The Big Six Advantage
Why Simpson is More Than Worth It
Simpson and the Six
National research of more than 30,000 college graduates conducted by Gallup, Purdue University and the Lumina Foundation identified the “Big Six” undergraduate experiences most closely correlated with long-term career success and personal fulfillment.
At Simpson we take the big six seriously, in fact, for the traditional Class of 2023, 86 percent of Simpson graduates reported having at least three “Big Six” experiences compared to the national average of 32 percent. And of those same college graduates, only two percent of nationwide reported having all six experiences while more than 20 percent of Simpson graduates say they had them all.
What are the big six?
The “Big Six” refers to six experiences. These six experiences have a stronger relationship to long-term life outcomes such as employee engagement and well-being than the type of school graduates attend. Meaning, College’s that provide access to these opportunities position their students to better thrive in life after college, personally and professionally.
The “Big Six” experiences include:
A professor who made you excited to learn
A professor who cared about you as an individual
A mentor who pushed you to reach goals
Engagement in extracurricular activities
Working on a long-term project
Completing a class-related job/internship
A professor who made you excited to learn
A professor who cared about you as an individual
“[Professor Carponelli] offers lots of hands-on help and in-class activities to make certain we completely understand what we’re learning,”
– Aaron Wilkins ’25
A mentor who pushed you to reach goals
“[Professor Busby] consistently encouraged me to chase after what I wanted and discouraged me from selling myself short.”
– Maddie Jansen ’22
President Approved
The “Big Six” experiences we provide are transformational in equipping our students with the power tools they need to compete and excel in any circumstance —communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
Jay Byers '93
Simpson College President
Engagement in extracurricular activities
Involvement is the name of the game at Simpson. Yes, athletics are a big part of it, with 60 percent of students competing in one or more of the College’s 25 varsity sports. But, as the two students profiled here illustrate, there are many other outstanding cocurricular opportunities to pursue that also enhance the student experience and provide vital life skills.
Treye '24
“It’s one community here — it really is. It’s this idea that anyone can be part of anything, and everyone works together to get you as involved as you want to be.”
Trenity ’23
“By being active, I’ve gotten to know a lot of people… Simpson has made me a very well-rounded student.”
Working on a long-term project
“[Students experience first-hand the classic stages of team development that they learn in various management courses. At the end of the day, everyone brings something unique to the table and the result is a ‘win-win’ all the way around.”
– Simpson Professor Mark Green
Completing a class-related job/internship
Each year, hundreds of Simpson students gain internship experience that often leads directly to exciting career opportunities, frequently where they interned. Meet three students who are using their internships to illuminate and strengthen their career prospects.
Elise '24
Interned with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Elijah '25
Interned with the Indianola Police Department (IPD)
Kylie ’24
Interned with the Polk County Attorney’s Office
