Bryn Mawr College

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

 

The following information pertains to Dean's Office Summer Funding. Please contact specific Centers and Departments for information regarding their funding programs.

For information regarding eligibility and selection criteria, please consult the FAQs below. For questions about completing your application, please consult Tips for Applying.

 

• What kind of internships are eligible to be funded?
• Do I have to have an summer internship in hand to apply for funding?
• I have an unpaid summer internship set up already. Can I apply for funding?
• I’ve already received funding from Bryn Mawr for summer research or an internship. Am I eligible for funding for a second year?
• I’d like to do an internship through a program that charges fees. Can I use my summer funding to pay these fees?
• My internship site offers compensation. Can I still apply for summer funding?
• If I receive summer funding, can I have a paying job in addition to my unpaid internship?
• I’ve received funding for an internship, but have decided to accept a different internship. Am I still eligible for the funding?
• I’ve received summer funding, but I am going to transfer from Bryn Mawr College the following fall. Am I still eligible for the funding?
• I’m a Haverford student. Am I eligible for any summer funding through Bryn Mawr?
• Are summer funding awards competitive?
• What are the selection criteria for summer funding through the Dean’s Office?

 

What kind of internships are eligible to be funded?

Funding is available for unpaid internships that involve at least 30 hours of work a week for 8-10 weeks. Placements may be in a variety of sectors, including non-profit, public service, business, publishing, journalism, museums, and so forth. The key requirement is that the internship provide the student meaningful work experience that can contribute to her academic, career, and/or personal interests.

 

Do I have to have an summer internship in hand to apply for funding?

No, you don't. In your application, you will include your internship proposal. Your proposal should explain the internship(s) you have applied for, why you want to explore a particular sector, what you hope to get out of your experience, and how it will advance your academic, professional, and/or personal interests. You should also include what steps you will take to secure the internship.

 

I have an unpaid summer internship set up already. Can I apply for funding?

Absolutely! Complete the Deans's Summer Funding Application with details of your arranged internship. In your internship proposal, explain why you want to explore a particular sector and what you hope to get out of your internship experience. Then, in addition to completing all the required forms for the application, have your internship sponsor complete the Sponsor Confirmation Form.

 

I’ve already received funding from Bryn Mawr for summer research or an internship. Am I eligible for funding for a second year?

In general, each student may only receive internship funding ONCE during her time at Bryn Mawr. Exceptions include the following:

• Alumnae Regional Scholars and previous recipients of the Projects for Peace grant are eligible to receive internship funding for a second summer through a different fund.
• A student may receive funding for summer research one summer (e.g. Hanna Holborn Gray Grant, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, Science Dept. Research) and for a summer internship another summer.
• If there is an exceptionally strong applicant, a student may receive internship funding for a second year. Determination of this possibility will also depend on the number of applications received that year.

 

I’d like to do an internship through a program that charges fees. Can I use my summer funding to pay these fees?

Generally, the Dean’s Office Summer Funding does not provide funds for fees or tuition for fee-based internship programs, UNLESS the fee is meant to cover travel and housing costs. In other words, we do not fund administrative costs of fee-based programs. An exception may be made in a situation where the best or only opportunities are available through a fee-based program.

 

My internship site offers some amount of compensation. Can I still apply for summer funding?

If a student is to receive ANY funding through her internship placement, she MUST state this on their applicationin accordance with the policies of the Honor Code. She will be eligible for partial BMC funding, up to $3600. For example, if a student will be paid $1000 from her placement, we can fund her the remaining $2600.

 

If I receive summer funding, can I have a paying job in addition to my unpaid internship?

You may hold a paying job of up to 10 hours a week while you are doing your unpaid internship. The program is designed to enable students to have a full-time internship experience for 8-10 weeks, so a significant amount of additional paid work during that time is discouraged. If you plan to work more than 10 hours a week during your placement, contact the Director of Summer Funding for permission.

 

I’ve received funding for an internship, but have decided to accept a different internship. Am I still eligible for the funding?

If a student receives funding for a proposed internship and subsequently changes their internship placement to a new site, the change MUST receive approval. In this case, students must communicate this with the Director of Summer Funding or the contact person of the Center of Department offering the funding.

 

I’ve received summer funding, but I am going to transfer from Bryn Mawr College the following fall. Am I still eligible for the funding?

Students receiving summer funding MUST be enrolled at Bryn Mawr College or at an accredited Junior Year Abroad program for the fall semester following their internship. In the case of permanent transfers to a new university or college, the student will forfeit the total amount of her summer internship funding.

 

I’m a Haverford student. Am I eligible for any summer funding through Bryn Mawr?

Haverford students are eligible to apply for the Ariadne Solter Internship Fund, the Dance Study Grant, and the Summer Science Research Fellowships.

 

Are summer funding awards competitive?

There are many outstanding applications each year, so summer awards are competitive, but remember that many internships are funded each summer. If you do not receive funding this year, be sure to apply again next year!

 

What are the selection criteria for summer funding through the Dean’s Office?

• Funding preference goes to students based on the quality of the proposal and the personal statement. Well-written applications will reflect a student’s focus and understanding of how the internship fits within her career plans, her academic work, and/or her personal interests more generally. Stay tuned for information about the Grant Writing Workshop co-sponsored by the Career Development Office and the Writing Center to be held in February 2010.
• Preference will go to proposals that clearly articulate what tasks the internship entails and that have a very good chance of being realized (i.e. proposals should include details about a specific internship already or just about in place).
• Preference will go to students with excellent recommendations.
• Funding preference is based on student seniority. For example, if two students have equally strong proposals and a choice is to be made, preference would go to the more senior student.
• Note that financial need is NOT a criteria for selection. That said, if financial need prevents a student who has been selected to receive funding from accepting an internship there may be limited additional funds available. See details in the Dean's Summer Funding Budget on-line form.