Experiential Education Office helps you get an internship
Jenn Tuifel
Issue date: 2/26/10 Section: College Life
An internship, as defined by the Experiential Education Office, is "a structured educational work experience, a form of experiential education. The work is conducted in a specific organization setting, may be part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid and may consist of special activities or is part of a regular job. It is planned in cooperation with the Internship Coordinator from the Internship Program Office, a SUNY Potsdam faculty member and an on-site work supervisor. It receives academic credit, and it is graded by the faculty supervisor."
There are some common misconceptions about internships. It is absolutely not an easy grade. An internship, like any other encounter in college, is something to be taken seriously and requires hard work. It is not a "time-out" either. Time set aside for an internship should be used for just that. Also, internships should not be looked at as a safe bet for a future job. Great networking can come out of internships. They allow students to take a close look into the field in which they might be entering upon graduation. In order to enroll for an internship, a few standards must be met. You must be in either junior or senior standing, and have completed at least twelve credit hours here at SUNY Potsdam. A minimum GPA of 2.5 must be maintained. All required paperwork must be filled out to prepare for the internship. Some departments need more paperwork so make sure you are clear on what is needed.
This learning opportunity should not be taken for granted. An internship experience is encouraged for students. In fact, over 35% of entry level jobs are awarded to students with experience. Obtaining an internship can set you aside from people competing for jobs. It is your responsibility to find internship positions but lucky for you, they are everywhere. The first step in the enrollment process is actually researching opportunities. The bulletin board by the Experiential Education Office has a lot of information for students looking for internships. Also, directories such as the yellow pages or employment offices could be of use for students. Lastly, speak with faculty in your department to gain more insight about available positions.
There are some common misconceptions about internships. It is absolutely not an easy grade. An internship, like any other encounter in college, is something to be taken seriously and requires hard work. It is not a "time-out" either. Time set aside for an internship should be used for just that. Also, internships should not be looked at as a safe bet for a future job. Great networking can come out of internships. They allow students to take a close look into the field in which they might be entering upon graduation. In order to enroll for an internship, a few standards must be met. You must be in either junior or senior standing, and have completed at least twelve credit hours here at SUNY Potsdam. A minimum GPA of 2.5 must be maintained. All required paperwork must be filled out to prepare for the internship. Some departments need more paperwork so make sure you are clear on what is needed.
This learning opportunity should not be taken for granted. An internship experience is encouraged for students. In fact, over 35% of entry level jobs are awarded to students with experience. Obtaining an internship can set you aside from people competing for jobs. It is your responsibility to find internship positions but lucky for you, they are everywhere. The first step in the enrollment process is actually researching opportunities. The bulletin board by the Experiential Education Office has a lot of information for students looking for internships. Also, directories such as the yellow pages or employment offices could be of use for students. Lastly, speak with faculty in your department to gain more insight about available positions.
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