Invest in Student Career Success
Support CES efforts to provide meaningful career opportunities to all Rutgers—New Brunswick students.
Your Gift Provides Direct Student Support
Career Exploration and Success (CES) assists students in connecting their academic experiences with potential career paths, regardless of their academic program, career interests, or degree level. We offer impactful programs that have demonstrated positive outcomes for students' careers, and we also provide financial support for students who are seeking internships but may have limited resources or experience.
Nearly 75% of Rutgers–New Brunswick students receive financial aid, and many face financial barriers as they prepare for internships, interviews, and career fairs.
The Career Closet at Rutgers–New Brunswick helps remove those barriers by providing new and gently used professional attire to students who need it most. By ensuring availability to professional clothing, The Closet allows students to focus on showcasing their skills and potential — not worrying about what to wear.
A donation to The Closet enables us to purchase new suits for students preparing to take their next big step. For many, the right outfit is more than clothing — it’s confidence, dignity, and the opportunity to make a strong first impression.
With your support, students can present themselves as the talented, capable professionals they are. Make a gift, and help a student walk into their future with confidence.
First-Year Interest Group Seminars (FIGS) are often a student’s first meaningful connection to the Rutgers community. In these small, high-impact courses, Peer Instructors (PIs) help new students explore academic paths, discover career possibilities, and build a sense of belonging from their very first semester.
PIs are trained student leaders who customize each course to introduce campus resources and share real experiences that help first-year students feel confident and supported. For many students, a PI is their first mentor at Rutgers.
Your gift directly funds PI stipends, creating more opportunities for student leaders to teach and allowing us to offer additional FIGS sections. Each new section serves 25–30 first-year students — multiplying your impact across an entire classroom.
When you invest in Peer Instructors, you help students start strong, build community, and take early steps toward success at Rutgers University.
4WARD is a two-year career-readiness initiative for first- and second-year students who may have limited reach to professional networks and early career exposure. These students have the talent and drive to succeed — they simply need the availability of meaningful opportunities. By engaging them early, 4WARD creates momentum that shapes their academic and professional trajectories.
Your gift to 4WARD provides direct support for high-impact internships and experiential learning opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. Many students cannot afford to accept unpaid or underpaid positions. Internship stipends remove this financial barrier, allowing students to pursue experiences based on growth and learning — not financial constraint.
With your support, students gain real-world experience, build professional networks, and graduate with stronger résumés and clearer career direction. Every contribution helps expand the program’s reach, strengthen mentorship, and create equitable pathways to long-term career success.
