<p>How common is it? I've heard that it's pretty hard for freshmen to get summer internships by default, so I'm wondering if it's worth it to stress out about it? Sadly enough, this first semester I didn't really get involved in any extracurriculars; this happened due to a combination of stress from my 18-credit course load, not really finding a club I particularly clicked with, and some laziness on my part (haha). So my "resume" is pretty shabby as of now. Add to this the fact that I am very Undecided career-wise, and finding the right internship seems like a pretty daunting prospect. So any advice? Would it be better to start applying for internships during my sophomore year, after I've gotten more involved, attended career workshops, and figured out my interests? Or would it better to start applying now? And is this kind of situation normal or am I behind? (lol maybe you can see the anxiety peeking through)</p>
<p>Any advice would be really appreciated :) (for example, any suggestions for what a freshman could do during the summer, if not an internship?)</p>
<p>Which college are you in? I know for hotel school they have a career office whose job is basically looking for jobs for students. They have internship workshops etc. Maybe other colleges also have that kind of a office. You should talk to your advisor.</p>
<p>Definitely apply - there’s a host of internships available to college students at Cornell - internships on and off campus, paid and unpaid. Before classes start, do some research by checking out all the internship lists at Cornell and elsewhere. USA Jobs has a list of some summer internships. The Conservation Corp has internships. Most state agencies have internships as well as hospitals, museums, and other institutions and businesses. Best of luck - you’re at the age when “the sky’s the limit” with respect to possibility and opportunity - go for it!</p>
<p>S and D used Craigslist last summer with great success. It helps if you are in a major metro area though.
D applied for a lot through the career center at Cornell when she was a rising soph to no avail. But she’s trying again this summer.</p>
<p>At my interview before I was accepted to Cornell this year, my interviewer told me that CALS also has a career office that does the same thing. I think it would be safe to assume that all the colleges have programs of the sort that help you scout out internships and jobs.</p>
<p>it’s really difficult to get a “name-brand” internship as a freshmen unless you have really good connections. otherwise, look for local internships and use your career centers. I didn’t have a “real” internship as a freshmen and I’m still fine.</p>
<p>It’s perfectly ok if you aren’t sure career-wise what you want to do, but when you look for jobs you have to be able to demonstrate interest. What type of jobs are you interested in? What do you want to get out of an internship (besides money)? What kinds of skills, coursework, or experiences do you have that might be of value during your internship? You’ll want to be able to communicate these clearly in your cover letters and interviews. I would pick a few careers that interest you (you don’t have to be in love with anything yet) and narrow your search from there.
Are you majoring in a field that involves a lot of research? Finding opportunities with professors in your department or through Reseach Experience for Undergraduates is a solid alternative to doing a “name-brand” internship with a company. It’s not for everyone, but it will give you good experience and skills to put on your resume. It’ll also help you decide whether or not you want to go to grad school.</p>
<p>Otherwise, some of the posters above have given some good advice. One thing I can add that may or may not apply to you is the DYO program. If you qualify for Federal Work-Study you can get some funding from Cornell. They basically cover a part of your summer wages, making you more attractive to employers:
[Develop</a> Your Own Summer Internship](<a href=“Career Services | Student & Campus Life | Cornell University”>Career Services | Student & Campus Life | Cornell University)</p>
<p>My freshman year I got an unpaid research assistant position, but was able to convince my professor to pay for me. </p>
<p>Even if it feels a little daunting, I think you should still apply to some internships. Having valuable work experience on your resume and being able to talk about them during interviews will help you a lot when you’re looking for internships next year or the year after. At the very least you’ll be better prepared for next year after having gone through the process once before.</p>
<p>Thank you so much everyone, for taking the time to give some advice. And I guess I should have mentioned in my first post that I’m in Arts & Sciences, currently leaning towards Biology and/or Government (but still pretty unsure). </p>
<p>If I try to get some on-campus Biology research experience, and then, say, apply for a local law-related summer internship, would that be viewed as inconsistency? Or would it just be seen as me trying to figure out what I like?</p>
<p>I don’t think it’ll be viewed negatively at all especially since you’re still an underclassman. If you’re getting valuable experience and skills under your belt you’re doing well.</p>