Internship Connection

Summer and Gap Year Internships for High School and College Students
Boston, Massachusetts

For More Information, Contact
Dr. Carole Jabbawy
Internship Connection
17 Countryside Road
Newton, Massachusetts 02459
617-796-9283
Fax: 617-796-9283
http://www.internshipconnection.com/
E-mail: info@internshipconnection.com;carole@internshipconnection.com

Type of Programs: Summer and Gap Year internships
Participants: High school and college students, ages 15–22, from Boston, New York City, and surrounding areas
Program Dates: Summer: four to six weeks, flexible schedule, June through August; Gap Year: customized for each student
Head of Program: Carole Jabbawy, Ed.D., Founder and Director

Background and Philosophy

As a college professor, administrator, and parent of three grown sons, Dr. Carole Jabbawy learned firsthand the advantages experienced by students who sought out internships starting in high school and continuing through college. She established Internship Connection as a comprehensive school-to-career program that simplifies the time-consuming process of finding an internship. The program provides students with career counseling, practical tools for creating a resume, interview preparation, and a match to a mentor in the student’s field of interest. Individualized internships provide opportunities for personal growth, networking contacts for the future, and a competitive advantage when applying to colleges and jobs. A key component of the program is a carefully crafted mentor’s letter of recommendation designed for college and job applications that confirms and describes the student’s in-depth academic and career interests and how they relate to their internship.
Often, students must choose a college major by their sophomore year; if the student is applying to a specialized college program such as engineering, they need to know by their senior year of high school. Experiencing a summer internship confirms to students and parents that the career interest is a good match, or it may lead to another area of interest. Students have the advantage of “trying on” a career before committing to years of preparation and a significant financial investment. The Internship Connection program fosters independence and responsibility and helps students connect to their own unique strengths, interests, and talents. Students gain confidence and acquire maturity and life skills through career experience.
Gap Year or Interim Year internships offer many possibilities for students who choose to take time off before or during college. Whether it’s a semester or longer or one or multiple internships, career experience provides many benefits.

Program Offerings

Becoming a sports reporter at a local newspaper, caring for patients at a walk-in medical clinic for the homeless in Boston, working in the news division of a cable TV station, interning at an arts nonprofit, or working for a local congressman at the Massachusetts State House are just a few opportunities students have experienced through the Internship Connection.
    Program components include guidance relating academic interests and talents to career possibilities; assistance with creating a resume and preparing for a workplace interview; educational school-to-career materials on topics such as qualities that employers seek, professionalism, and how to ask for a letter of recommendation; journals designed for reflection; feedback on journal entries; a letter of recommendation from the workplace mentor; and community service documentation.
    Internships are unpaid, and high school students work part-time with a flexible schedule for approximately 60 hours, usually over a four- to six-week period during the summer. College and Gap Year students design a schedule that best suits their needs, matched with those of the mentoring organization. The process begins in the fall or early winter for students interested in summer internships. An initial meeting takes place between the student, counselor, and program director to discuss the student’s academic and extracurricular interests and special talents. Career options are explored, and primary and secondary career interests are identified. The student receives instructions for creating a resume and is then coached through the process via e-mailed drafts and revisions. In addition, the student is prepared, via telephone, for the upcoming workplace interview. Typical interview questions are asked and tips are provided.
    At the same time, Internship Connection staff members research and tap into their extensive database of mentoring organizations, contacting potential mentors about each student. Special searches are conducted when a student identifies a unique talent or combined career interests. In all cases, a placement is selected that best matches the student’s individual interests and geographical preferences. Then, sometime between March and May, when a potential match is made, the student is put in contact with the placement site. Once the internship is confirmed, the student establishes goals and a schedule with the workplace mentor. Most students work part-time, allowing them to incorporate other activities, jobs, or downtime. During the internship, the student e-mails and receives feedback on a brief, weekly journal entry sent to Internship Connection. Students often refer to their journals when preparing for college interviews and essays.
    Upon successful completion of the internship, the workplace mentor may write a letter of recommendation that focuses on not only the student’s personal qualities, but also the connection between the internship and the student’s academic and career interests. The Internship Connection also provides documentation for 60 hours of community service credit for those students choosing to intern at nonprofit organizations.

Enrollment

The program is open to high school and college students ages 15–22. Students are encouraged to apply by February for summer internships and at least one month ahead of time for school-year internships to ensure proper time for a placement. Applications after April 1 are accepted as time and space allow.

Daily Schedule

The student and workplace mentor coordinate a schedule to suit both of their needs and the particular demands of the internship. Because each internship is part-time, students have the advantage of being able to take classes or work other jobs during the summer. Sometimes, however, college students prefer a longer work schedule, which can also be arranged.

Staff

Carole Jabbawy, Ed.D., the Director of Internship Connection, holds a doctorate in education from Boston University in educational leadership and curriculum development. Her career in education spans more than thirty years, including teaching middle and high school students, training and supervising classroom teachers, and advising high school and college students about career opportunities. Leading workshops for teachers and parents, she focuses on bringing out the unique strengths and talents of each student. She is an educational consultant to museums with respect to museum/school collaborations and to businesses relating to the development and implementation of on-site internship programs for high school and college students.
The program’s staff members include teachers and guidance counselors, many with master’s degrees, who are carefully chosen for both their experience in working with students and their contacts in a wide variety of career fields. They work with experts in various areas to provide students with the life skills and materials they need to take part in a successful, positive internship.

Costs

The cost of a summer or school-year internship is $2000 in Boston and $2500 in New York City. This covers the initial student assessment meeting, administrative costs, career counseling, a portfolio of educational materials, resume assistance, preparation for the workplace interview, securing and coordinating the placement, and supervision and feedback on journals.

Application Timetable

Members of the Internship Connection staff enjoy talking year-round to students who would like to learn more about the program before enrolling. To enroll, students are encouraged to visit the Internship Connection Web site, http://www.internshipconnection.com, where they can print out their application and the consent and release form and later mail them with the $750 deposit. The deposit holds space in the program and initiates the process that secures an internship that matches the student’s specific interests. The balance of the cost is due April 1 for summer interns and must be paid before the internship begins. Admission is on a rolling basis. Students who apply after April 1 are admitted as time and space allow. Students are contacted after their application materials and deposit are received.