The best way that I have applied all I have learned in school is through hands-on experience, which is exactly what the School of Education and Social Policy provides its students at Northwestern. During any quarter between the summer after Sophomore year and Junior year, SESP students have to complete a Practicum internship. The internship can be in any industry of their choice and ranges from for-profits, nonprofits, and government agencies. While students work around 30 hours per week, they also take a course once a week that gives them the space to learn more about workplace topics that they are observing. Students have several location options, including Chicago, San Francisco, Washington DC, Italy, and more recently, Ireland! 

Hello, everyone! My name is Caleb Mistir, and I’m a fourth-year student from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, studying Learning and Organizational Change at the School of Education and Social Policy. I also have a minor in Business Institutions from the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. I’ll be sharing a little more information about SESP’s Practicum and how I took advantage of the program during my time at Northwestern! 

During the winter quarter of my Junior year, I had the opportunity to complete my Practicum at GTCR, a Chicago-based private equity firm. As their recruiting winter intern, I focused primarily on on-campus recruiting efforts for the 2024 summer analyst role. A big part of my role consisted of maintaining application data for 200+ applicants on Excel and updating any new information coming in each day. 

Another important aspect of my internship was the mentorship I received throughout my time there. Everyone at GTCR was so open to having meetings with me to learn more about the recruiting and finance industries. Having these opportunities throughout my day to learn from experienced professionals in a career I hope to have in the future was one of the greatest highlights of my experience. 

Overall, traveling into the city multiple days a week and experiencing what life may look like after college was very exciting. I really enjoyed the company I worked for, the people I collaborated with during my internship, and all of the knowledge I gained from being in the office setting!

Caleb Mistir 

SESP’ 24 

Major: Learning and Organizational Change 

Minor: Business Institutions