Each semester, the third floor of the University Student Center transforms into a networking hub during the GW Career Exploration Expo, where students and alumni connect with potential employers and job opportunities. It was here in Fall 2025 that Stella Iyengar, a first-year mechanical engineering student and Clark Scholar, secured her first internship.
At the event, Iyengar met a GW alum representing the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), who shared her own experience in the Metro College Internship Program and encouraged her to apply. Now, Iyengar is preparing to spend the summer interning at WMATA, gaining hands-on experience in transit engineering.
Navigating networking and interview processes felt new to Iyengar as a first-year student. Initially unsure where to start with her career journey last September, she shared that “the resources offered by GW changed that.”
One resource she utilized is the Clark Scholars Program, which hosts weekly meetings to help guide students through their early-career stages. These meetings often feature a group discussion or a presentation by a GW organization representative, such as Sean Lee, Career and Development Manager for GW Engineering at GW’s Center for Career Services.
“During one of the presentations, Lee discussed how to get started with internship applications and guided us in building our resumes,” said Iyengar. “After that, I scheduled an appointment with him to review my resume, and he offered several extremely helpful tips for my resume, LinkedIn, and also interviews.”
Overall, Iyengar found the application process straightforward, noting it mirrored the process of applying to college. Her appointment with Lee left her feeling prepared for her first interview, while her academic advisor helped her explore taking summer classes and balancing the internship.
As a WMATA intern, Iyengar will not only learn how such a complex system is maintained but also contribute to projects that keep the metro running. She looks forward to seeing firsthand how engineers balance coordinating across multiple teams within strict timelines and budgeting to complete projects, all while causing minimal disruption to the public.
By taking advantage of opportunities outside the classroom–including career advising and joining student organizations, such as the newly formed Electric Yacht at GW–Iyengar has opened new doors for herself. The technical skills and hands-on experience she will gain at WMATA will further support her career and studies.
“My advice to the Class of 2030 is to try as many new things and go to as many events as possible. Joining clubs and attending the career fairs opened so many doors for me and allowed me to meet people who have helped me get where I am now,” Iyengar said.