What is an ELO? ELO stands for experiential learning opportunity and it is a requirement for Global and Health Sciences Majors and Global Health minors. Even if completing an ELO is not a requirement for you, it could be a great opportunity to apply your classroom knowledge to a community setting and make an impact in your field of interest.
Community engaged learning is an important aspect of many professions especially in the health, government, and non-profit spheres. In order to be a successful professional in these fields you should take these opportunities to improve your collaboration skills to better serve the needs of communities of interest to you. Some important skills that can be gained through ELOs include event planning, teamwork, intervention development, research design, data analysis, proposal writing, and much more!
As a GPHS sophomore, I understand how stressful it can be to find the “perfect” ELO, but it is important to remember that all experiences are valuable and you don’t need to conform to a specific type of opportunity to have a meaningful experience. When it comes to finding your ELO, there are a wide variety of experiences available through Cornell and outside internships which, while exciting, can be overwhelming. There are many resources available and I would encourage all GPHS students and other interested students to take advantage of everything at your disposal.
The best resource to familiarize yourself with is the ELO canvas course created by DNS. On our website under the jobs and internships tab, there are many opportunities posted in the fields of research, clinical internships, nutrition, policy, and government that will count for an ELO so I encourage you to check out that tab. If you would like further advice I encourage you to meet with an advisor or swing by the CEC in MVR 1203 to speak to a career assistant. We have a few GPHS students on staff who can guide you in finding and applying for the best ELO for you!
Remember it is important to take your time to find the opportunity that is best for you so try your best to be patient with yourself during your search and remember we are always here to connect you with resources and support you 🙂