<p>There has been some discussion in the thread about whether the tri-mester system and long winter break discourages students from finding internships and companies from hiring. Briefly my opinion… No company or research lab is going to care about Carleton Student’s availability over the summer. Students will be hired if they’re qualified and have the connections. Every place I’ve worked have accommodated students schedules during internships. This is my experience based on working in multiple companies and a research lab at a major university. Some of the posters may blame the students inability to find an internship on the “timing”, but it may be more likely Carleton could do a better job placing their students in internships…I’m not sure. When I was at Carleton I was able to get a nice internship at a National Lab after my junior year.</p>
<p>When I was at Carleton, there was a big faculty push to get rid of the tri-mester system. I have always thought students and parents would be crazy to let this happen. The tri-mester system puts more stress on the faculty, but I believe the students get a better education because of it.</p>
<p>As for Winter break…opportunities are available. I was able to work in a lab at Carleton over one of the winter breaks.</p>
<p>As someone who works in business and has had interns in my departments over the years (at several different companies), we have never had interns just for this window. Lots of people are gone, and I bet there is only 3 weeks of meaningful work done between Thanksgiving and the end of the first week of January by any company. Whatever you get as an “internship” in that window could barely be meaningful. If I saw an internship on someone’s resume with those dates (not Carleton specific, but any college student), I would assume that it was a very, very limited experience. A summer or semester internship is a different story because that typically extends to at least 8 weeks, and often longer, but I think it is highly unlikely that any student can take much that is meaningful out of a “winter break” internship. I think colleges talk this idea up as a selling point of a longer winter break, but the actual frequency and value of it is very limited.</p>
<p>Jack63, I can see how someone might get some lab experience in that window (someone has to feed the rats every day and measure whatever). But I would not consider a lab experience as an “internship”.</p>
<p>I am certainly glad to hear that many employers are okay with late dates for getting out of school. But… I do wonder if occasionally people don’t get internships because of their availability dates, and they never know the reason. We never tell people why we don’t hire them.</p>
<p>Intparent, I hope Carleton is not doing this “talking up its Winter break as a time to find internships”. I agree starting an internship from scratch is not realistic. It was always a dilemma what to do with this period of time at Carleton for me. </p>
<p>However, as a junior or senior there are opportunities on Campus. They need to be continuation of something you already have experience with or have been working on. This could be a job on campus, helping with research, helping a prof. prepare for a class, etc. If it is this type of continuation of some work, it can be a meaningful experience. The one winter break I stayed there, I remember there were quite a few students sticking around Carleton for the Winter break. I even had a good time as I remember…</p>
<p>I’ve heard winter break talked up in terms of the potential for seasonal employment, but not so much for internships. Students still do internships for winter break, but I think the Career Center tends to emphasize its sponsored externships and Scholar trips in its advertising, and both of those are shorter-term opportunities. Staying on campus for at least part of break to do research or work for profs/departments is relatively common, especially for older students and internationals. One of my friends is doing some pretty extensive job shadowing with a couple of physicians at a hospital.</p>
<p>Today’s weather and news reports remind me of another thing I like about the trimester system – no airport panic about getting home in a tight window for Christmas.</p>
<p>Another good point, Pootie. I liked never having to worry about whether we could afford to fly ds home for just a few days in November knowing he’d be back in a couple of weeks. Now, when he flies home for Thanksgiving, he’s home for six weeks.</p>
<p>I am one happy mom. My son got into Carleton Class of 2108 as an ED1 applicant. I am so excited. It is a great school and admissions, coaches, were more kind than I ever thought possible. I am thrilled that my son is going there!</p>
<p>I am a Carl mom and my kid was able to get an internship last year in his specific area of interest. His advisor was very helpful when he was seeking a position in a very limited field. His experiences so far (he is a junior) have been extraordinary.</p>
But I would not consider a lab experience as an “internship”.</p>