<\/p>\nYou\u2019re juggling internal assessments, TOK threads, Extended Essay questions and the usual homework mountain \u2014 and somewhere in the background there\u2019s a quiet, nagging question: \u201cWhat should I study at university?\u201d A 30-day career experiment is a tight, low-risk way to convert that anxiety into structured discovery. It\u2019s not a formal internship that eats your summer; it\u2019s a deliberate sprint that gives you evidence, clarity and a stronger voice in conversations with university advisors, admissions tutors and, importantly, yourself.<\/p>\n
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Think of it as a compact trial run. For thirty focused days you test a career area through small, meaningful activities: shadowing one professional, completing targeted micro-projects, taking short online modules, interviewing people in the field and reflecting daily. The aim is not to become an expert; it\u2019s to gather realistic data about what the work feels like, what skills it demands, and whether you can imagine building a life around it.<\/p>\n
Because the Diploma Programme is about learning how to learn. A 30-day experiment gives you a structured way to apply that skill to career discovery. It helps you:<\/p>\n
Students who can show thoughtful, short experiments are more persuasive in applications because they demonstrate initiative and reflective learning. You don\u2019t need months; you need intention and structure.<\/p>\n
This blueprint fits into an IB week and scales across subject pressures. Treat the first few days as planning; the rest is active testing and reflection.<\/p>\n
Good examples:<\/p>\n
The sharper your question, the easier it is to choose daily tasks and measure progress.<\/p>\n
Balance your experiment across three modes: observation, hands-on practice and social proof.<\/p>\n
Consistency beats intensity. Pick a realistic daily window\u201430 to 90 minutes on weekdays, longer blocks on weekends. Each day should include at least one active item and one reflection prompt.<\/p>\n
Create a simple scoring rubric (enjoyment, challenge, alignment with skills, perceived future prospects). Every five days, average your scores and note trends. Use that data to tweak the next five days.<\/p>\n
Below is a compact week-by-week table you can adapt. It balances hands-on work with evidence collection you can later use for CAS, EE or university essays.<\/p>\n
| Week<\/th>\n | Focus<\/th>\n | Daily Time<\/th>\n | Sample Activities<\/th>\n | Evidence to collect<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1<\/td>\n | Explore & plan<\/td>\n | 30\u201345 min<\/td>\n | Read an overview article, watch 2 day-in-the-life videos, draft your experiment question<\/td>\n | Plan doc, annotated links, initial interest score<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Week 2<\/td>\n | Observe & connect<\/td>\n | 45\u201360 min<\/td>\n | Informational interviews, short shadow session, join a relevant online forum<\/td>\n | Interview notes, mentor contact, reflection entries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Week 3<\/td>\n | Build & test<\/td>\n | 60\u201390 min<\/td>\n | Complete a mini-project or micro-course, ask for critique<\/td>\n | Project artefact, feedback email, revised skills list<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Week 4<\/td>\n | Reflect & present<\/td>\n | 30\u201360 min<\/td>\n | Summarise findings, create a CAS entry or portfolio page, decide next steps<\/td>\n | Reflection report, portfolio piece, planned follow-ups<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table><\/div>\nExamples you can steal and adapt<\/h2>\n |
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