Participating in an internship is essentially experiential education at its finest. Not only is this an opportunity to gain real-life skills in your major or an area of interest, but you can also "test-drive" a possible career path, connect with professionals in the field, and try things that aren't necessarily offered at Wilson. Furthermore, according to a recent recruiting survey done by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, 95% of employers ranked students having internship experience as one of their top hiring decisions....that's kind of a big deal!
But before you jump right in, here are some important things to know about participation:
**Are you an INTERNATIONAL STUDENT? If so, we must have you apply for a Curricular Practical Training (CPT) before you apply for an internship. To begin this process, please set up a meeting with the GEO office.
There are various ways you can complete an internship. Additionally, a single internship may fulfill multiple requirements. Click HERE to learn more about each of these categories, courses, and experiences. Below is a brief description of each:
For any questions, please reach out to Hannah Richardson, Director of Career Engagement, in the Center for Integrated Advising & Careers (CIAC): [email protected]
1.) What if the organization doesn't have a internship position already created?
2.) Can my part-time summer job be considered an internship?
3.) Can I split my WPO hours between my work crew and internship?
4.) Is it a requirement that I fill out the internship paperwork before my internship begins?
5.) I did an internship LAST summer, but didn't tell anyone. Can it count toward my major?
1.) CREATE A PLAN:
3.) SEARCH: These are some great sites to get you going! Ideally, you should be searching internships about 6 months in advance of starting.
4.) PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION:
5.) APPLY & ACCEPT/REJECT YOUR OFFER - Once you've made a decision:
6.) COMPLETE ALL PAPERWORK & COURSE REGISTRATION:
**We use the Formstack program for the Learning Contract. That said, once you've submitted this form to your supervisor, it can't be edited. To that end, we highly suggest that you use this worksheet to prepare. This is a great way to share your goals with your supervisor and/or academic advisor so as to make changes/edits before the final submission.
SCHOLARSHIPS - These are external scholarship opportunities that may pertain to your field.
SUMMER STIPENDS - Summer stipends are prioritized for students accepting low or unpaid internships in the non-profit, governmental sector, or persuing positions connected to green entrepreneurship. Applications are due March 1st and April 1st.
SUMMER HOUSING - Summer housing is available and free of charge to students engaging in full-time work (40 hours per week) with the college. This includes participating in a college-sponsored (stipended) internship, work on campus, or a combination of the two reaching 40 total hours. In order to be eligible for housing, the internship student must be awarded a summer internship stipend AND contact the Director of Career Engagement with their plans as soon as possible. Students taking advantage of summer housing will be responsible for completing all paperwork requirements of the internship and stipend program and will be responsible for the cost of meals as applicable. Housing is limited and not guaranteed. It is suggested that you connect with the Director of Career Engagement as soon as possible.