Cornell Extern Program

FRESH Program 2009 – Round 1 Application Instructions

BEFORE STARTING YOUR EXTERN APPLICATION, DETERMINE:

Your eligibility. The program is open to matriculated freshmen only.

Your availability. You must have an open, flexible spring break schedule, with at least 3 dates open in the week, March 14-21, 2009. Sponsors, not you, determine the externship dates.

Your interest in the program. Review detailed program guidelines, timelines, and procedures on the FRESH website.

TO APPLY, COMPLETE PARTS 1-3 ONLINE by January 30, 7:00 pm. To avoid server delays, complete your application early.

See “FRESH Program” on QUICK LINKS at career.cornell.edu.

Part 1)Write a one-page resume; do not use an objective. Save your document as a .doc, not a .docx file.

• Name your resume as follows: your NetID_FR09.doc; for example, NFL1_FR09.doc

• We recommend that you refer to sample resumes in the CCS Career Guide when creating your resume.

• We recommend the resume writing session and Critique at the Tatkon Center, January 26 (5-6 pm) and January 27 (5-7 pm).

Part 2)Cornell CareerNet. Cornell CareerNet is accessed through the logo on the lower right-hand corner of the CCS home page.

• Update your career profile with current information (class year, major, etc.).

• Complete the CCNet Tutorial (link on login page), if not already “eligible,” and upload your resume to your account. Be sure to complete the tutorial at least 2 business days before the deadline; it takes 1-2 days for you to be made eligible.

• Once CCNet “eligible,” publish your resume to the Cornell FRESH Program Resume Book.

Part 3)Complete youron-line application (see below for more detail about Part 1 Introduction Essays)

This part of the application process “registers” you with the FRESH Program and provides all basic academic and contact information. You will be asked to:

• Read and agree to the FRESH Program Participation Agreement.

• Select up to 4 extern listing choices (see listing descriptions online, including sponsor requirements).

• Explain how you meet any “Other Requirements” or “Other Preferences” specified by the sponsor.

• Create a set of introduction essays by writing your responses to the required questions.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WRITING INTRODUCTION ESSAYS

Introduction essaysserve to introduce you to the sponsor and will be sent to the sponsor if you are placed in an externship. The essays explain how your interests are a good fit for the externship, articulate your goals for the experience, and suggest activities that would help you attain those goals. The thought and care you take in preparing the essays reflect your genuine interest in the opportunity, your professionalism, attention to detail, etc.

The introduction essays, submitted via your online application, consist of your responses to the questions below. See the example of an acceptable essay on the following page. Note that the sample essay uses examples and descriptions, not simple statements such as “to learn about advertising.” More sample essays are available online. Essays that are not adequately developed or that do not reflect an understanding of the purpose of the program or that listing’s opportunity will not be considered. Be sure to proofread your essays prior to submitting your application.

We suggest that you draft your essays in a Word document and copy/paste it into the online application; save your final version as a backup. If you have difficulties entering your essays online, see the formatting instructions on the next page, and you can email a copy to (use Times 10 pt font, Word.doc – not .docx).

REQUIRED ESSAY QUESTIONS

What major(s) are you are considering, and why?
What career field(s) are you are considering or exploring, and why?
Explain how the FRESH program would help you explore your interests or better define your career direction.
What kinds of extern activities do you think would help answer your questions or meet your career goals (e.g., tour of

company, observing a meeting or daily procedure, information interviews, completing a task/project, etc.)?

5. List 7-10 specific questions you would like to ask or have answered during this extern experience.

6.(Optional). Describe or list course work, jobs, volunteer activities, or other experiences not listed on your resume but relevant to this externship.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS or OTHER PREFERENCES.If your externship choice includes either, you are required to provide a response to the following question in Part 3 online:

Explain in detail how you meet the specifications stated as “Other Requirements” or “Other Preferences” in order to be considered for the externship. (Consider your answer(s) before beginning Part 3.)

ONLINE APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, January 30, 2009, 7:00 pm

(To avoid server delays, complete Part 3 by 12 noon.)

Cornell Career Services, 203 Barnes

Student NameSample Introduction Essay

1. What major(s) are you considering, and why?

I am considering a major in psychology because I have always enjoyed working with others. I trained and worked as a peer counselor during high school, and found a niche for myself working with people one-on-one. As a volunteer at the Rockland Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse, I manned a hotline, answering questions and offering advice to teens in need. As a volunteer for an organization called TOUCH (Together Our Unity Can Help), I was trained as a peer educator, and presented educational workshops to students and church groups throughout the country about HIV, AIDS and STD’s.

Educating people and helping them to solve their own problems proved to be extremely gratifying. These experiences helped me realize that psychology is my calling. It is very important for me to work with people and help them through difficulties in their lives.

Currently I am in my second semester of training for a program on campus called EARS (Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Services). EARS is a peer-counseling service in which students with problems can call or visit a trained counselor to discuss any problems they may have.

I am constantly drawn to activities that allow me to help individuals. As I continue to work with these types of organizations I am further convinced that psychology is the right career and major for me.

2. What career field(s) are you considering or exploring, and why?

One of my long-term goals is to earn a PhD in clinical psychology. After getting my doctorate, I feel there are so many opportunities to fulfill my dreams of helping others. Right now I am considering opening up a private practice.

I am also interested in working with students – possibly working as a psychologist on a college campus. The transition from home life to college can be a very difficult one for young people. I have seen first hand the toll that the pressure of college life can take on one’s mental health. If I were to become a psychologist on a campus, I would hope to be able to help students cope with the academic, social and family pressures.

Family counseling would also be a satisfying career. Problems within the family unit can make it difficult for individual members to have a functional and productive life. Also, family structures are changing with the times. I can see myself as a family counselor helping family members to understand each other, cope with difficulties, and open lines of communication.

3. Explain how the FRESH Program would help you explore your interests or better define your career direction?

While I am confident about my plan to get a degree in clinical psychology, I am still unsure about how I want to apply my education. By talking to someone in the field, I will be able to get a good idea of the career possibilities out there. I am also hoping to get a handle on what my options are based on what level of degree I attain (BS, MA, or PhD). Moreover, I realize that the only way to gain a true understanding of what a job really entails is to talk to professionals in your field of choice. Hopefully, by shadowing a psychologist, I will gain a clearer view of what life is really like in my dream job.

4. What kinds of extern activities do you think would help answer your questions or meet your career goals?

While I know that privacy laws might prevent me from observing a psychologist treating a patient, I would like to get an idea of what a clinical psychologist’s daily schedule is like. In just observing the sponsor some of my questions can be answered. A tour of the organization would give me a better insight of the environment. Perhaps a small research project can be assigned to learn how research is performed. I would also like to get an idea of the opportunities that are available for psychologists outside of clinical psychology – in both public and private sectors.

5. List 7-10 specific questions you would like to ask or have answered during this extern experience?

What personality traits must a good psychologist possess?
I want to know how psychologists cope with the stresses of their profession, and manage to separate themselves emotionally from patients while treating them with compassion.
Which classes did you take at Cornell that were useful for grad school?
Which classes did you take that weren’t useful?
Which classes did you wish you had taken that would have probably better prepared you?
Which activities or teams did you participate in and are there any that you would suggest I join?
What types of internships do you recommend?
If owner of your own practice, how did you start it?

Explain in detail how you meet the specifications stated as “Other Requirements” or “Other Preferences” in order to be considered for the externship.

Other Requirements: Student must have a serious interest in medicine.

I am Pre-Med and am interested in helping others as well as to improve the overall health and nutrition of

people, Also, in high school I volunteered at White Plains Hospital Center in order to learn more about patient and staff interactions and get a better understanding of a hospital atmosphere. I feel that medicine can help improve the overall quality of life of many people, and as I hope to encourage people to lead healthier lives, I feel that the field of medicine can help me to accomplish this task.

Cornell FRESH Program 2009

Advice from Past Externs and Sponsors on Selecting and Applying for Externships

Applications Process: Start Early & Consider Many Fields/Areas

Be open-minded to different careers that look interesting and appealing.
Don’t confine yourself to searching only categories you think you’ll be interested in. I searched by the geographic area and found a great externship under a category I normally wouldn’t have checked.
Follow the suggested calendar and timeline carefully – it was extremely helpful to be efficient and plan everything.
Don’t wait until you are a senior to try out an externship!
The externship program provides a valuable way for a student to gain experience in his or her chosen field; however, make sure that before signing up for one that you have realistic goals.
I found that it took me a long time to select which externship I wanted to apply for (so many choices), so students should start early.

Keep up with email announcements, there may be new sponsor additions that you don’t want to miss!

Encourage looking at listings in related fields (not just those in your major) because of the wide range of opportunities out there. Especially for freshmen, exploring different careers can be stressful.

Be truly interested in the career field/organization you are externing in – fake enthusiasm will show itself.

Creating the resume for it was good practice for when you actually need to have one for a job application.

Keep Time & Travel Costs In Mind

The main thing is to be realistic about other time commitment; realize it is your vacation, so you should really want to do it.
Know where you are going and find out if anyone else is going where you are going; it makes the experience more enjoyable.
Travel costs are a big factor and must be considered before starting. Make sure you know exactly how and where you are traveling from and to, i.e. how far are the airports, are there shuttles/subways to where you are staying, estimated travel costs in the city.

Give serious attention to a timeline of events (contact, travel, stay, food, etc.) to make the externship go smoothly. Be realistic about the amount of time you want to spend there and know what particular things you want to look into at the place of the externship.
My roommate ended up spending more than a reasonable amount of money on the trip. I would advise next year’s freshmen to evaluate the costs of the trip with respect to the perceived benefits.

Research the company location to know how you will get to and from the site. Look up bus schedules, etc, and do a “practice run.”

Research The Organization & Sponsor

It’s definitely important to do research on the company, because it will help you better understand the company and assist in preparation of questions. Let the sponsor know you are serious about learning.
Really read the description of the organization and the sponsor’s job. Gauge your interest level accordingly.

Take the time to familiarize yourself with the activities of the company or organization beforehand so you can ask intelligent questions.

The sponsor is investing a lot of his/her time, and it’s important to invest your time to make the externship the most beneficial.

General Advice From Students

Make sure that you are committed, because it will hurt you and could hurt the students after you if your company decides not to do the program again due to you canceling or acting inappropriately.
Be outgoing because many times these organizations cannot devote one person’s day entirely to you. Get to know many people in the office to get as much information as possible.
Consider location (the externship may give you a good idea of what it is like living in a city versus the country etc.). Research the organization so you are aware of the other areas of the company and can plan out a fruitful experience with your sponsor by exploring all areas you think you may be interested in.
Just because it’s only a couple of days doesn’t mean that you won’t be participating in the organization. Be prepared to get involved.
Leave time to enjoy what the location of the externship has to offer, especially if you have never been there before.

Get to know Cornell – people will ask you about the school. Know about new major developments (financial aid, the Cornell President’s strategies for dealing with the US economy, new construction, etc.)
Don’t be intimidated by your sponsor’s status; ask lots of questions.

Advice From Sponsors

The student took the time to review our web site and the other materials I forwarded prior to the externship; that helped tremendously.
The student had a clear idea of what marketing was as a field. This understanding served as an adequate foundation for her being able to participate in daily activities and ask questions.
Research the parent companies as well (e.g. Unilever is a parent company to Lipton).
The student indicated in advance the types of specialists that he wanted to meet; allowing me to make the contacts before his arrival.
The student was prepared both mentally and physically for a week of moving about and challenges: physically, because he had to arise and arrive at work very early, and mentally, because he knew in advance what he wanted to learn about the career.
Advise students to come prepared to take notes – the last couple have not and have given the impression that they are not interested.
I was unable to inform her of what to be prepared for, so when she showed up, she was ready for anything.
The student’s positive attitude and creativity were the best preparation.
It is very important for students to have a clear understanding of the sponsor’s company’s field, products and services.
I had a positive experience because we did a few things ahead of time: spoke by phone to make arrangements, set parameters, and collaborated on appropriate schedule and content.
Try to put your preconceptions aside, and be open to this new experience.
They should think about their educational future and try to elicit advice on how to best prepare for the workplace.
Use telephone contact over email. The latter is convenient, but does not lend itself to a real exchange.