t know where to start. I felt stuck—advanced yet behind at the same time. Looking back, I wish I had known there was no need to rush my college experience. It’s okay to doubt yourself and your major; you have plenty of time to explore and find the right path. You’re not bound to the major you chose in high school, so allow yourself the freedom to make mistakes and grow.
Looking back at my time as an early college high school student, I wish I had taken more advantage of the resources specifically designed at UTEP to help young graduates succeed. It is normal to feel overwhelmed as an early college high school student trying to navigate multiple degrees, however, resources like the ones provided at UTEP's ECHS Academic Success Center are designed to work with you and your high school to answer questions and facilitate your experience. Moreover, these resources can point you to the right programs available for you to gain information, professional development, and involvement opportunities. Looking back, I'm thankful to have learned about the different special programs UTEP offers, as it allowed me to have a more clear academic path. It's also never too early or late to network with professors and fellow students who are professionals or are pursuing your career of interest. Be open to learning from others and asking questions, as most people are eager to help!
As an Early College High School student, doubt was the hardest and most consistent challenge I faced. I had doubts about my major, doubts about my dreams, doubts about my academic ability, and doubts about many things. Yet, through it all, I made it to graduation with a smile. I had many people around me: my friends, family, and girlfriend, who supported me throughout my journey. Not only did I have put trust in myself, in my decisions, and my dreams. The biggest advice I can give to you is to put trust in those around you. Have trust they are supporting you all the time, even if they are not present. Have trust in yourself, it is a blessing to be able to follow your dreams, even when the doubt is present. Stick to the ideas that made you pick an early college, to begin with, they will take you far.
The experiences, memories and knowledge gained as an Early College Student will always make me proud of who I am today. Having the opportunity to get ahead in my career while still being in High School was a great accomplishment. However, it is not the easiest route! The feeling of being advanced yet still behind everyone else was my biggest enemy but as time passed I learned that there is no rush in life. Everyones path in life is unique so comparing ourselves to others won't do much. At first it might take a little time to adjust and feel included, but a simple conversation can start a valuable friendship. Having peers and people who support you is really important to achieve success, so don't be afraid to make friends. Stress and pressure can easily become overwhelming, therefore it is okay to take a moment to breathe and relax. My final takeaway is to never give up as long as you enjoy life!