Higher Education Client
Internship Applicant Patterns
Overview
This project involved exploratory analysis of internship applicant data to evaluate factors influencing application volume across programs. The client provided an existing dataset and a small set of questions to test, including the impact of stipend level, out-of-state applicants, and geographic proximity, which informed both hypothesis testing and further pattern exploration.
Data & Constraints
Analysis was conducted on a client-provided, aggregated dataset with a limited number of programs and applicants. Findings are exploratory and descriptive rather than causal, and are intended to inform future investigation rather than definitive conclusions.
Selected Visuals
Key takeaway: The analysis shows that compensation alone does not explain differences in applicant interest, suggesting that other factors play a larger role in attracting candidates.
Key takeaway: Applicants across all travel distances are more concentrated in Chicagoland programs, indicating that regional context influences application behavior beyond simple proximity.
Key takeaway: Viewing program locations spatially helps explain why proximity to the Chicago metro area may shape applicant interest more strongly than airport access alone.
Interpretation & Next Steps
Implications (exploratory)
These patterns suggest that positioning, perceived career opportunity, and professional network access may be stronger drivers of applicant interest than compensation or travel convenience alone.
Next steps / future research
Further research could explore qualitative drivers of applicant interest, including brand perception, career outcomes, and network effects, as well as expand the dataset to validate these patterns across additional programs and years.
Outcome
Delivered a concise, print-ready report and supporting visuals to help the client evaluate applicant patterns, refine recruitment positioning, and identify areas for future qualitative research.
Full exploratory report (PDF) →
(shared with permission)