2008 Woodie Awards
Exploring the benefits of Winter Term internships
By Ethan Lake
Issue date: 1/27/05 Section: Features
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For some, Winter Term is a time of low-key vegging. For others, however, internships maintained over the month of January provide hands on experience and experimentation in possible career fields. Nearly 170 students apply for internships during the month of January in myriad locations, from Lehman Brothers financial in New York, to Porter Hospital in town (one of the most popular internships annually), to international aid organizations in countries such as Swaziland.
What do the internships involve, and how does one apply for them?
According to the 2005 Winter Term Internship application, "Internships involve significant, high-level exposure to and participation in the work of an established career. [...] Winter Term Internships require a minimum of 100 hours of active participation during Winter Term. According to Middlebury College policy, internships for academic credit are unpaid career experiences, although students may receive a stipend to pay for their living expenses."
Sophomores through Seniors may apply for an internship during January, and 99 percent of those who fill out the detailed application and obtain the support of their advisor have their applications accepted by the Curriculum Committee. In order for the internship to be valid for credit the student must write an essay outlining their prospective internship and submit it to the Curriculum Committee along with their application. During the course of their work they must either keep a journal of their activities or take notes on their experience, as well as make a good impression on their supervisor. Once the internship is completed the student must either submit their journal to the Career Services Office (CSO) or submit an essay evaluating their experience from the notes they took during the month.
Why would a student voluntarily cede their J-Term, generally a time of skiing and enjoyment, for 100 hours of work in the labor force when it seems that Middlebury students try as hard as possible to delay entering the real world. Charles Goulding '05 and Jenna Boyle '06.5 share their thoughts on why they decided to eschew J-Term for an internship.
What do the internships involve, and how does one apply for them?
According to the 2005 Winter Term Internship application, "Internships involve significant, high-level exposure to and participation in the work of an established career. [...] Winter Term Internships require a minimum of 100 hours of active participation during Winter Term. According to Middlebury College policy, internships for academic credit are unpaid career experiences, although students may receive a stipend to pay for their living expenses."
Sophomores through Seniors may apply for an internship during January, and 99 percent of those who fill out the detailed application and obtain the support of their advisor have their applications accepted by the Curriculum Committee. In order for the internship to be valid for credit the student must write an essay outlining their prospective internship and submit it to the Curriculum Committee along with their application. During the course of their work they must either keep a journal of their activities or take notes on their experience, as well as make a good impression on their supervisor. Once the internship is completed the student must either submit their journal to the Career Services Office (CSO) or submit an essay evaluating their experience from the notes they took during the month.
Why would a student voluntarily cede their J-Term, generally a time of skiing and enjoyment, for 100 hours of work in the labor force when it seems that Middlebury students try as hard as possible to delay entering the real world. Charles Goulding '05 and Jenna Boyle '06.5 share their thoughts on why they decided to eschew J-Term for an internship.