Pathways Internship Program (PIP)

What is PIP?

Application period for PIP 2020 is extended. Apply by August 2.

PIP is a guaranteed career-related experience for the summer after your sophomore year! See eligibility requirements below.

The College of Arts & Sciences Pathways Internship Program provides funding for first-generation students to pursue a career-related experience of their choice during the summer after their sophomore year. Selected students will work closely with Arts & Sciences Career Development during the school year to ensure they find an appropriate career-related experience. In return, Arts & Sciences will provide a Summer Experience Grant up to $8000 for an un-aid/minimally paid experience and cover the Student Contribution (as designated by Financial Aid) for the following academic year.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Pathways Internship Program, students must:

Be currently enrolled in a degree-granting program in the College of Arts & Sciences at Cornell and working towards their bachelor’s degree.
Not be on a leave of absence
Be graduating in December 2022, May 2023, or December 2023
Be a first generation college student (as defined by Cornell Admissions)
Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above
Have received financial aid and have submitted their financial aid forms

Common items that ARE INCLUDED in PIP funding:

Travel to and from summer experience location at the beginning and end of the summer
Living expenses if living away from home, such as rent and groceries
Commute to/from summer experience site: public transportation/gas
Professional attire or uniform if that is expected for the experience
Student Contribution for financial aid
Professional Development opportunities during the academic year

Expenses NOT covered by PIP include (but are not limited to):

Clothing other than a required uniform or professional attire
Insurance
Personal travel
Entertainment
Cell phone bill
Gym membership
Purchase of a vehicle
Tuition

Students who pursue the following experiences will NOT be eligible for PIP funding:

Fee based programs - any program that charges tuition or a fee. Exceptions may be made for programs in the performing arts, on a case by case basis. (Students outside of performing arts: if you believe that your experience should qualify, please contact us to discuss)
Cornell in Washington, Practicing Medicine, Cornell Pre-Law Summer Program, Global Health minor programs, or any other college-based program charging tuition/program fees (at Cornell or any other university) Exception: Cornell in Hollywood
Personal research projects
Personal projects or personal entrepreneurial ventures
Taking classes, at Cornell or elsewhere
Research that is supervised by a graduate student. Research experiences must be supervised by a Principal Investigator or faculty member.

Pathways Internship Program Requirements (subject to change)

Meet frequently with your career counselor
Conduct 2 informational interviews or shadowing opportunities
Identify at least 20 organizations of interest
Complete at least 10 summer experience applications
Complete and submit a summer budget
Complete a career-related summer experience
Complete and submit summer reflection

Selection of Candidates

Priority will be given to student who are:

First generation, first-year student status
Demonstrated high financial need
Interest in social sciences or humanities
Intending to pursue a summer experience away from Ithaca and/or their hometown
Intending to pursue a summer experience that is unpaid or minimally paid

Important Dates

The below dates are from the 2020 application cycle. (We have extended the original deadline)

Monday, March 2, 2020: Application opens
Sunday, August 2, 2020 at 11:59pm (EST): Extended application deadline
Late August - Decisions released

Apply for PIP

You can expect the following short answer questions in the application:

Tell us about your career interests and goals. If you are exploring, what are your interest areas?
What are you planning to do this summer (Summer 2020)? What factors affected your decision?
Describe the opportunities you are interested in pursuing next summer (Summer 2021). Include information such as factors you are considering, locations of interest, what you hope to learn, industries of interest, type of experience (internship, volunteer/service, international, etc)
How will receiving guaranteed funding for Summer 2021 influence the options you consider for a summer experience, if at all?
In addition to funding, this program is designed to support your career development during your sophomore year. What are you hoping to learn through this career development process?