The MSU Career Center is dedicated to enhancing students’ career success. Through the Summer Internship Support Fund, students can now access internships that might have been otherwise out of reach. Funding opportunities are available to students who have secured a summer internship. Typical funding falls within the $500-$2,000 range to offset expected costs, though some awards may be higher or lower.
The deadline for students to complete their applications is April 11th. Applications will then be reviewed by the Career Center Internship Support Fund Committee, and selected students will be notified on Friday, May 2nd if they will receive funds to offset the cost of their summer internships.
Namia Stevenson – Congressional Sportsmen Foundation/ Brad Rowse Policy Intern
How do I apply for the summer internship support fund?
Below is a list of items needed to complete the application found here:
- Download, fill out, and submit a budget
- For an example budget template, click here.
- Resume
- Job description of internship
- Offer letter to verify time, hours, employer’s contact, modality (in-person vs hybrid vs remote), and whether or not it is paid (hourly wage or stipend)
- Unofficial transcript
- Statement of Interest: Please share with the committee how the internship support fund will impact your career success. Be sure to include information to address the questions below:
- How is your internship tied to your area of study or connect to your career goals?
- How will this funding help you achieve this goal?
- What do you need this funding for the most? What’s the biggest barrier for you? (i.e. housing, transportation, etc.)
- Supervisor Agreement (this form will be submitted by the Career Center committee to verify internship)
- Students with unpaid or underfunded internships for the summer.
- Internships must be a minimum of 160 hours
- Completed at least one semester (Spring 2025 or earlier) at MS State.
- Plan to complete at least one semester (Fall 2025 or later) as a student at MS State.
- In good academic and disciplinary standing.
- Minimum GPA: 2.0
- Complete an evaluation reflecting on the internship’s impact on their academic or career goals; including photos and a written testimonial at the end of your experience.
- Write a thank you note to donors and participate as requested, if available, in activities such as information sessions and donor-recognition events (i.e. Employer Partner Recognition Event in the spring)
- If you choose not to complete the experience, you must notify the Selection Committee (bmills@career.msstate.edu) and the funds will be rescinded.
- If you are no longer in academic or disciplinary good standing with MS State, you must notify the Selection Committee (bmills@career.msstate.edu) and the funds will be rescinded.
Applications will be reviewed by the Career Center Internship Support Fund Committee, and selected students will be notified on Friday, May 2nd if they will receive funds to offset the cost of their summer internships.
- Preference in selecting internship participants will be given for activities where financial obstacles would likely prevent a student from participating.
- These funds are not intended for on-campus research assistantships and research related activities.
- Preference will be given for NEW, rather than continuing, experiences (i.e. starting a new internship, as opposed to continuing in a position from a previous semester or summer).
- These funds are NOT designated for study abroad experiences. Visit the MS State International Institute: Study Abroad page to learn more about study abroad funding.
- Students may apply for funding for more than one learning experience per application cycle, but may only receive funding for one experience.
The following criteria serve as automatic disqualification from the internship funding process:
- Independent or unsupervised internships
- Internships outside of the United States
- Internships supervised by other undergraduate students
- Internship site is owned or managed by member of intern’s family
- Inaccurate representation of internship or employer information
- Honor code, academic or disciplinary conduct violations
- Transferring or withdrawing from the university before, during, or after the internship
- Use the experience to explore different industries that best align with your interests and skills
- Enhance your experience outside of the classroom
- Develop your skills and abilities through an internship
- Increase your chances of employment after graduation!
For additional questions about this support fund, please contact Bethany Mills at bmills@career.msstate.edu.
Did you know?
According to NACE research, on average, companies offer 72% of their interns full-time employment, with nearly 80% of those accepting those offers.
NACE Center: Current Research on the Impact of Internships
Pictured Left: Molleigh Martin – Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Product Development Engineering Intern
College students who complete paid internships receive nearly twice as many job offers than students with no internship experience (1.61 vs. 0.77) and receive a higher first-year salary than those who did not complete an internship.
The Value of Career Services
November 28, 2022 | By Shawn VanDerziel
Pictured Right: Reed Preston Lindsey- U.S. House Of Representatives | Intern for Congressman Trent Kelly
Even if a student does not receive a full-time offer from the employer where they completed their internship, other employers want to see internship and job-specific experience on their resumes.
Paid Internships Are Vital To Student And Employer Success | Forbes | By Shawn VanDerziel
Pictured Left: Kendall Chandler – Yokohama Engineer Intern