<p>I know many of you in the next 2 weeks will be receiving notification from UMDCP of acceptances, so to get ahead of the game I thought I would post about internships at UMD.</p>
<p>DS is in Scholars, GOVT and Politics, It is required that you do an internship your SOPH yr, if you do it Fresh., it does not count. It is your responsibility to apply for one, and work your schedule to fit it into your semester. DS will be working 20 hrs a week on the hill until May 22nd on top of carrying his 19 credits. You may opt to not do an internship, but will be required to write a 25 page paper. 25 pages might seem like nothing, but in the end of the day it is not an easy thing to do while you are in school. Many kids who elect this option, do it over winter break and spend the semester cleaning it up for submission. Some elect this method because internships may start while you will be on break, and due to the fact that the dorms are closed, it is physically impossible to commute. For example, Congressional internships started yesterday, which may cause a problem for OOS students. </p>
<p>It is important to realize that it will come up on you quickly, and to keep that internship in sight as you plot out your academic career. Also, if you want to do it in your fall semester of Soph yr, the process will start in Feb. of your freshman yr. For Soph Spring it starts in Sept. </p>
<p>I hope others who have had experience with the interning process adds onto this thread from their personal experience so we can assist the future Terps on how the process works.</p>
<p>Not all programs require internships. The Govt. + Politics LEP Maor does for various reasons, and as do some of the many humanities/social sciences majors. But not all majors REQUIRE an internship/paper (a senior thesis, maybe). Just my two-bits… I know UMD has a lot of oppts. It will be a very hard decision if I got into this school and had o choose w/ other great schools… oh, well.</p>
<p>Just to clarify, a lot of College Park Scholars require internships sophomore year. These are not for our majors, but for the Scholars citation. However, like mentioned, a lot of the scholars programs offer alternatives like a 25 page paper or a easy 2 credit colloquium. But it is something to keep in mind at the end of your freshman year to get a head start with the search. And something a lot of people forget for internships, ASK YOUR PROFESSORS! Most of your professors in your major’s department are constantly doing research and would probably love to have an undergrad assistant work for them on their projects. Just remember that tidbit as you’re filling out these applications for these huge nationwide internship programs not to overlook possible job opportunities right on campus! It’s how I got my current job! Read up on your prof’s site on their research topics and if it interests you at all, just go ahead and contact them.</p>
<p>Regardless of whether your major or the program you are in requires an internship, it has got to be one of the best things you can do in college in preparation for entering the “real world” or graduate school after you get your UG degree. UMD has so many research and internship opportunities, both on campus and in the metro DC area for, probably moreso than most any other public university…it just takes initiative on your part.</p>
<p>One place you can get started is via job opportunities on campus, as orchdork points out; realizing that these may be paid or unpaid internships. D1 did an unpaid internship for a prof in a major outside of hers (designing an educational website that he had started) during the second semester of her freshman year. She also went to class, studied-crazy and has the grades to show for it…Also, beginning her freshman year first semester, she got to know her professors and academic advisor, which were instrumental in getting her foot in the door at NASA, one of the reasons she chose UMD in the first place. She worked there throughout her sophomore year, and was awarded one of the USRP internships there last summer. One of her closest friends also works there, by way of working for a consultant company that contracts to NASA. D took last semester off from NASA and was a TA for 2 classes, which was a great experience, but she’s returning to work for the scientist she worked for before at NASA in the spring. </p>
<p>My point is, if you have the drive and inclination to want to do it, and have the backing of a couple of key faculty members who can support you by writing recommendations, etc. there are LOTS of opportunities (and many of them also consult to some of the major employers/agencies in the DC area as well). </p>
<p>Her sister is excited about the opportunities she has ahead of her, via either her Environmental Policies or Science majors, but first she’ll be working in the Orientation office next summer on campus. She became involved in the CP Scholars ambassador program very soon into the semester last fall, and has been at several informational/PR sessions with high school seniors already this year. Again, great grades and good rapport with her profs and other people in the Scholars program helped here too.</p>
<p>There’s some old saying about how people who work the hardest seeming to have “all the luck”. That’s certainly true…it’s amazing how many more doors are open to you with a great work ethic and the grades to prove it.</p>
<p>When we went to the Architecture Open House last Spring, our student guide told us that in Architecture they are having difficulty getting internships because of the economy. The unpaid internships that would normally go to undergrad Arch students were going to unemployed certified architects who were trying to stay busy in the field, network and enhance their resumes.</p>
<p>This is also true in the Gov/Pol field. DS is the only college student that is interning, the rest are college grads. His roommate who is also in Scholars was unable to get an internship, thus he will be writing the paper. Unfortunately for him, he interned for a Senator Spring Freshman yr and it will not count.</p>
<p>For Govt and Politics, they are required to do the colloquium for every semester. It is held weekly and they do write papers for the class. The course is a 1 credit class.</p>
<p>Everyone has given great advice regarding why to do an internship, if you are required to do one, and options. That was my hope, for this to be a thread that future Terps could bookmark and get ahead of the game</p>