MIT Students

Apply for a Grant

Class of 2008 Fund Supports Externship Costs

The Class of 2008 Externship Assistance Fund was established to help offset costs for MIT students whose externship experience is unpaid. Since not all externships are paid, the fund will enable unpaid externs to get the work experience they need without the financial hardship.

The criteria for grant-eligible opportunities are as follows:

• The opportunity MUST be outside the Boston/Cambridge area
• And does not provide compensation, travel and/or housing assistance

Preference will be given to unpaid opportunities at non-profits or government agencies. However, unpaid, for-profit opportunities will also be considered. It is your responsibility to convince the committee why the opportunity deserves financial support.

For each opportunity you consider grant-eligible, you must submit a separate grant application. (i.e. two grant-eligible opportunities, TWO separate grant applications)

This year, $500 grants are available to students who apply, are approved for the grant, and who are matched to the grant-eligible externship.

Please be aware that if you are awarded the grant AND are matched to the externship, you must participate in this opportunity as it will not be possible to award your grant to another student if you do not use it.

To show proper appreciation for the grant, all recipients must submit two (2) photos and a 250-word summary of your externship experience. This is an opportunity for you to thank the Class of 2008, to show the importance of these grants, and to share what you were able to do because of their generosity. This information is due by February 10, 2012 to externship@mit.edu.

Students selected to receive grants will be notified by November 11, 2011 and asked to re-confirm their commitment to participate in the externship if matched.

See summaries for the 2012 grant recipients (PDF).

The grant application deadline is Wednesday, October 12 at noon.

If you have any questions about the Externship Program, please contact us at externship@mit.edu, or call 617-252-1143.