Below you will find some of the most commonly asked questions about the Princeternship program. If you have any questions not covered here, come to our drop-in hours or email Micaela Ortiz, associate director of alumni engagement & experiential learning.
Common Princeternship Questions
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What is the difference between a Princeternship and an internship?
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Princeternships are short-term, without pay and are hosted by alumni to help you get the feel of a specific career field. Princeternships are meant to serve as opportunities for learning, mentorship and growth in which you can ask questions, develop professional skills and seek out advice and insights from alumni about their work. Internships are longer, may involve pay and center on you providing a work function to support the organization.
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How will a Princeternship help me?
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You will gain insight into an alum’s day-to-day work. Your experience might include meetings, informational discussions with various divisions, tours of the organization, general observation of business proceedings and potentially the opportunity to work on a project. This will give you the opportunity to:
- Get exposure to a career of interest and use the experience to inform your next steps
- Learn about the personal and professional journeys of alumni and potentially their coworker(s)
- Observe the day-to-day work of alumni, as well as their work environment and workplace culture
- Practice common skills (e.g. effective communication, presentation, preparation for meetings, etc.) that are foundational to professional success as well as skills specific to a particular career/industry
- Connect directly with your alum host who can serve as an excellent resource for career, job and internship advice
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Which career fields or industries are represented?
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Princeternships cover a wide range of industries and career fields. Past opportunities have included opportunities in journalism/communications, marketing/public relations, architecture, business, engineering, law, education, arts/entertainment, government/public policy, medicine and nonprofit/public service. Available opportunities vary from session to session and are based on alumni availability.
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Who is eligible to apply for Princeternships?
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Princeternships are open to undergraduate students.
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How do I apply?
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You can apply through Handshake. You need to complete the application questions, which include open-ended responses about your interest in the Princeternship program and your preferred site(s), and upload your resume.
If selected as a potential candidate by our staff, your application will be forwarded to an alum host for final review and selection in November. Alumni hosts may conduct virtual interviews or follow up with further questions. If an alum host accepts your application, you will receive an email in late November from our staff with further instructions.
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Do I need work experience in order to participate?
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You are not expected to have prior work experience, since Princeternships are designed to introduce you to fields and careers that may be of interest. In your application, you should be able to express your particular interest in the fields or Princeternship sites to which you apply, as well as your ability to maximize this opportunity.
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What are my responsibilities during a Princeternship?
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If you accept a Princeternship, you will be expected to attend an orientation session, at which time you will be asked to sign a statement of commitment. After your Princeternship, you will submit a reflection about your experience to the Center for Career Development.
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Am I responsible for transportation or other expenses?
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Students participating in the Winter 2024-25 Princeternship program are responsible for all expenses associated with the experience. These expenses could include transportation, meal costs, lodging or any additional expense in relation to Princeternship. Princeternship opportunities will have varying costs, depending on their format (in-person or virtual) and their location (for in-person opportunities). Students should also note closing dates for dormitories on Princeton's campus if hoping to use on-campus housing for lodging during Princeternships.
NOTE: Students who qualify for full financial aid from the university with no familial contribution and/or who are current members of SIFP are able to apply for supportive funding through the Emma Bloomberg Center. Funding is to help offset the cost of travel and lodging of in-person Princeternships only that take place more than 50 miles from campus for travel and more than 75 miles to qualify for lodging. Please note that funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Funding is NOT available for virtual Princeternships.
For more information regarding Princeternship Winter Funding, please visit the Emma Bloomberg Center's website.