General Internship FAQ's
Why should I complete an internship? An internship is a practical way to gain valuable experience to help define your career goals. It is an opportunity to put theory and learning into practice. The internship experience should fit with both your academic and professional goals.
May I complete an internship as a senior (fourth-year) student? Seniors may complete an academic semester internship within their final academic year. However, the CDO does not provide funding for summer internships completed following graduation. Students must be both currently enrolled and enrolled as a full-time student for the following semester to be eligibly to apply for summer funding.
I am an international student. May I complete an internship? Yes, but eligibility varies widely by situation and the individual student. To help determine eligibility, please address the following steps. Review the document, Internships and F1 Students at Grinnell College. Also, schedule a meeting with the Director of the Office of International Student Affairs and a CDO career counselor to discuss your options. Remember, some internships, including GRINNELLINK opportunities, may have additional requirements or regulations. For example, internships with government agencies may require citizenship and/or an additional work authorization.
How do I find an internship? Schedule an appointment to meet with a CDO career counselor regarding your internship search. The CDO maintains a past internship database which details over 1,000 internships completed by former Grinnell students. Also, new jobs and internships are posted daily to PioneerLink – a comprehensive career planning resource. Additionally, the CDO provides a weekly newsletter highlighting internship opportunities.
What is the process for earning academic credit? Students must secure a member of the Grinnell faculty who is willing to serve as Faculty Sponsor during the internship. The preferred grading option by the Curriculum Committee is S/D/F. Letter grades are required for internships applied to graduation requirements. Faculty Sponsors must include an additional signed document providing rationale for a letter grade request (Note: Satisfying the requirements of a concentration or other program is not sufficient rationale to be granted credit).
If I’m approved for academic credit, how much will this cost? Summer internships funded by Grinnell College, supported by a Faculty Sponsor, and approved by the Curriculum Committee, may receive 2 or 4 credits. Tuition is waived for the first 2 credits and students are billed for any additional credits. Historically, internships with outside funding may also receive 2 or 4 credits if approved by the Curriculum Committee. However, tuition is not waived and students are billed for all credits received. Academic Semester internships are for 4 credits only.
What if I’m going to be off-campus in the Spring? It is highly recommended that students participating in an approved Spring OCS program submit their application materials to the CDO the semester PRIOR to leaving for their off-campus study semester. If this is not possible, you must make arrangements to have a friend on campus receive and assemble your application materials and submit them to the CDO by the deadline date. The CDO will only accept completed applications in their entirety.
How will I get to my internship site? It is the responsibility of the student intern to secure transportation to and from the internship site.
What if my internship is in a country with a travel warning? Grinnell College will not approve internships in areas identified by the U.S. State Department as “unsafe for travel” AND will not release funding for internships in these locations.
How do I submit my internship application materials? Students must submit all components of an internship application (in paper form) together as one packet to the Career Development Office by the appropriate deadline. No separate components will be accepted at the CDO, such as the Confirmation of Intern Acceptance or Faculty Recommendation forms. Faculty members need at least a two-week notice prior to the application deadline to complete the recommendation form. Please plan accordingly. Interns need to remind the faculty to return the completed recommendation form back to the applicant in a signed, sealed envelope. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure their internship application is submitted in its entirety, including the unopened faculty recommendations. Only complete applications will be reviewed by the Selection Committees.
I have missed the application deadline and secured a paid internship. Do I still have options? Yes. The CDO offers the opportunity to register and track non Grinnell funded and non credit-bearing internships.
Internship Funding FAQ's
What summer funding options are available to me?
GRINNELLINK Internships - Specific opportunities with College alumni and friends are open exclusively to Grinnell students. These opportunities are competitive and will provide funding to the selected student. Internship sites change from year to year and may include opportunities in museum studies, art and design, environmental issues, healthcare, social services, biotechnology, financial equity analysis research, and legal services on constitutional issues to name a few.
Grant Programs - Current second and third-year students are eligible to apply for grant funding to support unpaid summer internships typically not available during the academic year or accessible without financial resources. Grant programs support experiences in prairie studies, entrepreneurship, gender and women's studies, international relations, applied technology, world population control, writing, religious leadership, environmental studies, arts & museum administration and conflict resolution. Grant programs are competitive and look for clarity in presentation, support from sponsoring agencies, well-defined responsibilities, originality, and uniqueness of opportunity. Limited CDO Open grant funds may be available for first-year students for internship opportunities that do not fit within typical grant fund criteria.
Endowed Internships - Endowed funds have been made available for internship experiences which meet specific criteria/parameters set forth by specifically named endowments. Funding opportunities are available for internships that offer work in affordable housing, Christian leadership, and physics. Other endowed funds are available for internships opportunities in specific locations: Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. OR in Spain/Latin American country.
Do I have to have a certain GPA to apply for internship funding? Internship programs require a minimum 2.5 GPA. Students are required to be currently enrolled as a full-time student, pre-registered for classes, are in good academic standing, and are enrolled in classes for the semester following their internship experience. Transfer students without a Grinnell GPA must submit a copy of their previous institution’s transcripts in addition to their Grinnell College transcripts (obtained from the Registrar) in their application.
May I apply for internship funding as a first-year student? Yes, however your options may be limited compared to those available to second and third-year students. First-year students are eligible to apply for a Lilly externship along with some GRINNELLINK, Endowed, and CDO Open grant funding. An internship opportunity may require specific academic year standing, while others may be open to all first, second or third-year students. All students are encouraged to consider attending upcoming alumni networking events, scheduled CDO workshops, and other opportunities offered through our office. First-year students are not eligible for credit-bearing internships, most internship Grant Programs, CPT experiences, and academic semester internships.
If I receive summer funding, what can that stipend pay for? Grant Programs (including CDO Open), Endowed, and GRINNELLINK funding may be available for expenses directly related to a summer internship. For example - travel to and from the internship site, housing, daily transportation, and meals. Funding is not available to address lost wages, future expenses, personal items, product purchases, or program fees. On-campus experiences are not considered an internship and are not eligible for funding.
What are the application deadlines for internships? Review the CDO internship website for current deadlines at Application & Deadlines. Typically, application deadlines fall in early February for GRINNELLINK and April for Grant/Endowed Programs.
