Internship Pacer Groups: A New Way for Full-Time MBAs to Reach Their Goals

Internships are a cornerstone of the Full-Time MBA experience at Rice Business. They provide students with opportunities to explore industries, gain hands-on experience and refine career goals — tailored to each student’s unique journey.

Landing an Internship Doesn’t Have To Be Difficult.

To help students navigate the recruiting process, our Career Development Office (CDO) recently launched the Internship Pacer Group program. While students pursuing internships in industries like consulting and finance benefit from defined recruiting timelines, the pacer group program is specifically designed to guide Full-Time MBA students through the recruiting processes of industries with less structured timelines. The new program helps foster accountability and a sense of community in what can otherwise be a solitary and ambiguous journey.

What Are Internship Pacer Groups?

Much like pacers in a marathon, these groups help students stay on track, build momentum and correct course as they aspire to reach their recruiting goals. Through 11 workshops, the Internship Pacer Group program supports students pursuing careers in high-demand industries such as:

• Corporate finance
• Energy and renewables
• Healthcare
• Real estate
• Tech
• Venture capital
• Private equity

Each workshop allows MBAs to strategize with peers, advisors and industry professionals, empowering them throughout the recruitment process.

Key Benefits for Students Include:

• Expert Guidance: Each group is led by CDO career advisors, with guest appearances from alumni and club leaders who share insights and inspiration.
• Regular Check-ins: Meetings provide a space to share progress, highlight upcoming recruiting events and celebrate wins — all while helping students stay accountable to personal goals.
• Strategic Planning: Students choose groups aligned with their recruiting goals to encourage a concurrent career plan, helping them maximize opportunities in a highly competitive market.
• Community Support: The groups foster connection, creating a space for participants to offer encouragement, share networking resources and learn that they’re not alone in the process.

For many students, Internship Pacer Groups bridge the gap between individual coaching and peer collaboration, offering a structured yet flexible framework for success. By pairing these sessions with one-on-one coaching, participants can craft a robust strategy that balances ambition with focus.

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“The Internship Pacer Group brings in alumni who share their own experiences of being in our shoes, showing that nervousness is normal and success is indeed achievable,” shared Pedro Antonio Morales ’26. “It keeps us accountable and provides clarity on career paths, making it highly valuable.”

Looking Ahead

Our Career Development Office offers a wide range of personalized resources — across all major industries, functions and geographies. And as industries evolve, students can count on the CDO to provide relevant and high-touch counseling to help them reach their goals.

Whether MBAs are pursuing more structured roles or exploring paths in emerging or nontraditional fields, our CDO team works hard to ensure students have the right tools and strategies to succeed. Initiatives like the Internship Pacer Group program strengthen individual career journeys and the Rice Business community as a whole.