Spring Break
Grants for unpaid internships available
by Rachel Marder
Senior Editor
News | 11/13/07
Posted online at 9:15 PM EST on 11/12/07
/ Last updated at 1:03 PM EST on 11/12/07
Stipends for students working in unpaid internships this summer are now available through the Hiatt Career Center, the University announced last Thursday. Fifty rising juniors and seniors selected by Hiatt are eligible to receive $3,500 each to cover living expenses.
The $175,000 grant comes from the University President's office, Hiatt Director Joseph DuPont said. The deadline to apply for the grant is Feb. 15.
The internship may be in any field, and Hiatt counselors said they hope students will be daring and creative in their choices.
DuPont said this program should ease some of the financial barriers students face when deciding between paid and unpaid summer positions.
"There are many students who can't or feel like they can't follow their true passion because they have some real practical limitations in terms of having to raise money over the summer, and so by creating this program we're hoping to alleviate a lot of those burdens," DuPont said.
Between 60 and 70 percent of internships Brandeis students participate in are unpaid, Rusmir Music, Hiatt's assistant director of experiential programs, said. "They may sacrifice getting skills for just getting paid at a job that may not be propelling them toward their career," Music said.
For years students have expressed concern over securing internships, and counselors said this is one step among many they plan to take to address this issue.
While the application process is still being worked out, Hiatt counselors said applicants must already have an internship--which can be anywhere in the world--in place when they apply. Applicants must be able to articulate what they're looking to learn through their internship, Music said.
Like student fellows at the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, upon their return from summer, selected students will present their experiences to the Brandeis community.
Alex Wilson '08, a student advisor at Hiatt, said Hiatt is anticipating a large and competitive applicant pool.
The $175,000 grant comes from the University President's office, Hiatt Director Joseph DuPont said. The deadline to apply for the grant is Feb. 15.
The internship may be in any field, and Hiatt counselors said they hope students will be daring and creative in their choices.
DuPont said this program should ease some of the financial barriers students face when deciding between paid and unpaid summer positions.
"There are many students who can't or feel like they can't follow their true passion because they have some real practical limitations in terms of having to raise money over the summer, and so by creating this program we're hoping to alleviate a lot of those burdens," DuPont said.
Between 60 and 70 percent of internships Brandeis students participate in are unpaid, Rusmir Music, Hiatt's assistant director of experiential programs, said. "They may sacrifice getting skills for just getting paid at a job that may not be propelling them toward their career," Music said.
For years students have expressed concern over securing internships, and counselors said this is one step among many they plan to take to address this issue.
While the application process is still being worked out, Hiatt counselors said applicants must already have an internship--which can be anywhere in the world--in place when they apply. Applicants must be able to articulate what they're looking to learn through their internship, Music said.
Like student fellows at the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, upon their return from summer, selected students will present their experiences to the Brandeis community.
Alex Wilson '08, a student advisor at Hiatt, said Hiatt is anticipating a large and competitive applicant pool.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Disgruntled senior
posted 11/13/07 @ 1:51 PM EST
Oooh, they finally got it done. This would have been nice a year ago. Seniors are screwed yet again.
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