Summer Student Employee Application Information Page

We encourage you to talk to support systems or family members regarding your decision to apply. We know that there are many factors that go into applying to a position and encourage you to make the decision with your campus or personal support systems. If you have any questions about the role, please reach out to Student Transitions & Family Programs.

We provide the position description and role expectations ahead of time so you can fully plan and envision the scope and commitment required for the Summer Student Associate position. Please review the below documents to ensure that you have no conflicts. If there is an anticipated conflict, please reach out to Rachel Iverson, Coordinator.

All current Washington University undergraduate students who are current or former employees at Student Transitions & Family Programs (STFP) and will be in the St. Louis area between May 15 and August 2 are eligible to apply for the Summer Student Associate position. 

• The ideal applicant:
  • Is approachable, dependable, dedicated, knowledgeable, respectful, empathetic, a conflict-resolver, an adept communicator, and a positive role model.
  • Exhibits leadership potential and takes initiative.
  • Displays a strong commitment to the University and STFP’s values.
  • Is committed to becoming informed and knowledgeable about the University’s academic policies, procedures, deadlines, and various advising systems.
  • Exhibits strong interpersonal and group presentation skills.
  • Possesses a genuine concern for others.
  • Has an open mind and a positive attitude.
  • Demonstrates the ability to work with a diverse group of people, including students, parents, faculty, and staff.
  • Is in good conduct and academic standing at the University.
  • Has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher by the end of the spring 2024 semester.

An example resume is provided. Use this example as a guide in how you might want to format your resume and what information should be included.

A few tips: 

• Use the position description(s) to guide your writing.
• Proofread your submissions. 
• Have someone you trust review your resume. 
• Utilize the following service from the Center for Career Engagement for additional support:

  • Resume & Cover Letter Handout

• Utilize services from the Writing Center for additional support.

After you submit your application, you will receive an email confirming your application has been received. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your application was not received. If you experience technical difficulties, please contact Student Transitions & Family Programs.

Make sure to leave plenty of time to submit your application as they are time stamped and we are not able to accept late applications. The application cannot be saved and must be completed in one sitting to avoid losing your information or the form timing out.

STFP will conduct academic standing checks which includes reviewing both semester and cumulative GPA. Applicants must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and semester GPA of 3.0 or higher during semesters employed. We may additionally call four-year advisers regarding status. This includes reviewing educational records including institutional data, demographic information, courses, unofficial transcripts, and grades, and GPA. 

Additionally, Student Transitions & Family Programs collaborates with Student Conduct and Community Standards and the Office of Residential Life regarding student conduct standing. 

Lastly, due to Summer Student Associates serving as mandatory reporters, Student Transitions & Family Programs coordinates with the Gender Equity and Title IX Compliance Office for instances of individuals who may not be able to serve as mandatory reporters.

Summer Student Associate applicants sign up for an Individual Interview during the Application process. Due to this, interview sign-ups are due at Noon on Friday, April 12. Interviews will take place between Tuesday, April 16 and Friday, April 19.

Interviews are 20-minute behavior-based interviews where applicants will be asked to share examples of experiences or instances applicable to the questions. Applicants will also be asked to share personal reflection and understanding of the role and department. 

We ask applicants to arrive to their interviews in business casual dress. We recognize that dress codes are form of societal oppression and acknowledge that students must learn to navigate these expectations to be successful in future workplaces.

We use this as an opportunity for applicants to practice business casual dress during interviews for the future. We do not take applicant dress in consideration in the process.

We understand that not everyone may own business casual attire. We recommend you try borrowing clothes from a friend or checking SWAP located in the Gregg House storefronts. 

For examples of business casual attire, please see below:

• Business casual attire includes clothing such as a dress shirt, khakis, a skirt, dress, dress pants, and closed-toed shoes.
• Business casual does not typically include jeans, leggings, sneakers, shorts, and/or sandals.

We encourage applicants to refer to the Center for Career Engagement for opportunities to practice interviewing skills.

One resource the Center for Career Engagement provides is Big Interview, an online portal that assists with various interview skills and techniques. As another resource, check out the tips around successful interviews skills which includes information about business casual dress.

Additionally, the Center for Career Engagement offers opportunities to schedule mock interviews through the Career Advisers.

Request for Accommodations

If you are in need of any accommodations during the application and/or interview process, please reach out to Maggie Hermann, STFP Administrative Coordinator and Accommodations Manager. She will work with you to determine the best path forward.

Accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

• Virtual interview request.
• Reading and writing tasks.
• Computer based tasks.
• Physical tasks including walking or lifting.
• Religious accommodations and observances.

What is your understanding of the Summer Student Associate role and its time commitment? This question lets us know if you have read the position description. Before answering this question, you need to fully understand the Summer Student Associate position. You will also want to reflect on why you are applying for the role.  This is an opportunity to explain not only why you want to be a Summer Student Associate but also what you can bring to the table.  Please share anything and everything that can give us a keen insight into your motivations for applying to the position while also demonstrating that you understand the role. 

Tell us about how you would approach a situation in which someone asks you something you do not know the answer to. In this answer, the interviewer is trying to understand how you think on your feet and use the resources available to you. In the Summer Student Associate role you will be calling many new incoming students, many of whom are both very excited and nervous to come to WashU. They may ask you very niche questions about resources or opportunities at WashU that you might not know off of the top of your head. We want to hear that you will be honest with the student, find a time to follow-up with them, and utilize available resources to answer their question.

How would you describe WashU to a new student who has expressed apprehension about coming to the university? An important role of the Summer Student Associate role is validating the feelings of nervousness or excitement that new students may be feeling. With that being said, we also want Summer Student Associates to be honest, helpful, and positive when interacting with new students. We want to hear that you can validate their nervous feelings, while positively framing WashU, Fall Welcome, and the upcoming transition. 

What questions do you have for us? Have 1-2 questions prepared for us. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the role and what you will be doing throughout the year. Is there something unclear about the position that you want some clarity on?

We encourage all applicants to review the Summer Student Associate Individual Interview Questions. Applicants should reflect on how they plan to respond to each question, while being mindful of the time each response is taking them. These are the exact questions that will be asked during the individual interviews.

We will also provide a copy of these questions to applicants during the interview.

• If offered an individual interview, sign up for a time that works well for you and affords you time to travel and get settled for the interview.
  • We are not able to interview candidates who arrive late.
• Confirm the date, time, and location of your interview.
  • If you request a virtual interview, please check the Zoom Link of your interview which is provided upon signing up.
• Read through the position description.
  • If there is something you would like further clarification on, you can ask at the end of the interview.
• Be thoughtful about how long each of your responses will be. The interview is 20 minutes, and we want to include time for you to ask us questions at the end.
  • If you take an excessive amount of time on the first few questions, you may not have enough time to answer all questions. 
• Treat the Summer Student Associate interview as if it were a job interview – it is!
• Be prepared 10 minutes prior to your scheduled interview time.
  • If doing a Zoom interview, log into the Zoom session 2 minutes before the interview begins to ensure your technology is working.

Applicants will be notified via email no later than 5:00 PM on Monday, April 22 if they have been selected as a Summer Student Associate or not.

All applicants will be notified. Please check spam or junk mail if you have not received a notification by the date and time above, or email transitions@wustl.edu.

Individuals who are not selected to be a Summer Student Associate may consider emailing transitions@wustl.edu to set up a feedback session.