Bryn Mawr College

Eligibility and Selection Criteria -- FAQ

 

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 Frequently Asked Questions below. For questions about completing your application, please consult Tips for Applying.

Eligibility:

• What kind of internships are eligible to be funded?
• As a graduating senior, am I eligible for Dean's Office Summer Funding?
• Does the College fund experiences in countries on the U.S. State Dept. Travel Warning List?
• I’ve already received funding from Bryn Mawr for summer research or an internship. Am I eligible for funding for a second year?
• 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?

Internship Information:

• Do I have to have a summer internship already set up to apply for funding?
• I have an unpaid summer internship set up already. Can I apply for funding?
• I’d like to do an internship through a program that charges fees. Can I use my summer funding to pay these fees?
• Can I use summer funding to pay tuition for a program that will give me college credit?
• 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?

Selection & Payment Procedures:

• Are summer funding awards competitive?
• What are the selection criteria for summer funding through the Dean’s Office?
• How are the funds paid out?
• How will tax and FICA witholdings impact summer funding payments?

 

Eligibility:

What kind of internships are eligible to be funded?

Funding is available for unpaid summer internships that involve at least 30 hours of work a week for 8-10 weeks (or, a minimum of 240 hours). Internships are to take place sometime between the end of the spring semester and the resumption of classes for the fall semester. 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 and educational experience that can contribute to her academic, career, and/or personal interests.

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As a graduating senior, am I eligible for Dean's Office Summer Funding?

No, Dean's Office Summer Funding is limited to first year students, sophomores, and juniors. Students who have completed their degree are not eligible. However, students who will complete their degree the following December are eligible.

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Does the College fund experiences in countries on the U.S. State Dept. Travel Warning List?

A funded internship may not take place in a country on either the U.S. State Department "warning" or Treasury "embargo" lists (except when an embargo is specifically directed toward a narrow set of individuals or circumstances in a country.) Travel warnings can be accessed at:  www.travel.state.gov.

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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. Summer Funding is competitive and priority is given to students who have never received funding before. In some cases, exceptions may include the following:

• Alumnae Regional Scholars, previous recipients of the Projects for Peace grant, and previous Hepburn Center interns are eligible to receive internship funding for a second summer through a different fund in the Dean's Office.
• 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.

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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 Study 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.

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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.

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Internship Information:

Do I have to have a summer internship already set up to apply for funding?

No, you don't. Most students do not have an internship set up when they apply. In your application, you will include your internship proposal. The internship proposal should include the following:  a) the organization(s) where you plan to apply to intern; b) steps you have taken or will take to apply for the internship(s); c) your responsibilities and projects as an intern; and, d) the supervision you will be provided. During the application process, be sure to communicate with the Director of Summer Funding any developments in your internship search.

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

Absolutely! In this case, in addition to completing all the required forms for the application, you must have your internship sponsor complete the Sponsor Confirmation Form. Complete the Deans's Summer Funding Application with details of your arranged internship. In your internship proposal, explain what the organization is, what your responsibilities will be, and what supervision you will receive.

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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.

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Can I use summer funding to pay tuition for a program that will give me college credit?

No. Summer Funding may not be used to pay for tuition for academic courses or for activities that result in academic credit.

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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 her application in 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.

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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 will work more than 10 hours a week during your placement, contact the Director of Summer Funding for permission.

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

Awards are made for specific internships. If a student receives funding for a proposed internship and subsequently changes her internship placement to a new site, she MUST contact the Director of Summer Funding or the contact person of the Center or Department offering the funding to receive approval. In some cases a change of internship may be approved.

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Selection & Payment Procedures:

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!

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

• Funding preference goes to students based on the quality of the internship 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. Poorly written materials can be grounds for denying funding, even if the student has proposed a good internship.
• 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 and on whether the student has ever received College summer funding. For example, if two students have equally strong proposals and a choice is to be made, preference would go to the more senior student. Amongst senior students, preference would go to the student who had never before received any College summer funding.
• Many funding awards sponsored through the Dean's Office set forth specific guidelines regarding the types of internships that are eligible to be awarded. These guidelines therefore impact the selection process.
• Note that financial need is NOT a criteria for selection.

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How are the funds paid out?

Payment details can be found here.

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How will tax and FICA witholdings impact summer funding payments?

• U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens:

 Internship funding awards are taxable income to students and the College is required to deduct federal, state, and local income taxes from internship payments.  During the summer when students are not enrolled in classes, the College must also withhold Social Security/Medicare (FICA) taxes from internship payments. Note that take-home earnings will be around 15-16% below the funding award.

Fellowships are also taxable unless used to directly pay tuition and fees, books, and supplies and equipment required of all students in an academic program.  The College does not withhold taxes from fellowship payments. At the end of the calendar year, the total amount of fellowship payments issued during the year is listed on a letter sent to students.

• Non-Resident Aliens:

Internship funding awards are taxable income and the College is required to deduct applicable taxes from the internship payments. At the end of the calendar year internship payments to non-resident aliens are reported as wages on IRS Form W-2.

Fellowships are taxable income. Taxes due will be charged to the student’s tuition account; taxes due will not be deducted from the fellowship payments.  At year end, fellowships paid to non-resident aliens are reported on IRS Form 1042-S. For students with non-resident alien status who perform their research, training, or study outside of the U.S., fellowship payments are not taxable.

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