Shadow FAQ's

The majority of hosts are Gettysburg College alums or parents of current students, but we also have friends of the College who are involved.

Job shadow opportunities are offered in multiple states across the country, including major cities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and DC. They represent a diverse and interesting array of careers/industries.

Most opportunities will take place in January before the start of spring semester. Each host provides their date availability, which is included on the application. Ultimately, you and the host work together to determine the best date for a one-day shadow.

Students are responsible for covering all costs associated with the experience, including any transportation, overnight accommodations, or meals.

Students selected for a job shadow who need financial assistance in order to participate can apply for Funding Fellowships towards transportation and accommodations only (no meals) related to the experience. This process is based on self-reported need, not Financial Aid status. Funding Fellowship applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and while we cannot guarantee funding, we make every effort to help as many students as possible with our limited budget.

The opportunities are open to students of all class years. You must be a currently enrolled student at the time of the job shadow and be in good standing with the College.

Applications are generally available in mid-October. Students must apply to participate and are selected based upon their interests in an opportunity, quality of answers to application questions, as well as space available for an opportunity. Students are notified mid-November regarding their application status.

You will provide your top 3 job shadow opportunities in ranked order of interest for consideration (please only apply to those opportunities that you would participate in if accepted). You will also need to share where you are in your career exploration process and how each opportunity fits into your interests and/or career goals. Additionally, you’ll need to provide some insight into your logistical plans (i.e. travel/accommodations) should you be selected. While you do not need to write a novel, the internal review committee will consider thoughtfulness and quality of answers as part of the selection process. If you have questions about the application, please make an appointment with a career counselor via Handshake.

Participating students must attend a preparation meeting, complete online preparation modules prior to their experience, and sign an Agreement & Release Form. For some experiences, the employer may require additional items to be completed before a student is able to participate. These requirements are generally shared in our marketing during the application process.

The Carmel Pine Cone Newspaper – Pacific Grove, CA

Boston African American National Historic Site – Boston, MA

Sanofi/Sanofi-Genzyme - Framingham, MA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Arlington, VA

ArtsQuest - Bethlehem, PA

Quest Diagnostics - Chantilly, VA

Deloitte Consulting - New York, NY

American Heart Association - Washington, DC

Blackbaud - Charleston, SC

Merck – North Wales, PA

Sterling Publishing - New York, NY

Sen. John Heinz History Center - Pittsburgh, PA

Medicine / Healthcare - Various locations

Elementary, Secondary & Higher Education - Various locations