Externships at Cornell are short-term (generally one day to one week), offer no pay or academic credit, and are hosted by alumni volunteers to help fellow Cornellians gain an insider's view of a career field. The goal of Externships is career exploration as opposed to work experience. Externs are selected and matched by the Extern office. Internships are longer term (from several weeks to a year), may involve pay or academic credit, and support an organization's work function. Interns are selected and hired by the organization.

Approximately 40% of externships are for one-day. One-day externships typically involve shadowing the sponsor through a normal day's activities and may include information interviews with colleagues, a tour of the facility, etc. Another 5% of externships are information meetins (in-person or by phone). Externships lasting more than one day often involve a short project. Extern sponsors will expect you to explain on your application what questions you have and which activities would be beneficial to you.

The Cornell Extern Program over Winter Break is open to fully matriculated sophomores, juniors, and seniors from all undergraduate colleges who have an up-to-date career profile on CornellTRAK. Cornell students who are abroad or participating in an off-campus program such as Cornell-in -Washington or Urban Semester are eligible to apply. Special students who are visiting Cornell for a semester or a year, but not earning a Cornell degree are not eligible. The FRESH Program, externships for freshmen only, takes place during Spring Break.

The Extern Program was intitiated for career exploration and was not designed to find the "best" candidate for a placement. However, since there are limited externships available in some career fields, some students will not be placed in an externship. Approximately 85% of students who apply for an externship will be placed in one of their four choices. Your chances are dependent on the number of applicants to each of your externship choices. (See Determining Placements) Applicants who do not receive an externship one year will be given preference the following year.

No. If the externship says that it is not available in December, then the sponsor has specifically notified us that they are either unavailable or that December would be a poor time for an extern due to limited activity, vacations, etc.

No. Alumni have agreed to help in a certain way and for a certain length of time. Many deal daily with confidentiality or cannot have students participate in part of their responsibilities--a brain surgeon would be a good example. Others feel that you should stay at the location for several days to get adequate exposure. Only sponsors who specify "flexible" as their externship length or range such as 2-5 days are open to individual negotiation regarding length of the visit.

No. They agree to help students in a certain way. You are making a choice to participate in this career exporation program. Alumni sponsors are not expected to arrange their schedule around your winter vacation plans; rather, you are expected to fit into their availability.

No. This is all arranged by and paid for by you. However, sponsors may give you advice on reasonable accommodations or which bus or train line operates near their workplace.

Info Interview Only means that the sponsor is unable to host the student at his/her worksite, but would like to still meet a student for lunch/dinner or schedule a phone information interview. An Info Interview Only is usually selected by the sponsor due to a highly confidential work environment, work travel schedule, heightened security, an employer who does not allow visitors at the worksite, or a retired alumnus who has a wealth of knowledge to share.

The Cornell Extern Program is an alumni-based program; approximately 99% of sponsors are Cornellians; therefore, our pool of externships is only as large as the number of volunteers. While other universities utilize corporate sponsors instead of alumni, we believe that alumni have a vested interest in ensuring a rewarding experience for students.

Requirements and preferences are stipulated by the sponsor and give us a direction for matching students as well as give you an idea of what kind of student the sponsor feels would benefit most from the experience.

College/Major/Class Requirements: you must fill that condition in order to apply.

College/Major/Class Preferences: All students are welcome to apply, however, students who meet the sponsor's preferences, may be more likely to get the externship than those who do not meet the preferences.

Other Requirements or Preferences: These are requirements or preferences that the sponsor requests but are not as easy to categorize because they are generally not as objective. If there is an other requirements or other preferences section in the listing, you must respond to how you do or do not meet the other requirement or other preference when you complete the on-line application for that specific externship. 

Note Regarding Other Requirements and Other Preferences Response Online: Just stating as fact that meet the criteria is not acceptable. It is very important to use examples and details to explain how you specifically meet the sponsor's other requirements or other preferences. For example, if an other requirement is for the extern to wear business attire and have a vehicle, an appropriate response would be, "I understand and am willing to wear the required business attire. I don't have a vehicle, however I am willing to rent a vehicle at my own cost for the duration of the externship."

No. If you apply for a given externship but do not meet the requirements, the computer will not allow you to enter that externship listing as one of your choices.

Placements are determined by the Extern Program—not by the sponsor—except in cases noted where the sponsor prescreens resumes. The overall goal of the Cornell Extern Program is to extend the opportunity for career-related work experience to as many students as possible. See Determining Placements and Important Dates for details.

If you are not assigned an externship in Round 1, you may reapply in Round 2. Your Round 2 application will have priority over those who did not apply in Round 1. After Round 2, visit us during the open sign-up period, November 9, or try developing an externship of your own. Use your network—the family doctor; your roommate's mother; a former teacher—to identify individuals who may be willing to have you shadow them for a day. Many professionals will take great satisfaction in sharing their expertise if asked.

After Round 2 is completed, all open externships are available to eligible students who meet the listing's requirements. During the open sign-up period, November 9, 2007, students review the open list at 203 Barnes (NOT on the web), 12:00—7:00 pm. You select an open externship, read and sign the participation agreement. We will limit the number of applications for each externship to three students, and the listing will be held until noon on Sunday, November 11. In this time, you are expected to submit create or update (after July 1, 2007) your CornellTRAK profile, complete the Step 1 application, and email your Step 2 introduction essays and a resume to externprograms@cornell.edu.
NOTE: By signing-up for an open round externship, you are making a commitment to complete the application and follow-through with the externship. Failing to do so would jeopardize your future eligibility for the program.

If you are assigned an externship, you must attend one of the two orientation meetings listed on the flyer, November 14 or 19, 2007. At that time, we will give you an extensive list of guidelines and the sponsor contact sheet. Sponsors are sent your materials in mid-November and you are expected to make the initial contact between November 26-30, 2007. You make all the final arrangements with your sponsor, such as when to go, what the externship may involve, etc.
NOTE: Sometimes the final visit date will not be confirmed until closer to the potential externship dates, depending on the sponsor's schedule (i.e. when certain meetings or other activities are confirmed).