I started my journey at McGill University in Fall 2020 as a BA freshman student. Since day one I was clear that I wanted to study computer science and economics as my majors in the following years.
It is never easy for a freshman to find a research internship early in their career, especially without any prior work experience. I knew that internships provide you with exposure to work culture during your degree, which prepares you for your future job or graduate studies, so I started searching for an internship in the field of computer science as early as August 2020.
Fortunately, I was able to get my first interview on September 2, 2020, just one day after my very first day at McGill. After doing a few interviews, I was selected for a research internship at the University of Denver in Colorado. The University of Denver is well known for research excellence and field research opportunities with NASA. After I got the internship, my supervisor gave me a project to work in an area that interests me: the security and privacy implications of autonomous vehicles.
McGill’s reputation as a world-class research institution helped me achieve success and land this early research internship. During the search process, I received positive responses from many other reputed universities across the globe, including Singapore University Technology and Design (SUTD) and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I found a McGill alumna at SUTD who immediately offered me a project and supported me throughout the interview process. She also offered me guidance on my future courses and professors. McGill’s brand image helped at every turn during my internship hunt.
Based on my first internship, I was selected by McGill’s Arts Internship Office as their youngest assistant and advisor. I was also chosen to be an ambassador for McGill24, the University’s annual day of giving. All of this happened during my first year and laid the foundation for more exciting opportunities.
Having the experience of a research internship made things easier for me in my second year. Recently, my resume was shortlisted by many companies and I did a number of interviews with big names in Canada, including National Bank, CIBC, CN, TJX and many more.
Finally, I was selected by BMO Financial Group for the post of Junior Business Analyst and Summer Intern. Though BMO Financial Group has clearly mentioned on their website that they usually do not hire second-year students for summer internships, it was the prestigious name of McGill on my resume that helped me. So this summer I will working as one of the youngest business analysts at BMO.
It is just my second year and the kind of exposure McGill has provided me during this short period is like a dream come true. I hope the name McGill and my degree will always help me throughout my life!