Based in the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Davidson College Consulting Group provides project-based support to startups and small businesses. Student consultants develop valuable skills and gain real-world experience while working to deliver impactful solutions for clients.
Applications for Summer 2026 open January 14
The opportunity to use your knowledge and skills to drive outcomes for real companies is a great value add to your resume and talking point for future interviews. Because many of our clients are startups and small businesses, you’ll likely work closely with the founder or leadership team, giving you access and insight that isn’t common in internships.
Collaborate with talented peers in small project teams, developing leadership, project management, and teamwork skills. Gain experience in an agency-like setting with all-team meetings and digital workflow tools.
Student consultants commit at least 5 hours weekly during the academic year. Biweekly all-team meetings and some client meetings will take place in-person at the Hurt Hub, but most project work can be completed remotely.
As a Student Consultant, you’ll be a student employee of Davidson College and will be paid for all program-related activities. This includes project work, team meetings, and skill development sessions. The academic year pay rate is $15.50 per hour, and the summer pay rate is $18.00 per hour.
We collaborate with a diverse portfolio of clients, from local entrepreneurs and startups in the greater Charlotte area to established companies led by Davidson alumni nationwide. While engagements vary widely in scope and focus, below are examples of the most common project types.
We help clients understand who their customers really are, what they need, and how to reach them more effectively. Example projects include conducting qualitative research, identifying customer personas to inform marketing strategies, or mapping a customer’s journey through various touchpoints with the company.
We identify where clients’ biggest opportunities lie and help them plan for sustainable growth. Example projects include researching competitors to identify a business’s unique positioning in the market, researching trends and opportunities in a particular industry, building a database of qualified prospects, or developing a growth strategy.
We strengthen clients’ online presence so customers can find them and understand what they offer. Example projects include conducting digital presence audits and making recommendations, creating simple websites in platforms like WordPress and Wix, or building custom features or functionality.
We create professional content that clearly communicates a business’s value and engages their audience. Example projects include writing strategic email campaigns or website copy, designing marketing materials, photographing products, or creating promotional videos.
We turn a business’s data into clear insights so they can make smarter decisions about their business. Example projects include analyzing operational or financial data to identify patterns and opportunities, reviewing sales data alongside competitor pricing, or analyzing customer data to uncover trends that may inform future marketing and retention efforts.
The application asks you to answer a series of questions, upload your resume, and provide a link to a recorded video response to a prompt. If you have creative work to share, you may also include links to your portfolio or relevant examples. A complete application helps us understand your skills and experiences.
If selected as a finalist, you’ll be invited to a group interview session. These sessions involve collaborative case study activities that simulate real-world client work. We welcome diverse perspectives and approaches, as different strengths all contribute to successful outcomes.
Students are selected for the team through a holistic review of their experience, skills, and potential to contribute to quality outcomes. Those selected will hired for the full term, either the academic year or summer.
January 14 – February 15: Applications Open on Handshake
February 19: Finalists Notification
February 26: Interviews
March 4: Offers Extended
March 6: Acceptance Deadline
March 2-27: Applications Open on Handshake
April 1: Finalists Notification
TBD: Interviews
April 20: Offers Extended
April 23: Acceptance Deadline
Consultants usually work 5-8 hours each week during the school year. Summer consultants work 35-40 hours per week.
You will be paid hourly for the time you spend working on projects and attending team meetings. During the school year, the pay rate is $15.50 per hour. The summer pay rate is $18.00 per hour. This is not a work study position.
Not at all! Our consultants have a variety of interests and career goals. There are more than 20 different majors represented on our 2025-2026 team.
Yes, all active Davidson College students are eligible to apply. Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible for the summer program. Each year, a small number of spots will be reserved for incoming first year students, who will be given the opportunity to apply before arriving on campus.
Absolutely. DCCG is designed to be flexible and manageable alongside classes, athletics, and other involvement. Project timelines and expectations are communicated clearly in advance, and teams work together to balance their workloads during busy academic periods.
Yes, but while you’re abroad, you will not be able to participate in program activities or client projects. Students may be hired for the academic year but will participate only during the semester they are on campus at Davidson. To ensure consistency and meet client needs, we limit the number of students studying abroad we hire annually.
DCCG has elements of all three. It offers the responsibility and compensation of a job, the learning and mentorship of a class, and the community and collaboration of a student organization.
Yes, international students with an F-1 visa are welcome to participate, as this role is considered on-campus employment.
You can reach out to Amy Tirpak, Consulting Operations Manager at the Hurt Hub, at amtirpak@davidson.edu
