Internship FAQ

Phone: 413-538-2472
Web: Internship Program

What is an internship?
An internship is a practical work experience that enables a student to gain knowledge and skills within an organization, industry, or functional area that reflects the student's academic and professional interests. Internship programs are intended to provide students with firsthand experience in government, international organizations, the arts, nonprofit organizations, business, scientific research, and other areas of interest. Internships usually involve full-time work for six to twelve weeks (totaling a minimum of 240 hours) for summer OR a minimum of 13 days at 5-8 hours/day for January.

It is important to note that students do not receive academic credit for an internship. Some students deliberately undertake internships involving research that can lead to an independent study project. Other students realize the value of their research work during the internship, and then consider pursuing this in greater depth in an independent study when they return to campus.

Students need to discuss the option of "independent study" with a member of the faculty. If the project seems feasible, the student then signs up for "Independent Study" (usually 295 or 395) in the appropriate department. Her study project would usually involve a substantial academic paper or project agreed upon by the faculty instructor and the student.

Why should I do one?
The advantages of doing an internship are significant. An internship gives you:

• the opportunity to explore a career field and gain relevant work experience.
• demonstrated expertise in a specific area of work.
• official recognition by Mount Holyoke College that your work has met the general standards for college internships, and that it has been endorsed by our faculty.
• official co-sponsorship by Mount Holyoke (to intervene on a student's behalf if necessary, and to make sure that work agreements are kept by all parties).
• job search experience.
• an edge with employers, many of whom value and expect to see internships in a student's background.

Read more about why...

How do I find an internship?
The Career Development Center (CDC) has a wealth of resources and suggestions for students to research potential internship sponsors. Some of these are:

• Counselor Assistance:
  CDC counselors are available to assist you with any part of this process. You can make an appointment at anytime or utilize drop-in counseling during the designated days and times.
• Web:
  The Web is a great place to research potential internship sites. Excellent sites are:
  • MHC Internship Connection
    MHC, along with a group of 25 select schools, has contracted to put all our internship notices in MHC Internship Connection - over 24,000 internships! Students can search among these internships by field, geographic location, salary requirements, dates available, or company name.
  • Internship-USA
    The largest internship site on the Web listing more than 2,300 organizations offering internships for college students.
• Email Announcements:
  Make sure to sign up for LyonNet in the beginning of the year. The original announcements, along with any other employer information, are housed in the employer files at the CDC for all internships submitted to Mount Holyoke.
• Internship Final Reports:
  Reading about your classmates' internships can provide you with contact information, as well as the inside scoops on specific internship sites.
• Internship Books and Notebooks:
  In the CDC Library, we house several directories of internships as well as subscriptions to internship newsletters, and collections of information, such as internships put together by the Five College Program in Culture, Health, and Science.
• Contacts:
  Of course, family, friends of family, classmates, parents, or other relatives of your MHC classmates may be able to provide potential leads for an internship. Alumnae offer valuable information about career fields and possible internships. Please utilize AlumNet through notebooks in the library and personalized reports. There is some finesse and care that must go into making these contacts. Please see a counselor or read the handout How to Research and Develop Your Internship if you have questions about using your contacts.
• Applications & Other Tools for the Internship Search:
  You are encouraged to attend CDC workshops on resumes, cover letters, and job and internship search/networking skills. See the CDC Calendar of Events:

Can you tell me what the passwords are for the internship sites?
The passwords are given to students at the beginning of the year through the Internship Email list. You will also find a plastic-covered sheet with usernames and passwords for the internships sites attached to each computer in the CDC library. In addition, you may attend an internship workshop and receive a handout with the list or you may speak with a counselor.

How do I get on the Internship Email list?
Sign up for LyonNet, which will keep you up to date about internship news. Also, see the CDC Calendar of Events for workshop dates.

What do I do if the internship I want only accepts students who receive academic credit?
If you find an interesting internship that requires students to receive academic credit, please inform the CDC. We have a standard letter that we send to organizations explaining transcript notation, which satisfies their need to make sure the internship is sanctioned by the College.

Why should I register the internship with the CDC?
One reason we require you to fill out the Registration Form and your sponsor the Confirmation Form is to make sure that all terms are in agreement and in writing. If problems arise, the CDC can intervene on your behalf with proof of a prior agreement. Registering your internship also lets us know where you are during the summer and we can send you invitations to employer and alumnae receptions, which are great networking events.

What is transcript notation and why should I get it?
Transcript notation is how Mount Holyoke College officially recognizes student internships. Upon successful completion of your internship, your internship will be noted on your transcript. Future internship employers and recruiters know right away that the internship was sanctioned by the College. To receive the transcript notation, the following criteria must be met:

• The internship involves a minimum of 240 hours of work, at least 20 hours/week, usually 30-40 hours/week, over 6-12 weeks for the summer/academic year OR a minimum of 13 days at 5-8 hours/day for January and is completed successfully. See January Internships Web page for other specific requirements.
• The internship consists of substantive and supervised work related to your academic major, minor, area of concentration, or the liberal arts experience.
• The student must develop Learning Goals for her internship and complete a Mid-Internship Report, Informational Interview, and Final Report of her experience by the designated deadline. See January Internships for specific forms.
• The sponsor writes an evaluation of the student's performance.

Why do I need to go to the internship workshops when I can read everything I need to know on the CDC Web page?
Both of our internship workshops Developing Your January and Summer Internships and Making the Most of Your Internship provide solid foundations for you to create a truly unique internship experience. The power of these workshops is the group interaction. We have students who share their stories, good and bad, on past internships and give you advice on how to make your internship successful. You may also get ideas on internships that you never considered before when you hear what other students have done or want to do.

When do you have internship workshops?
Check the CDC Calendar of Events, sign up for LyonNet and watch for email announcements, and look for upcoming workshops in the College Street Journal.