Applying with your own Internship
While most students apply to CFS to do our guided internship-search process, students are also allowed to apply with an internship already secured on their own.
How to Apply to CFS with an internship Already Secured
- Check the usual CFS student eligibility requirements.
- Complete the CFS Information Session to get a sense of the program.
- Meet with your Academic Advisor, parents/guardians, or anyone else helping you manage your progress-to-degree about your plan to enroll in CFS for a quarter.
- Apply to CFS. The application will look different from the one for students applying without an internship. Have the following information ready to submit with your application.
- Internship offer letter or other official documentation
- Internship start date and hours per week
- Contact information for your internship supervisor or other representative of the organization, such as a hiring manager
Application Periods and Acceptance Policies for Students Applying with an Internship Already Secured:
- For most quarters, CFS will accept applications from students applying with internship after the regular application period and until close to the start of the quarter. Pay close attention to the Application Periods page for quarterly updates about deadlines and field/course openings.
- CFS does not guarantee acceptance simply because you’ve applied with an internship.
- Additionally, CFS reserves the right to prioritize acceptance for students applying without internships during the regular application period.
- To have a better chance of getting accepted into the program and your desired course, you should apply as early as possible for the quarter that interests you.
- Acceptance may depend, in part, on which courses have room.
- Note: Do not assume that there is room in a CFS course simply because it looks that way in CAESAR. (The program reserves course spaces for students going through the CFS internship-search process who then register once they have internships.)
- A CFS Advisor must confirm your internship and CFS enrollment plan with your internship supervisor, hiring manager, or other appropriate representative of the internship before CFS can send you a permission number for the course.
Internship Guidelines for Students Applying with an Internship Already Secured:
- CFS can work with almost any employer that is ready to provide:
- a substantive guided internship
- a professional working environment and/or relationship
- the flexibility to let you prioritize your academic commitments, including the CFS course
- timely communication with the CFS team as needed
- Internships in Northwestern research labs may be viable options for CFS, depending on the arrangement and supervision as determined by CFS administration.
- Example of a viable NU research lab internship: a Feinberg lab where the supervisor understands and supports the student’s role in the lab as an intern and provides meaningful opportunities and guidance for the student.
- In rare cases, a student’s own start-up or organization may be a viable internship option for CFS, depending on the arrangement and supervision as determined by CFS administration.
- Example of a viable student start-up internship: the student works under the regular supervision and close guidance of a professional in their organization or an advisor at the NU Garage, and the student maintains regular weekly hours and a structured work plan as part of the internship agreement.