The internship landscape is shifting—and if you've been feeling the pressure in your career center, you're not alone. In this episode, host Meredith Metsker sits down with Todd Schuster, Senior Director and Head of Network Development at Forage, to take an honest look at the state of experiential learning in higher education. Todd brings a rare dual perspective: he spent the first half of his career working directly with students as an academic advisor and hall director, and the second half in edtech, now working with hundreds of employer partners through Forage's virtual job simulation platform. Together, they unpack why internships are becoming increasingly competitive, what employers are really looking for in early-career candidates right now, and how career centers can help students build a meaningful portfolio of experience even when a traditional internship isn't in the cards. KEY TAKEAWAYS — The internship gap is real, but demand is the bigger driver. More institutions are requiring experiential learning across all disciplines, more students are competing for a limited number of spots, and AI is replacing some of the entry-level tasks that internships traditionally covered. — Experiential learning is bigger than internships. On-campus jobs, student org leadership, research projects with faculty, co-ops, capstone projects, and virtual job simulations all count—and career centers play a critical role in helping students translate those experiences into language employers understand. — Employers are prioritizing soft skills more than ever. Critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and the ability to work through conflict in an in-person setting are now at the top of hiring managers' wish lists. — Start career exploration in year one, not year three. Students who explore early are better positioned to pursue the right internship when the time comes—and virtual job simulations are a low-stakes way to test-drive careers and companies before committing. — Forage simulations are free and employer-informed. With over 300 simulations built in partnership with companies like Citibank, Red Bull, BCG, and Bloomberg, students who complete a simulation are more likely to land a role with a participating employer. — Virtual simulations work best alongside in-person experience. Todd was candid: the best-case scenario is pairing virtual exploration with on-campus roles, internships, research, or leadership experiences that develop in-person soft skills. ABOUT TODD SCHUSTER Todd Schuster is the Senior Director and Head of Network Development at Forage, a platform that partners with leading employers to create free virtual job simulations for college students. Before joining Forage, Todd worked as an academic advisor and hall director at the University of Denver and the University of Northern Colorado, and later led operations in the coding and cybersecurity boot camp space. Connect with Todd on LinkedIn. RESOURCES MENTIONED ForageuConnectCareer Everywhere Community (free for higher ed career services professionals) Continue the conversation in the Career Everywhere Community! Join 2,000 other higher ed career services leaders today: careereverywhere.com/community
