Summer Internships

Academic Internships are available to juniors and seniors who wish to pursue an opportunity linked to their major or minor. Internships are supervised by an Internship Specialist who helps facilitate learning and self-reflection. 

• Students must be of junior or senior status during semester of completion.
  • Sophomores who wish to complete an Academic Internship must submit a written appeal to the Career Advancement Center. Contact cacintern@lakeforest.edu for more information.
• Students must be in good judicial and academic standing by time of application and must receive academic advisor approval.
• Academic Probation: Students on academic probation are not eligible to receive academic credit for an internship. Appeals to this policy may be submitted to the Academic Appeals Board.
• Disciplinary Probation: Students on disciplinary probation may not be allowed to earn credit for an internship while on probation. Students who are on probation, have displayed a pattern of behavior, or have had at least one serious violation, may need to discuss their eligibility directly with the Dean of Students.

Refer to our Academic Internship Program Fact Sheet for additional information regarding the internship search process and timeline.

• Students interested in pursuing an Academic Internship must first complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. 
• Internship must be completed in a student’s major or minor.
• A minimum of 0.5 credits and maximum of 2 credits may be awarded for each summer internship. 
  • 0.5 credits = 75 hours of on-the-job experience
  • 1 credit = 150 hours of on-the-job experience
  • 2 credits = 300 hours of on-the-job experience
  • A student will not typically be allowed to receive more than a total of 3 internship credits during their time at the College. 
    • Exception: Students in the Lake Forest College In The Loop program can earn up to 4 internship credits, with the 4th credit being taken during the In The Loop program. 
• Retroactive credit is not permitted. Students must register with their Internship Specialist and complete weekly assignments as part of the Academic Internship Moodle Course.
• 100% commission-based internships will not be approved for academic credit.  

Your Internship Specialist can help you set internship start/end dates to ensure requirements and hours are completed appropriately.

• Academic Internships must be completed by the end of the College’s July Term. Certain exceptions may be made for internships that extend into August, provided you receive advance approval from your Internship Specialist.
• Summer Academic Internship applications are accepted on a rolling basis. That said, the preferred registration deadline for a Summer Academic Internship is the one week prior to the College’s May Term. and no later than 2 weeks prior to the start of the July Term.
• Once you have secured an internship, you must contact your Internship Specialist for information on how to register your internship.
• In order to be approved for summer internship credit, students must submit all requested materials prior to the start of their internship. Students must not start their internship before securing approval. See the Academic Internship Course webpage for additional details.

Academic (for-credit) Internships:
Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships. Students earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship, as well as completing required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist. Students will work with a Career Advancement Center Internship Specialist to identify and set internship goals, target employers offering meaningful learning experiences, and complete the accompanying coursework.

Continuation of Internship or Part-Time Job:
Internships must provide real career-building experience. Students wishing to continue an existing internship or part-time job as an Academic Internship must show that their responsibilities have significantly changed and that the new responsibilities will give the student a sufficiently different educational/academic experience.

Remote Internships:
Typically, the bulk of internship work should take place at a physical site. However, remote internships will be considered. Students must meet with their Internship Specialist to discuss the details of the remote internship and receive approval before starting in their position.

Commission-Based Internships:
Internships based solely on commission will not be approved.

Non-Credit Internships:
Students who are not yet eligible to complete an Academic Internship, have earned all available internship credits, and/or wish to pursue an internship that does not meet the Academic Internship Program Guidelines may choose to pursue a non-credit internship.  Non-credit internships are separate from our formal Academic Internship Program and are student-directed. Students may work with an Internship Specialist for additional career advising support and assistance developing their search strategy, however these internships are not supervised by the Career Advancement Center. * 

*Students should be aware that certain organizations may only offer internships for academic credit.

There is a cost attached to completing an Academic (for-credit) Internship during the Summer Term. Financial Aid may apply and students must contact the Office of Financial Aid to determine their individual cost.

Funding is available to all students completing unpaid Academic Internships. That said, priority will be given to rising juniors and seniors completing domestic Academic Internships. Funding is meant to assist with the cost of an unpaid Academic Internship that a student would not otherwise be able to pursue due to financial constraints during their time at the College. Funding awards are largely based on financial need.

Please visit the Internship Funding Webpage for more information.

1. Complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. The Career Advancement Center will assign you to an Internship Specialist who will help you with your internship search.
2. Review the complete Academic Internship Program Guidelines.
3. Connect with your Academic Advisor to ensure that an Academic Internship will fit into your academic plan.
4. Meet with your assigned Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship approval process. Your Internship Specialist will also help you craft your resume and cover letters and prepare for interviews.
5. Once you have secured an internship you must contact your Internship Specialist for information on how to register your internship. 

ACTIVATE is the College's off-campus residential summer program in Chicago. Students participating in the ACTIVATE program live at the College’s Chicago residential building, receive cutting-edge career preparation and mentorship from the Career Advancement Center, and benefit from an Academic Internship at a Chicago internship location.

• ACTIVATE is open to rising juniors and seniors.
• ACTIVATE is an 8-10 week program. Students may choose between the eight-week and ten-week program.
• Students complete an Academic Internship as part of the ACTIVATE program, as well as career-focused workshops facilitated by Lake Forest College faculty.

Please contact Director of the Center for Chicago Programs, Jennie Larsen, and/or visit the ACTIVATE webpage for more information regarding the program.

Pursuing an internship (for-credit or non-credit) is just one way a student may satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement. Please refer to the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage for a complete list of ways that students may fulfill the Experiential Learning requirement.

Types of Internships:

1. Academic (for-credit) Internships
   1. Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships, allowing students to earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship and completion of required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist.
   2. Please see the Academic Internship Course webpage for additional details.
2. Non-credit Internships
   1. Students may also satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement with an approved non-credit internship. A non-credit internship is separate from our formal Academic Internship Program and the process is student-directed.
   2. Should students wish to satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement with a non-credit internship, they will first need to complete the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Form, located in the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Guide, as well as identify a Faculty Project Supervisor. More information may be found on the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage. 
   3. Students may contact their Internship Specialist for additional support and assistance developing their search strategy. However, non-credit internships are not supervised by the Career Advancement Center. 
   4. Students should be aware that certain organizations may only offer internships for academic credit.

Academic Internships are available to international students with junior or senior status who wish to pursue an opportunity linked to their major. Internships are supervised by an Internship Specialist who helps facilitate learning and self-reflection. 

• Students must be of junior or senior status during semester of completion.
  • Sophomores who wish to complete an Academic Internship must submit a written appeal to the Career Advancement Center. Contact cacintern@lakeforest.edu for more information.
• Students must be in good judicial and academic standing by time of application and must receive academic advisor approval.
• Academic Probation: Students on academic probation are not eligible to receive academic credit for an internship. Appeals to this policy may be submitted to the Academic Appeals Board.
• Disciplinary Probation: Students on disciplinary probation may not be allowed to earn credit for an internship while on probation. Students who are on probation, have displayed a pattern of behavior, or have had at least one serious violation, may need to discuss their eligibility directly with the Dean of Students.

Please refer to our Academic Internship Program Fact Sheet for additional information regarding the internship search process and timeline.

• Students interested in pursuing an Academic Internship must first complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. 
• International students must be registered for internship credit in their major field of study in order to participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT). See Employment and Eligibility for additional information regarding work authorization.
• Internship must be completed in a student’s major.
• A minimum of 0.5 credits and maximum of 2 credits may be awarded for each summer internship. 
  • 0.5 credits = 75 hours of on-the-job experience
  • 1 credit = 150 hours of on-the-job experience
  • 2 credits = 300 hours of on-the-job experience
  • A student will not typically be allowed to receive more than a total of 3 internship credits during their time at the College. 
    • Exception: Students in the Lake Forest College In The Loop program can earn up to 4 internship credits, with the 4th credit being taken during the In The Loop program. 
• Retroactive credit is not permitted. Students must register with their Internship Specialist and complete weekly assignments as part of the Academic Internship Moodle Course.
• 100% commission-based internships will not be approved for academic credit.  

Your Internship Specialist can help you set internship start/end dates to ensure requirements and hours are completed appropriately.

• Academic Internships must be completed by the end of the College’s July Term. Certain exceptions may be made for internships that extend into August, provided you receive advance approval from your Internship Specialist.
• Summer Academic Internship applications are accepted on a rolling basis. That said, the preferred registration deadline for a Summer Academic Internship is the one week prior to the College’s May Term. and no later than 2 weeks prior to the start of the July Term.
• Once you have secured an internship, you must contact your Internship Specialist for information on how to register your internship.
• In order to be approved for summer internship credit, students must submit all requested materials prior to the start of their internship. Students must not start their internship before securing approval. See the Academic Internship Course webpage for additional details.

*International students may not start their internship before receiving CPT authorization from either Sandra Ortiz (F-1 Visas) or Alexandra Olson (J-1 Visas). See Employment and Eligibility for additional information regarding work authorization.

Academic (for-credit) Internships:
Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships. Students earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship, as well as completing required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist. Students will work with a Career Advancement Center Internship Specialist to identify and set internship goals, target employers offering meaningful learning experiences, and complete the accompanying coursework.*

*International students must Students must be registered for internship credit in their major field of study in order to participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT). See Employment and Eligibility for additional information regarding work authorization.

Continuation of Internship or Part-Time Job:
Internships must provide real career-building experience. Students wishing to continue an existing internship or part-time job as an Academic Internship must show that their responsibilities have significantly changed and that the new responsibilities will give the student a sufficiently different educational/academic experience.

Remote Internships:
Typically, the bulk of internship work should take place at a physical site. However, remote internships will be considered. Students must meet with their Internship Specialist to discuss the details of the remote internship and receive approval before starting in their position.

Commission-Based Internships:
Internships based solely on commission will not be approved.

Non-Credit Internships:
International students on an F-1 or J-1 Visa are not eligible to complete non-credit internships.

There is a cost attached to completing an Academic (for-credit) Internship during the Summer Term. Financial Aid may apply and students must contact the Office of Financial Aid to determine their individual cost.

Funding is available to all students completing unpaid Academic Internships. That said, priority will be given to rising juniors and seniors completing domestic Academic Internships. Funding is meant to assist with the cost of an unpaid Academic Internship that a student would not otherwise be able to pursue due to financial constraints during their time at the College. Funding awards are largely based on financial need.

Please visit the Internship Funding Webpage for more information.

1. Complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. The Career Advancement Center will assign you to an Internship Specialist who will help you with your internship search.
2. Review the complete Academic Internship Program Guidelines.
3. Employment authorization is required for international students before they start their internship:
   • F-1 Visa international students, contact Sandra Ortiz, DSO SEVIS Coordinator (x5202, sortiz@lakeforest.edu).
   • J-1 Visa international students, contact Alexandra Olson, Coordinator of the Global Engagement Office, (x5231, aolson@lakeforest.edu). 
4. Connect with your Academic Advisor to ensure that an Academic Internship will fit into your academic plan.
5. Meet with your assigned Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship approval process. Your Internship Specialist will also help you craft your resume and cover letters and prepare for interviews.
6. Once you have secured an internship you must contact your Internship Specialist for information on how to register your internship. 

ACTIVATE is the College's off-campus residential summer program in Chicago. Students participating in the ACTIVATE program live at the College’s Chicago residential building, receive cutting-edge career preparation and mentorship from the Career Advancement Center, and benefit from an Academic Internship at a Chicago internship location.

• ACTIVATE is open to rising juniors and seniors.
• ACTIVATE is an 8-10 week program. Students may choose between the eight-week and ten-week program.
• Students complete an Academic Internship as part of the ACTIVATE program, as well as career-focused workshops facilitated by Lake Forest College faculty.

Please contact Director of the Center for Chicago Programs, Jennie Larsen, and/or visit the ACTIVATE webpage for more information regarding the program.

Pursuing an Academic (for-credit) Internship is just one way international students may satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement. Please refer to the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage for a complete list of ways that students may fulfill the Experiential Learning requirement.

Academic (for-credit) Internships 

1. Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships, allowing students to earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship and completion of required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist.
   
2. International students must be registered for internship credit in their major field of study in order to participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT). See Employment and Eligibility for additional information regarding work authorization.
3. Please see the Academic Internship Course webpage for additional details.

Other qualifying experiences

1. Should students wish to satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement with one of the other qualifying experiences, they will first need to complete the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Form, located in the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Guide, as well as identify a Faculty Project Supervisor. More information may be found on the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage. 
   

Transfer students must complete at least one semester on the Lake Forest College campus before pursuing an Academic Internship.

Academic Internships are available to transfer students of junior and senior standing who wish to pursue an internship linked to their major or minor (Note: International students on an F-1 or J-1 Visa must complete their internship in their major only). Internships are supervised by an Internship Specialist who helps facilitate learning and self-reflection. 

• Students must be of junior or senior status during semester of completion.
  • Sophomores who wish to complete an Academic Internship must submit a written appeal to the Career Advancement Center. Contact cacintern@lakeforest.edu for more information.
• Students must be in good judicial and academic standing by time of application and must receive academic advisor approval.
• Academic Probation: Students on academic probation are not eligible to receive academic credit for an internship. Appeals to this policy may be submitted to the Academic Appeals Board.
• Disciplinary Probation: Students on disciplinary probation may not be allowed to earn credit for an internship while on probation. Students who are on probation, have displayed a pattern of behavior, or have had at least one serious violation, may need to discuss their eligibility directly with the Dean of Students.

Please refer to our Academic Internship Program Fact Sheet for additional information regarding the internship search process and timeline.

• Students interested in pursuing an Academic Internship must first complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. 
• Internship must be completed in a student’s major or minor.
• A minimum of 0.5 credits and maximum of 2 credits may be awarded for each summer internship. 
  • 0.5 credits = 75 hours of on-the-job experience
  • 1 credit = 150 hours of on-the-job experience
  • 2 credits = 300 hours of on-the-job experience
  • A student will not typically be allowed to receive more than a total of 3 internship credits during their time at the College. 
    • Exception: Students in the Lake Forest College In The Loop program can earn up to 4 internship credits, with the 4th credit being taken during the In The Loop program. 
• Retroactive credit is not permitted. Students must register with their Internship Specialist and complete weekly assignments as part of the Academic Internship Moodle Course.
• 100% commission-based internships will not be approved for academic credit.  

Your Internship Specialist can help you set internship start/end dates to ensure requirements and hours are completed appropriately.

• Academic Internships must be completed by the end of the College’s July Term. Certain exceptions may be made for internships that extend into August, provided you receive advance approval from your Internship Specialist.
• Summer Academic Internship applications are accepted on a rolling basis. That said, the preferred registration deadline for a Summer Academic Internship is the one week prior to the College’s May Term. and no later than 2 weeks prior to the start of the July Term.
• Once you have secured an internship, you must contact your Internship Specialist for information on how to register your internship.
• In order to be approved for summer internship credit, students must submit all requested materials prior to the start of their internship. Students must not start their internship before securing approval. See the Academic Internship Course webpage for additional details.

Academic (for-credit) Internships:
Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships. Students earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship, as well as completing required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist. Students will work with a Career Advancement Center Internship Specialist to identify and set internship goals, target employers offering meaningful learning experiences, and complete the accompanying coursework.

Continuation of Internship or Part-Time Job:
Internships must provide real career-building experience. Students wishing to continue an existing internship or part-time job as an Academic Internship must show that their responsibilities have significantly changed and that the new responsibilities will give the student a sufficiently different educational/academic experience.

Remote Internships:
Typically, the bulk of internship work should take place at a physical site. However, remote internships will be considered. Students must meet with their Internship Specialist to discuss the details of the remote internship and receive approval before starting in their position.

Commission-Based Internships:
Internships based solely on commission will not be approved.

Non-Credit Internships:
Students who are not yet eligible to complete an Academic Internship, have earned all available internship credits, and/or wish to pursue an internship that does not meet the Academic Internship Program Guidelines may choose to pursue a non-credit internship.  Non-credit internships are separate from our formal Academic Internship Program and are student-directed. Students may work with an Internship Specialist for additional career advising support and assistance developing their search strategy, however these internships are not supervised by the Career Advancement Center. * 

*Students should be aware that certain organizations may only offer internships for academic credit.

There is a cost attached to completing an Academic (for-credit) Internship during the Summer Term. Financial Aid may apply and students must contact the Office of Financial Aid to determine their individual cost.

Funding is available to all students completing unpaid Academic Internships. That said, priority will be given to rising juniors and seniors completing domestic Academic Internships. Funding is meant to assist with the cost of an unpaid Academic Internship that a student would not otherwise be able to pursue due to financial constraints during their time at the College. Funding awards are largely based on financial need.

Please visit the Internship Funding Webpage for more information.

1. Complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. The Career Advancement Center will assign you to an Internship Specialist who will help you with your internship search.
2. Review the complete Academic Internship Program Guidelines. 
3. Connect with your Academic Advisor to ensure that an Academic Internship will fit into your academic plan.
4. Meet with your assigned Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship approval process. Your Internship Specialist will also help you craft your resume and cover letters and prepare for interviews.
5. Once you have secured an internship you must contact your Internship Specialist for information on how to register your internship.

*International Students on an F-1 or J-1 Visa:
Employment authorization is required for international students before they start their internship:

• F-1 Visa international students, contact Sandra Ortiz, DSO SEVIS Coordinator (x5202, sortiz@lakeforest.edu).
• J-1 Visa international students, contact Alexandra Olson, Coordinator of the Global Engagement Office, (x5231, aolson@lakeforest.edu). 

ACTIVATE is the College's off-campus residential summer program in Chicago. Students participating in the ACTIVATE program live at the College’s Chicago residential building, receive cutting-edge career preparation and mentorship from the Career Advancement Center, and benefit from an Academic Internship at a Chicago internship location.

• ACTIVATE is open to rising juniors and seniors.
• ACTIVATE is an 8-10 week program. Students may choose between the eight-week and ten-week program.
• Students complete an Academic Internship as part of the ACTIVATE program, as well as career-focused workshops facilitated by Lake Forest College faculty.

Please contact Director of the Center for Chicago Programs, Jennie Larsen, and/or visit the ACTIVATE webpage for more information regarding the program.

Pursuing an internship (for-credit or non-credit) is just one way a student may satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement. Please refer to the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage for a complete list of ways that students may fulfill the Experiential Learning requirement.

Types of Internships:

1. Academic (for-credit) Internships
   1. Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships, allowing students to earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship and completion of required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist.
   2. Please see the Academic Internship Course webpage for additional details.
2. Non-credit Internships
   1. Students may also satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement with an approved non-credit internship. A non-credit internship is separate from our formal Academic Internship Program and the process is student-directed.
   2. Should students wish to satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement with a non-credit internship, they will first need to complete the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Form, located in the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Guide, as well as identify a Faculty Project Supervisor. More information may be found on the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage. 
   3. Students may contact their Internship Specialist for additional support and assistance developing their search strategy. However, non-credit internships are not supervised by the Career Advancement Center. 
   4. Students should be aware that certain organizations may only offer internships for academic credit.

Economics/Business/Finance, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science

Albert Greene
Internship Specialist
847-735-5235
greene@lakeforest.edu

*Schedule an appointment via Handshake. Need help scheduling an appointment? View our Handshake Help Page here.

Art, Art History, Communication, English, Music, Music Education, Theater

Danielle Kelly
Pathway Leader and Internship Specialist
847-735-5235
dkelly@lakeforest.edu

*Schedule an appointment via Handshake. Need help scheduling an appointment? View our Handshake Help Page here.

American Studies, Area Studies, Asian Studies, Foreign Languages, History, International Relations, Latin American Studies, Legal Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Sociology and Anthropology

Jen Lazarus
Pathway Leader and Internship Specialist
847-735-5235
lazarus@lakeforest.edu 

*Schedule an appointment via Handshake. Need help scheduling an appointment? View our Handshake Help Page here.

HPP, Pre-Health, and Broader Clinical Careers
Common majors: Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Physics

Khadija Manzoor
Internship Specialist
847-735-5235
kmanzoor@lakeforest.edu

Environmental Studies, Psychology, Physical Science, and Broader Science Careers

Deja McClellan
Internship Specialist
847-735-5235
dmcclellan@lakeforest.edu

*Schedule an appointment via Handshake. Need help scheduling an appointment? View our Handshake Help Page here.