What is UPOP? The Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP) is a yearlong program exclusively for MIT sophomores that helps them develop the relevant and critical professional skills necessary to thrive in their chosen career path, …

The Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP) is a yearlong program exclusively for MIT sophomores that helps them develop the relevant and critical professional skills necessary to thrive in their chosen career path, whether in industry, research, or academia.

MIT’s Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP) is a co-curricular, yearlong professional development program for MIT sophomores of all majors. UPOP helps students throughout the entire process of finding, acquiring, and thriving in their first professional experience and beyond—whether in industry, academia, or public service.

As a mentor, you can help put the importance of UPOP learning concepts into context and provide a perspective on life after MIT. You may be asked for help with a resume, do a mock interview, or provide advice on working in a specific sector or company—interactions are based on …

Why join UPOP in your sophomore year? We’ll help you kick-start your career! You’ll hone the skills you need to be successful during your search for internships, UROPs, or public service; your interview process; and when you’re out in your chosen field.

As such, you must register for UPOP as a course during MIT’s regular online registration process. Fall semester: Register for EPE (UPOP Engineering Practice Experience) TTW: Register for EPW (UPOP Engineering Practice Workshop)

Mentors are one of the cornerstones of the UPOP student experience. These remarkable volunteers support and coach UPOP students throughout their sophomore year in a variety of ways—whether in one-on-one coaching sessions or as a critical support during the annual Team Training Workshop events in January and February.

UPOP was launched in 2001 as an initiative of then dean of the School of Engineering, Thomas Magnanti, Institute Professor, MIT EECS and Professor of Operations Research at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Meet the UPOP Team. Founded in 2001, MIT’s Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP) is a yearlong professional development program for sophomores focused on building the relevant and critical skills necessary for a career in industry, research, or academia.

Join UPOP’s growing employer network and gain exclusive access to engage with our students! UPOP teams up with employers from various industries who are interested in regularly engaging with MIT sophomores through job postings, events, and hiring.