Q: What is a Discovery Externship?

A: The Discovery Externship aims to provide students with an opportunity to gain essential experience with alumni of Kalamazoo College in a field of interest involving learning goals and reflection time.

An externship is normally a two-week endeavor, yet could range from one to four weeks depending on your alumni sponsor.  During your externship, you may develop a short-term focus project, opportunities for observation, access to other professionals in the field as well as participate in a homestay with the alumni sponsor.

Q: What are the benefits of doing an Externship?

• One-on-one time with alumni in your field
• First-hand experience in a chosen field of interest
• Enhance your professional and personal skills
• Learning goals and reflection
• Networking and a prospective mentor

You will have the opportunity to observe the day-to-day lifestyle of a "K" alum in your field, on the job and outside of work .  As an extern, you will acquire what could prove to be a valuable connection and reference in the future, as well a source of advice.  You will be able to get a "taste of the industry" before you feel pressures to choose a certain career path.

Q: What is a Homestay?  Why is it Important?

A: The Homestay is when the extern lives with the "K" alumni sponsor.  The homestay provides the student extern and the alum "porch time"- a time to connect outside of the normal work environment.   You can take advantage of this one-on-one time by asking your Discovery Externship alumni sponsor a host of questions about career-related issues or perhaps about how they balance their professional and personal lives.  The Homestay is often where the "real connection" happens between you and the alumni sponsor and is an integral part of the Discovery Externship program. 

The homestay usually carries an unexpected benefit for both parties - a chance to share views and experiences on the "K" experience.

(Also see the Homestay page .)

Q: How long has the Discovery Externship program been established?

A: The Discovery Externship program was in pilot phase during 2002.  Over the past 6 years more than 150 sponsors and 300 students have participated in the program.

Q:  How do I find out about possible Externship opportunities?

A: You can see the Discovery Externship Catalogue opportunities on this web site.  You may also stop by the CCD and speak with a member of the Career Advisor staff to begin the preliminary steps to searching for an opportunity that suits you.

Q: Once I've found an opportunity that I'm interested in, how do I proceed?

A: The CCD has developed an application process that is outlined in the Discovery Externship Catalogue and can also be found on the web site.  As part of this application process you will be asked to submit an cover letter, résumé, a general application sheet as well as any additional items requested by the alumni sponsor for the externship for which you are applying.

It is never too early to start working on these items. We recommend that students begin creating their cover letter and résumé in December and January by meeting with a Career Advisor as students use these items to apply for an externship in early to mid February.

Q: What costs are associated with the Discovery Externship?

A: Under the CCD's original 6-year financial strategy for the program, the CCD is currently planning to partner with externs in funding half of the cost for long-distance travel, if needed, for Summer 2008 Discovery Externships. The CCD also plans to assist students with identifying the safest, most affordable housing arrangements possible for the duration of the Discovery Externship (e.g. alumni homestay, hostel, university housing) and plans to fund half of the housing costs where alumni homestays are not available for up to two weeks.

The alumni home stay is a generous contribution from "K" alumni, who provide externs with free or minimal cost housing.  If an alumni home stay is identified near the Discovery Externship site, this option will be pursued first in coordinating the schedule of the externship.

The CCD will also provide a small grant for other actual expenses (meals, transportation, etc.) incurred during the Discovery Externship. 

Q:  Are Discovery Externships Paid?

A: The CCD realizes money can be a deciding factor when committing to being an extern. Through the generous contributions of a few Kalamazoo alumni, the CCD is able to subsidize most expenses associated with a Discovery Externship experience.

The possibility for financial compensation for your work on a project will depend on whether or not the sponsoring organization has funding available.  Compensation, however, should not be an expectation when applying for an opportunity.