THE 2023 SEF APPLICATIONs Opens February 1st!
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of awards are offered within SEF?
There are many different award opportunities that fall under the Summer Experience Fund umbrella. In addition to the larger fund that covers all areas of interests and majors, there are a few specific awards:
- The Career Development Center Summer Opportunity Grant
- SEE Beyond Award
- Elizabeth M. Glotzbach Film Industry Award
- Environmental Studies and Sciences Award
- Gaier Family Award for Disability Studies and Services
- Gilbert Family Endowed Arts Administration Award
- Haley Entrepreneurial Artist Apprenticeship Award
- Jennifer Landers '90 Award
- Ken Freirich ’90 Social Entrepreneurship Award
- Levine Award in American Government, Politics & Law
- MDOCS Award
- McAdams Family Service Award
- Reese Robinson '18 Endowed Award
- SGA’s Responsible Citizen Award for Volunteer & Community Service
- Thorne Family Award
- Visual Arts Entrepreneurship Award
Who is eligible to apply for SEF awards?
First-years, sophomores, and juniors must be currently enrolled in classes during the 2023 spring semester, will enroll in the 2023 fall semester and must be in good standing with Skidmore College.
Can I apply if I’ve received an SEF award in the past?
If current sophomores or juniors received a grant in a previous year, they can submit an application for the second time! First-time applicants will be given first priority, and then students applying for the grant a second time.
Am I required to apply separately to every SEF award for which I am eligible?
There are two applications for summer funding:
- Career Development Center Summer Opportunities Grant and named awards.
- SEE-Beyond Award and named awards.
You can apply to both and select all awards for which you meet the eligibility criteria.
See timeline section below for details on both application deadlines.
Am I required to have financial need in order to apply?
The Career Development Center Summer Opportunity Award is based on financial need.
SEE Beyond Awards and some of our named awards do not conisder financial need.
Is there a minimum number of hours I need to complete over the summer to qualify?
Students must obtain a full-time summer internship (35-40 hours per week) for at least
8 weeks. Students with confirmed full-time on-location and remote summer internships will
be considered.
An applicant cannot use multiple internship offers to meet the duration and hourly requirements.
Due to the nature of SEE-Beyond awards, this requirement may differ depending on the opportunity. For questions, please contact Marla Melito.
Is it possible to receive multiple awards?
No. If you receive any funding from any other Skidmore College Academic Departments/Programs or Administrative Offices including grants, scholarships, stipends, weekly pay in the summer of 2023 you are not eligible to receive a grant in 2023.
Does my summer experience need to be unpaid in order to qualify for funding?
You are not receiving payment from the organization resulting in more than $2000 in the summer of 2023.
Do I need to receive academic credit for the experience?
No, it is not necessary to receive academic credit for an SEF experience. However, students interested in receiving credit for their summer internship can access the Internship Credit Proposal Form online or inquire directly with the Office of Academic Advising.
Are international students eligible to apply?
Yes, but international students should check with an International Student and Scholar
Advisor in the
Office of Student Academic Services before applying to identify any requirements they need to meet to qualify for awards.
In addition, international students should be aware that awards are subject to federal
taxes, which the College is required to deduct prior to awarding the funds.
What if my experience is outside of the U.S.?
You can apply for funding however, you must review the College's policy on Risk Assessment for Student's International Travel for 2022-2023 Academic Year.
How will I know if the experience I am applying for meets the criteria to receive an award?
The SEF application contains two short essay questions, which will determine if the experience meets eligibility standards. In addition to the number of hours that will be completed, eligibility is determined by how well the experience will:
- Support your career and/or academic goals
- Provide you with skills and experience that will enhance your post-graduation opportunities
- Expose you to the specific discipline or industry you are seeking to enter
Students must have someone who has agreed to serve as their supervisor, for an experience to qualify for an award. This person will be asked to verify the student's role, progress toward completing their hours midway through the summer, and completion of all hours at the end of the summer. For students doing an independent project, this person can be a Skidmore faculty or staff member. This person cannot be a family member.
Federal law requires payment of interns unless the internship satisfies criteria outlined by the U.S. Department of Labor. Skidmore College cannot determine whether any internship satisfies the Department of Labor criteria. To help ensure that Skidmore students are provided with beneficial internships, Skidmore requires all employers participating in the program to certify that they have reviewed and will abide by the Department of Labor criteria established in the FLSA.
Are there resources available to help me search for possible summer experiences?
Yes! In addition to speaking with your faculty and academic advisors about summer opportunities, the Career Development Center has many resources to assist you in your search:
- Handshake is Skidmore’s internship and job database featuring several thousand current internships/research/volunteer experiences in all disciplines throughout the US and abroad.
- CEI Internships offer internship opportunities by industry and employer information through one easy search.
- Gale Research Centers Directory is a comprehensive guide to North America’s premier nonprofit research organizations. Information on each organization includes programs, staffing, and publications, as well as services of centers, laboratories, institutes, experiment stations, farms, research support facilities, technology transfer centers, think tanks, incubators, research parks, and more.
When is the best time to begin searching for opportunities?
It is never too early to start searching! While there may be summer opportunities that are not yet posted, you should be researching, networking, and applying as soon as an opportunity of interest is listed.
Is there someone who can help me with my search?
Yes, you can speak with a Career Advisor in the Career Development Center who can help you search for and connect with opportunities, while ensuring that your resume and cover letters are prepared professionally. You can schedule a virtual appointment using Handshake.
Applications open: February 1st at noon
The Career Development Center Summer Opportunity Grant Rolling Deadlines:
- March 3rd at 12:00 pm
- April 13rd at 12:00 am
SEE Beyond Deadline:
- April 3rd at 12:00 pm
Do I need to have secured my internship/opportunity by the time I apply?
Yes. Opportunities must be secured and you will need demonstrate proof upon application submission.
How should I prepare to complete the online application?
- Research and apply to opportunities ahead of time
- Before applying have your experience secured and be prepared to give the following
information:
- Name of organization
- Organization website
- Address of organization
- Name of supervisor
- Supervisor email
- Supervisor phone number
- Supervisor job title
- Start and end date
- After submitting your application be prepared to upload your answers to the following
two essay questions:
Essay 1: In 250 words or less, describe your responsibilities and how your proposed summer experience relates to your post-graduation goal.
Essay 2: In 250 words or less, describe the skills you will gain from your proposed summer experience. Common skills include: communication, critical thinking, equity & inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork, career & self-development, and technology. For definitions of these competencies and examples, please review the following:
NACE Career Readiness Competencies guide - After submitting your application be prepared to upload the Employer Verification Form
Note: Please see Application page for detailed instructions on how and where to upload forms.