Summer Experience Grant applications now open

Applications for the Summer Experience Grant (SEG) will open March 1, and advisors in the College of Arts & Sciences will hold an information session from 3-4:30 p.m. on March 10, where they will share information about completing applications, provide tips on completing the budget form and give students a chance to ask questions.

SEG is a collection of summer funding awards that provide financial support for students to complete unpaid or minimally-paid career-related experiences. SEG supports students with living expenses, transportation and travel so that these essential experiences are available to all students, who may otherwise not be able to afford them. 

Jesse Kapstad ’24 used his SEG to work at the Department of the Treasury.

“Thanks to the Summer Experience Grant, I spent my summer in Washington, D.C. interning at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. I had an amazing experience as part of the Office of the Chief of Staff, where I was a scheduling and advance intern,” Kapstad said. “It was super interesting to experience the inner workings of the public sector. My biggest takeaway was to take great care with the little details in your work. As an economics and government major, this internship really affirmed my career interest in economics in the public sector and introduced me to many amazing people in the field."

The selection process for these grants is competitive, as the office receives a large number of high-quality applications for a limited amount of funding. Each college’s career office reviews applications for their own students. Administration of the grant is coordinated by a committee from various college career offices.

The College offers its own grants specifically for A&S students, including funding for students on financial aid, first-generation college students, students who will have experiences in the field of journalism or communication (with a preference for students from The Cornell Daily Sun) and experiences in think-tank or government work in Washington, D.C. (Berger Grant).

When a student applies to the SEG, they will be considered for any grant for which they are eligible.

To be eligible for the SEG, students must currently be enrolled at Cornell in good academic standing and must return for at least one semester following the summer for which they are applying for a grant. They must also have a written offer for a career-related summer experience that is either unpaid or minimally paid and at least four weeks in length, working at least 100 hours in total, even if the offer has currently not been accepted.

Jonathan Mong '25 is a communications assistant for the College of Arts & Sciences.