Experiential Learning

Wooster defines Experiential Learning as making meaning out of direct experience. We follow a three-tiered model: exploration, investigation, and immersion. This model incorporates a range of activities including internships, volunteering, field experiences, job shadowing, alternative break trips, mentored consulting projects and collaborative research in our local community and around the world.

A few examples of popular opportunities offered through the Advising, Planning, and Experiential Learning Center include: internships, sophomore research experiences, APEX fellowships and AMRE consulting internships. In addition to getting paid, Wooster offers mini-grants to help students pursue summer research positions or internships, and is now also offering opportunities for certain experiences to count as credit towards graduation. Learn more about Experiential Learning at Wooster.

APEX Fellowships

APEX Fellowships provide structure and mentored support to students engaged in unpaid summer internships or vocational exploration programs of at least six weeks (or at least 225 hours) in duration.

APEX Fellowships include:

Funding
A learning contract
Regular structured reflection
Final reflective assignment and evaluation
On-campus reporting
Ongoing staff support
Award Amounts

Earnings up to:
$2025 for 6 weeks/225 hours experience
$2700 for 8 weeks/300 hours experience
$600 to support travel

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AMRE Consulting Internships

The Applied Methods and Research Experience (AMRE) gives College of Wooster students the opportunity to apply classroom learning in the role of business and organizational consultants.

The Applied Methods & Research Experience (AMRE) is a paid summer program where students work full-time (40 hours per week) for eight weeks. Approximately 25-35 students are assigned to small teams to work on pre-determined consulting projects. Together the teams form an AMRE community that joins together to participate in many professional development opportunities including presentation best practices, professionalism coaching, team-building exercises, resume guidance, reflection and more.

The skills and knowledge required for AMRE positions can vary based on each individual project. Historically, AMRE has sought students with at least one year of college-level coursework in mathematics, computer science and/or business economics. As AMRE has expanded to address more diverse clients and needs, students have participated from a wide range of disciplines, from history and social sciences to communications and political science.

There are positions in a wide variety of fields and successful applicants will be placed into positions by faculty advisors in the AMRE program. Typical areas of work include mathematical analysis, statistics, data analysis, mathematical modeling, operations research, engineering, database development, software development, programming, market research and economic analysis. Students with experience in any of these areas are particularly encouraged to apply.

Program Structure

The structure of the program is based upon several research teams which work independently on separate projects, but also come together for discussion of progress. These teams are comprised of students (usually three) and a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor involvement is heavy initially as the student team becomes familiar with the project definition. After approximately two weeks, involvement becomes primarily advisory as the students work directly with client representatives and others. Student teams give weekly progress reports in the form of oral presentations, in addition to periodic presentations to their respective clients. Each team also gives a final oral presentation and written report to the client upon completion of the project.

Participants receives a stipend of approximately $4400.*

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Experiential Learning in Action

View the variety of experiential learning opportunities our students take part in throughout the year.

Social Entrepreneurship team supports local economy with food incubator research

After a year when many businesses sought to capitalize on a booming e-commerce market, students and faculty from The College of Wooster’s Social Entrepreneurship […]

Students and faculty team up to help local community adapt to climate change

As Northeast Ohioans along with people around the world live through unprecedented levels of natural disasters due to climate change, students and faculty at […]

Museum internship illustrates alternative career plans in classical studies

A classical studies major at The College of Wooster, Amina Hull ’22 wanted to apply her interest in the study of ancient Mediterranean languages […]

Geology major learns perseverance through working with horses

When her sister recommended a wrangler position at the French Broad Outpost Ranch for a summer internship, Grace Braver ’23 knew it would be […]

Biology major puts techniques into practice at Wilderness Center

Grant Sprague ’22, a biology major and environmental studies minor, who is also on the cross country and track & field teams interned at […]

Geology major assists conservation efforts through cartography in APEX Fellowship

When taking Geographic Information Systems with Shelley Judge, associate professor of geology, his junior year at The College of Wooster, Justine Paul Berina ’22 […]

Africana studies major makes connection with Wooster alumnus in legal field

Seven Townsel ’22, an Africana studies major and member of the volleyball team, interned with Judge James L. Miraldi ’73 at the Lorain County […]

Adam Hinden ’22 completed a summer internship for the Center for World Indigenous Studies

Anthropology and Chinese major solidified interest in indigenous rights activism through APEX Fellowship

With a strong interest in indigenous rights and past research for his I.S. project, Adam Hinden ’22 knew “the Center for World Indigenous Studies […]

Computer science major completes software development internship in Vietnam

Huy Kieu ’22 was a part of a team that developed web systems for vehicle manufacturers

Student-designed major works as experience designer in Tokyo

Mika Yonaha ’21 helped develop new programs for children to adapt to COVID-19 pandemic

Fulbright awards English Teaching Assistantship to Wooster global and international studies major

Sydney (Maureen) Hanes ’21 will teach English in Kyrgyzstan during the next academic year.

Political science major acts as student leader on campus

As the first member of her family to attend college, the transition for Margie Sosa ’20 wasn’t easy. She initially felt intimidated and unsure […]

AMRE | Wooster Arts and Culture District

Feasibility and Economic Impact Study Brandon Charles ’22, Economics and Computer Science Katie Harvey ’21, Global & International Studies Andreas Xenofontos ’22, Economics Advisors: […]

AMRE | Women’s Empowerment in Tanzania

Understanding and fixing data issues for analysis to evaluate the Trias/Maisha Bora sponsored project “Women’s Food Security Program for Impoverished Maasai Households” Rita Chiboub […]

APEX Fellowship | Steve Spidell

Majors: Communication Studies Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Leslie Wingard Wilson Award As a Trainee Consultant at Connected Performance in Canfield, Ohio, I assisted […]

APEX Fellowship | Raven Reece

Majors: Spanish, Early Childhood Education Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Brooke Krause Wilson Award As a Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP) intern […]

APEX Fellowship | Hasan Malik

Majors: Psychology Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Bas van Doorn At the Jamestown Psychiatric PC in New York, I utilized telemedicine technology in speciality […]

APEX Fellowship | Jacob Abramo

Majors: Philosophy Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Leslie Wingard As a legal intern with the Wayne County Prosectuor’s Office, I clerked in Grand Jury, […]

AMRE | United Titanium

Database Creation Kien Le ’22, Math and Computer Science Quan Nguyen Hien ’22, Statistical and Data Science Pavithra Reddy ’22, Math and Computer Science […]

APEX Fellowship | Maryam Abdul Hye

Majors: Philosophy, Psychology Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Grit Herzmann As a Marketing and Research Intern at an executive search and consultant firm in […]

APEX Fellowship | Lucy Wickham

Major: Mathematics Class Year: 2023 Faculty Mentor: Tim Freeze Wilson Award Interning at the Quantitative and Mathematics Support Center at Bates College in Lewiston, […]

APEX Fellowship | Megan Tuennerman

Majors: Environmental Studies, Sociology Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Paul Edminston Andrew Award of Excellence As the Assistant Launch Director for One Blue Ocean, an […]

APEX Fellowship | Vinh Nghiem To

Major: Statistical and Data Sciences Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Ison Wilson Award Interning at FPT Software in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, […]

APEX Fellowship | Elizabeth Testamark

Major: Communication Studies Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Paul Edmiston Wilson Award As a communication intern for The Urban Christian Woman located in Cleveland,OH, […]

APEX Fellowship | Harry Susalla

Major: Sociology Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Bas van Doorn As a development intern for Affirmations, a LGBTQ center located in a subrub of […]

APEX Fellowship | Riley Smith

Major: Political Science Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: David McConnell Andrew Award of Excellence While interning at the Women’s Law Project in Pittsburgh, PA, […]

APEX Fellowship | Jenna Smith

Major: Sociology Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Ison As the Sustainable Farm Intern at Bellwether Farm in Wakeman, Ohio, I performed agricultural fieldwork, […]

APEX Fellowship | Eraj Sikandar

Major: Business Economics Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: David McConnell Wilson Award Interning at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Islamabad, […]

APEX Fellowship | Saralee Renick

Major: Sociology Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Brooke Krause Wilson Award As a virtual intern with the YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter for Homeless Women and […]

APEX Fellowship | Gordon Reeves

Major: Political Science Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Bas van Doorn Wilson Award As an intern at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, […]

APEX Fellowship | Raisa Tasnim Raofa

Major: Physics Class Year: 2023 Faculty Mentor: Cody Leary Wilson Award While interning at Intigra Science Organization, Bangladesh, I created physics outreach materials for […]

APEX Fellowship | Vy Nguyen

Major: Chemistry Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Matt Krain Wilson Award At VNU University of Science in Hanoi, Vietnam, I researched the plastic’s organic […]

APEX Fellowship | Laura Montoya

Major: Sociology Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Leslie Wingard Andrew Award of Excellence At Samaritan House in Virginia Beach, a nonprofit service provider for […]

APEX Fellowship | Aubry Miller

Major: Economics Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Paul Edmiston Andrew Award of Excellence As a Genie Supply intern, I produced photos for and assisted […]

APEX Fellowship | Alegnta Mezmur

Major: Undeclared Class Year: 2023 Faculty Mentor: Matt Krain Wilson Award Intern at Addis Law Group LLP and Forum for Social Studies, I conducted […]

APEX Fellowship | Alexandra Manopoulou

Major: Global & International Studies Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Grit Herzmann Andrew Award of Excellence I interned with Papagermanos and Associates, where I […]

APEX Fellowship | Hannah Baker

Major: Undecided Class Year: 2023 Faculty Mentor: Cody Leary As a Literacy Intern at The Legacy Center, a non-profit in Midland, Michigan, I created […]

APEX Fellowship | Will McMichael

Major: Neuroscience Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Cody Leary I conducted research at Rosalind Franklin University near Chicago. I explored how stress induces neuroinflammation […]

APEX Fellowship | Narissa Le

Majors: Communication Studies, Data Science Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Cody Leary Andrew Award of Excellence While interning for VinGroup Joint Stock Company, I […]

APEX Fellowship | Noah Leonard

Majors: Political Science (International Relations), Spanish Class Year: 2023 Faculty Mentor: Paul Edmiston As an administrative intern with Open Door Resource Center and Salvation […]

APEX Fellowship | Katiasofia Gonzales

Major: Undecided Class Year: 2023 Faculty Mentor: Grit Herzmann Andrew Award of Excellence At the Colegio Montesori del Cusco, Peru I worked remotely as […]

AMRE | Habitat for Humanity

Economic Impact Analysis Will McCullough ’21, Economics Tabitha Skornik-Hayes ’22, Global & International Studies Advisors: Jim Burnell, Brooke Krause The team analyzed budgets, expenditure […]

APEX Fellowship | Eric Kraus

Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Tim Freeze Volunteering with The American Red Cross in Pittsburgh, I distributed produce locally, […]

APEX Fellowship | Huy Kieu

Major: Computer Science Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: David McConnell Wilson Award As a Software Engineer Intern at FPT Software in Ho Chi Minh […]

APEX Fellowship | Amelia Kemp

Majors: Communication Studies, Sociology Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Matt Krain Andrew Award of Excellence As a Communications Specialist Intern for BFCC in Colorado […]

APEX Fellowship | Ciara Hudson

Major: Political Science Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Brooke Krause As a legal intern with the city solicitor of Shamokin, Pennsylvania, I remotely conducted […]

APEX Fellowship | Laura Haley

Major: Communication Studies Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Ison Andrew Award of Excellence As a social media and marketing intern for Beagle Productions, […]

APEX Fellowship | Hannah Groetsch

Major: Political Science Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Tim Freeze As a campaign intern for People for Tarra Simmons in Washington’s 23rd Legislative District, […]

AMRE | Benefits Cliff II

Building a BRIDGE to Self-Sufficiency: Policy Prescriptions to Address Benefits Cliffs in Ohio Tim Cotter ’22, Philosophy Stachal Harris ’21, Political Science Michael Nahhas […]

AMRE | Tree Ring Analysis

Dendrochronological analysis of the tree ring series of Mountain Hemlock, Western Hemlock, European Larch, and White Oak trees Srushti Chaudhari ’22, Earth Science Mazvita […]

APEX Fellowship | Wilson Freije

Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Leslie Wingard At an IU School of Medicine radiation oncology lab, in Indianapolis, I […]

APEX Fellowship | Sierra Foltz

Major: English Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Ison Andrew Award of Excellence Interning for The Muse Writer’s Center in Norfolk, Virginia, I audited […]

APEX Fellowship | Megan Fisher

Major: Psychology Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Ison As an Intake Specialist at Nemeth Counseling in Hilliard, Ohio, I performed administrative tasks pertaining […]

APEX Fellowship | Morgan Fields

Major(s): English, Education Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Matt Krain Andrew Award of Excellence At Camp Nuhop in Mohican State Park, I worked to […]

APEX Fellowship | Holly Engel

Major: English, French & Francophone Studies Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: David McConnell I served as an editorial intern at Ohio Magazine in Cleveland, […]

APEX Fellowship | Alex DeLong

Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Tim Freeze At the Center for AIDS Research in Providence, Rhode Island, I wrote […]

APEX Fellowship | Noah Crane

Major: Psychology Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Grit Herzmann As a Collegiate Outreach Specialist at NAMI, a national non-profit in Rochester, NY, I provided […]

APEX Fellowship | Alexander Cohen

Major: Philosophy Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Bas van Doorn I worked with IRC Sacramento’s Volunteer Coordination department to help hire and place interns […]

APEX Fellowship | Kayla Bertholf

Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: Grit Herzmann Andrew Award of Excellence As a research assistant for the Arnosti molecular […]

APEX Fellowship | Sarah Caley

Major: Theatre & Dance Class Year: 2023 Faculty Mentor: Leslie Wingard As the Education Intern for Weathervane Playhouse in Akron, Ohio, I assisted with […]

AMRE | humbly LLC

Data Analytics and Software Engineering Salim Dohri ’21, Computer Science Zhen Guo ’21, Computer Science Advisor: John Ramsay This technology company’s primary business is […]

APEX Fellowship | Macy Bischoff

Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Class Year: 2022 Faculty Mentor: David McConnell With aspirations in medicine, I read recommended “pre-med” literature and began MCAT […]

APEX Fellowship | Rephael Berkooz

Major: Mathematics Class Year: 2021 Faculty Mentor: Cody Leary Research assistant, College of Wooster. I analyzed the economic and healthcare impact of the Health […]

AMRE | Stem Success Initiative

Prediction of Retention and Persistence Brendan Dufty ’22, Math Sky Gill ’22, Statistical and Data Science Bang Nguyen ’22, Computer Science Ariel Xie ’21, […]

Wooster sophomore’s investigative work published by The Pulitzer Center

Sam Boudreau’s late change in internship plans, going from bird watching to watchdog, worked out quite well

APEX Internship Confirms Eraj Sikandar’s Career Goal

Wooster junior business economics major interned with UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Pakistan

Hands-On Internship at Bellwether Farm Inspires Wooster Sociology Major

Jenna Smith learns about regenerative agricultural systems through summer fieldwork experience

Wooster senior makes her voice heard in local community

Amelia Kemp ’21 participates in Black Lives Matter movement as part of her APEX Fellowship

Wooster Student Selected to The Policy Academies’ 2020 Academy Class

Paige Clay to conduct research on SNAP for think tank partner this summer

Mathematics major recognized at conference for outstanding research and poster presentation

Alayt Issak ’21 learns about the conference experience

Marco Roccato Attends Athens Democracy Forum

Marco Roccato reflects upon the opportunity to “bring the Wooster spirit into the Athens Democracy Forum" again. The senior global and international studies major recently returned from the event that brings together global leaders to discuss current topics in relation to democracy.

Wooster senior attends Democratic presidential debate

Editor in chief of ‘The Wooster Voice,’ Waverly Hart, uses her press credentials for ‘once in a lifetime chance’

APEX Fellow Experiences Archaeology in Italy

Benton Thompson IV, am archaeology major at Wooster, spent six weeks at an archaeological field school in Italy this past summer, courtesy of APEX. […]

Cuyahoga Valley National Park through the ‘anthropological lens’

APEX Fellowship reveals interest in national park service for Cami Miller

Biology major creates educational session on invasive species

Jessica Roberts ’20 interned with the Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she aimed to create a professional development session about invasive species for […]

Geology major gains hands-on experience in his hometown

Mason Minerva ’20 served as an APEX Fellow at Impact Earth, an environmental consulting company in Rochester, New York. Established in 2014, Impact Earth […]

History major learns the value of the subject for local communities

As a history major, Ingrid Buckley ’20 found her love of history flourished during her APEX Fellowship at the Southeast Ohio History Center. “The […]

Communication studies major explores creative educational methods

Communication studies major Kennedey Bell ’21 interned as an APEX Fellow at Science PlaySpace Initiative, in Mount Vernon, Ohio. A non-profit program established in […]

Interning with ‘Zero Waste’ clothing label teaches studio art major value of material while completing high profile projects

The summer before her senior year studio art major Andrea Arts ’20 interned as an APEX Fellow at Zero Waste Daniel in Brooklyn, New […]

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