Applications for the Cornell Summer Experience Grant are open and students should apply here by April 15.
“We provide funding for students in unpaid or low-paying summer experiences to offset the cost of taking on those positions,” said Jennifer Maclaughlin, director of career development for the College of Arts & Sciences, adding that a total of $500,000 is available for A&S students this summer. “Summer experiences, whether it’s an internship, research or volunteer work, are integral to a student’s career development – they are able to try a profession to see if it is a good fit.”
Maclaughlin said that research by the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows internships are the leading factor companies use when they consider extending offers to students.
The maximum award for each A&S student is generally $6,000, but students residing in university housing (at Cornell or elsewhere) and/or students on financial aid with high need may exceed the $6,000 limit.
Jesse Kapstad ‘24 was able to take advantage of a Summer Experience Grant in 2022. “Thanks to the Summer Experience Grant, I spent my summer in Washington, D.C. interning at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. I had an amazing experience as part of the Office of the Chief of Staff, where I was a scheduling and advance intern,” Kapstad said. “It was super interesting to experience the inner workings of the public sector. My biggest takeaway was to take great care with the little details in your work. As an economics and government major, this internship really affirmed my career interest in economics in the public sector and introduced me to many amazing people in the field."
There is a competitive selection process for these grants, because the office receives a large number of qualified applications for a limited amount of funding, Maclaughlin said. Each college’s career office reviews applications for their own students and coordinates the grants for their college.
