Starting college can be an exciting but overwhelming experience, especially for first-year students navigating the new environment. Among the many pressures that freshmen face, finding employment, securing internships and accessing Hamilton’s research opportunities can feel particularly daunting. These challenges can be stressful, and can also have long-term impacts on students’ ability to gain valuable experience during their time at Hamilton.
One of the most immediate struggles freshmen encounter is finding a job on campus. As many student jobs are already filled by upperclassmen or require prior experience, first-year students often find themselves at a disadvantage. Campus jobs come with limited availability and the competition for work opportunities is fierce. Upperclassmen, who are already familiar with the application process and often have established connections with faculty and staff, tend to secure these roles first. Even jobs listed on the college’s hiring platform Handshake can feel out of reach. This leaves freshmen with few options, especially for those who rely on campus jobs to support their finances.
Securing off-campus jobs is no easier. Local employers, much like those on campus, often seek applicants with prior work experience, making it difficult for freshmen to break into the job market. Without a car or reliable transportation, commuting to off-campus jobs can also pose a significant barrier. For students who depend on income to cover expenses, this lack of access to employment can create additional financial strain and force them to juggle multiple commitments without the flexibility of on-campus jobs.
Internship opportunities present yet another challenge for freshmen. The same preference for prior experience that gatekeeps job postings affects internships as well. While internships help students to gain professional skills and build resumes, this building process is sequestered from freshmen if so many postings explicitly seek upperclassmen or students with prior internship experience. This cycle leaves freshmen in a difficult position: without experience, they struggle to secure internships, yet without internships, they lack the experience needed to become competitive applicants.
Research opportunities at Hamilton can also feel out of reach for first-year students. Many professors prefer to work with students they already know or who have taken their classes, making it difficult for freshmen to gain these positions. Research assistant spots are often extremely limited and fill up quickly, leaving little room for those without existing relationships with faculty members. As a result, first-year students may miss out on valuable research experiences.
These pressures can have a significant impact on students’ overall well-being. The constant competition for jobs, internships and research positions can heighten stress and anxiety, especially for those who feel they are falling behind their peers. Without access to these opportunities, freshmen may feel disconnected from campus and uncertain about how to build their resumes for the future.
Ultimately, because of their lack of existing personal connections and the relative inaccessibility of employment and research opportunities, the pressures of being a freshman at Hamilton go beyond academics. Until Hamilton creates more accessible pathways to jobs, internships and research opportunities for first-year students—helping to alleviate some of the burdens that these students face and empowering them to thrive both now and in the future—its newest students will remain isolated from many of its opportunities.
