Home » Application Information »

Choosing the right internship

Choosing the right internship is an important first step. Applying for an internship that is not a good fit for your academic and professional goals may hurt you in the selection process and frustrate you in the field.

Here are some tips to help you identify your dream internship:

  • Read the selection criteria for each position description carefully. Don't be limited by your major. Think about how your skills and abilities would fit with the organization's needs. Apply for the internship(s)that are the best match for your abilities, interests and career goals.
  • Outline your internship goals in your application essay. Make sure there is a good match between the internship site's needs and what you can offer.
  • Before applying for an internship, use the financial worksheet to check the total costs of the internship. If you need financial assistance, be sure to discuss it with the financial aid office, your department, or other possible sources of grants or scholarships. Although most forms of financial aid can be applied toward the costs of an internship, the financial details are part of whether or not it is a good fit. Don't apply for an internship if you can't afford to go! If necessary, delay your application to another term and work on finding additional financial support.
  • Talk to your departmental academic advisor and IE3 campus advisor about your goals and the internship options. Make sure that you will be able to earn the kind of academic credit you need and want for the internships you are considering.

Some additional tips:

  • Plan ahead! Especially if you are leaving for a study abroad and want to do an internship afterwards. Contact the IE3 Global Internships program as soon as you know you are going to apply. Some internship placements can be confirmed as far as 6-9 months in advance.
  • If you've read all the internships on the site and still don't see a perfect match, contact your campus advisor with a concise description of what you want to do and what area of the world interests you. New internship sites are constantly in development. There may be a perfect one waiting just for you!
  • Lastly, if you have your own internship lead, but want the support offered by the IE3 Global Internships program, discuss this with your campus coordinator. Self-arranged internships are possible and provide you with the best of both worlds: an internship tailored exactly to your interests and all the support of an established program.