Being a student is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. At some point in college, almost everyone asks the same question: Am I on the right path?

Between classes, internships, and future plans, it’s easy to feel pressure to have everything figured out. But career paths are rarely as straightforward as they seem—and that’s where alumni insight becomes incredibly valuable.

That’s where Lundquist Connect comes in. This platform, exclusively available to Lundquist College of Business students, makes it easy to start conversations, ask questions, and learn from people who were once in your shoes. 

More than 2,000 alumni are active on the platform, and students receive an impressive 70% average response rate when they reach out. It’s support, community, and guidance, all built around the Lundquist experience. 

Navigating a Career Pivot with Alumni Support

What do these conversations actually look like? Here’s a real example from Amber, a current UO undergraduate student who shared her experience.

Last summer, Amber landed an internship in her field of study, something she had been working toward for years. But just a few weeks in, she had an unexpected realization: the day-to-day work didn’t feel like the right fit.

Despite having done everything “right,” she found herself questioning whether this was a path she wanted to continue. It can be confusing when this happens, but it’s also more common than you might think. That’s where alumni support became crucial.

Instead of staying stuck in uncertainty, Amber turned to the community of alumni on Lundquist Connect. She reached out to a handful of alumni who had once been in her position and talked through how they found paths that better aligned with their interests.

Through these conversations, Amber gained clarity, not because alumni told her what to do, but because they helped her explore different options by sharing their own experiences:

• How their career paths evolved over time
• The pivots they made early on to better align their values with their work
• The skills they built that opened doors they hadn’t previously imagined
• The reassurance that uncertainty is normal

Hearing these stories helped Amber build the confidence to explore a path that better suited her interests, rather than sticking with something simply because it was expected.

Why You Should Reach Out

Whether you’re choosing a major, considering internships, or exploring long-term career ideas, alumni can offer the kind of real-world perspective you won’t find in a textbook or classroom. 

And the best part? Our alumni want to help! They were in your shoes at one point, and now they’ve returned to the Duck community on Lundquist Connect because they want to see fellow Ducks succeed. 

Sign up for Lundquist Connect or download the mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Search for “University of Oregon, Lundquist College of Business” to login and keep your network growing in real time. If you need help getting started, follow these step-by-step instructions.