Transitioning from Your First Year to Second Year

Transitioning from your first year to your second year is a pivotal moment to build on your academic foundation while sharpening your career focus and deepening your involvement in the Wharton community. Use this hub to stay on track with key actions, explore resources across academics, student life, and career and connect with the people who can help you make the most of your second year.

Positioning  |  Actions  |  Resources  |  Key Advice  |  Contacts

Positioning

Academics

  • What do you want to accomplish academically in your second year?
  • How are you thinking about the balance of coursework alongside other priorities?
  • Are there certain courses you want to take in your second year?  With a specific professor or a specific subject?  How would you prioritize that in your course selection?

Student Life

  • What do you personally want to accomplish in your second year?
  • Do you have a new stretch experience goal?
  • Where do you want to lead this year and are you ready to commit to it?
  • What relationships do you want to build intentionally as a second year?

Career

  • What did you learn from your summer internship?
  • Have your career goals changed?
  • What do you want to communicate to recruiters about your summer experience?
  • How did your experience impact and shape your long-term career goals?

Actions

Academics

  • Access Course Match and confirm no holds are blocking your access. Begin exploring upcoming course offerings.
  • Go to Degree Planning and Audit in Path@Penn:
    • Review and confirm your major
    • Review your degree, core, and major course progress
  • Schedule time to discuss your summer and academic goals with your Academic Advisor.

Student Life

Career

  • Reflect on your internship and honestly assess whether your goals have shifted.  Take time to evaluate career fit at the midpoint and end of your summer.
  • Track accomplishments and skills for resume use.
  • Seek and receive feedback from summer manager and peers.
  • Connect with your Career Advisors to reflect on your summer and determine your next steps.
  • Update your industry alert preferences in CareerPath.

Key Advice

Academics

  • Plan Summer Advising: Course Match remians open for Fall course selection through mid-August. Academic advising for second-year students concludes in late July. Plan your advising conversations accordingly.
  • Update Your Major:  Completing a major is required for the MBA degree. While it is not uncommon to be undecided about a major entering your second year, you should confirm your major well before your final semester. If you are interested in pursuing an individualized major (WIDS), connect with your academic advisor as soon as possible.
  • Track Your Progress: Review your Degree Audit and ensure you are on track.  If you need to make any changes, such as a change in major, talk to your advisor first.  If a major change is warranted, please submit the Declare/Update Field of Study form.

Student Life

  • Be Selective, Not Just Busy: Second year is when students often say yes to everything because they can. The ones who get the most out of it are the ones who choose deliberately. Pick the roles where you will actually lead, not just participate.
  • Your Credibility Is Real Now. Use It: First-years are watching how second-years show up. The informal mentorship you provide, in the hallway, at a club meeting, over coffee, matters more than you think.
  • Club Leaders + Student Life: If you are a new club leader or want to lead a club, meet with the OSL Associate Director of Governance. They advise on WGA, cluster boards, and other leadership pathways.
  • Start Planning Events Early:  You should start earlier than you think. Students who come to us late scramble, and so do we. Reach out to OSL Associate Director of Events before you’re in planning mode, not after.
  • Understand Your Finances: The WGA owns the finance process, but OSL can help you navigate it when you’re stuck. For escalations — internal vs. external funding sources, purchase orders — reach out to the OSL Senior Asssociate Director.

Career

  • Stay in the Game:  If an internship is not ideal – expand your scope, don’t disengage.  Also, connect with a Career Advisor as soon as possible.
  • Be Visible: Maximize return offer changes through cosnstent impact and visibility.
  • Think Ahead: Your summer internship is one step in your greater career journey.  Maximize your time to gain experience, skills, contacts, and more to support your long-term career trajectory, not just landing a return offer.
  • Be Prepared for Full-Time Recruiting:  If you do not receive a full-time offer, start preparing for just-in-time hiring.  This will be a marathon, not a sprint.  Be sure to update your resume, networking materials, and pitch to reflect your summer experience.

Contacts

Academics

Student Life

Career