SIGP APPLICATION GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY QATAR

SUMMER INTERNSHIP GRANT PROGRAM

(SIGP)

PART I. WHAT IS SIGP?

Overview The Summer Internship Grant Program was established to support current Northwestern undergraduate students participating in unpaid internships that demonstrate financial need. This is a funding source for undergraduates who have accepted (or planning on securing) an unpaid internship or summer experience in an industry that traditionally does not pay their interns. However, it is also a career development program to enrich important learning opportunities as students engage in the summer experiences.

SIGP, the program provides a $3000 stipend for Northwestern undergraduate students (enrolled at least through fall) participating in unpaid internships in summer and offers career development support from NU-Q Career Services. Students do not need to have an internship secured before applying and previous SIGP recipients can reapply

Career Development Program In addition to receiving a grant for living and travel expenses accrued during the summer of an unpaid experience, students will participate in career development activities that include: LinkedIn professionalism and SIGP virtual community participation, informational interviews, networking, and donor appreciation.

FOR SIGP Enrolled for at least the fall quarter of the following academic year in one of the following schools/colleges: Bienen, McCormick, Medill, School of Communication, SESP or Weinberg. Please note: the program does not support the School of Professional Studies students and is not open to graduate students.

Demonstrate financial need. If you do not receive financial aid from Northwestern, you will have to explain your financial need in Essay 3 of the application Pursuing a summer experience in a traditionally unpaid field or role Pursuing an internship that meets the required 250 hours of work between June-September and has a designated supervisor Receiving 0.25 or less credit. Please note: SIGP CANNOT be combined with programs within Northwestern that offer credit such as GESI, Chicago Field Studies, Engage Chicago Not receiving any money from the employer or other grants/awards from Northwestern.

Although you can apply to SIGP if awarded it CANNOT be combined with any other grants on campus. The student would have to choose SIGP or any of the other grants.

Including but not limited to the following most commonly asked about:

Summer Undergraduate Research Grant (SURG) Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP) WCAS Grant SoC Internship Award Grant Medill Fellowship Program Grant Medill Fellowship Program Grant Political Science Grant Program in Biological Sciences Grant (PBS Grant)

PART II. HOW TO APPLY Step 1: Review Qualifications Refer to the first page

Step 2: Ask for information and Review Resources

Step 3: Write 2 Essays with optional 3rd Essay Part of the application for SIGP is to make your case for selection through well-written essay responses. Students should write these essays in a word processing program and copy and paste them into the text box in the application portal. The total length of the 2 essays should not exceed 800 words.

Essay 1: Describe the organization and summer internship/experience that you have secured or hope to secure this summer. What are you hoping to learn or gain from this experience?

(Think about specific skills, networking opportunities, industry experience, etc. Be as specific as possible – this should relate directly to the summer experience. Additionally, if you have applied to multiple opportunities, choose one to focus on for the main part of the essay.) Furthermore, how do you anticipate this experience impacting you or the NU community when you return to campus?

Essay 2: How have your academic studies and extra-curricular activities influenced your interest in pursuing this type of internship?

How will this specific summer experience opportunity help you develop your overall academic and career goals/aspirations?

Optional Essay 3: If you have any additional or new financial information that is not reflected on your General Application or in your financial aid package from Northwestern that relates to your summer funding needs, please provide those details as “Essay 3”

STEP 4: RESUME AND BUDGET

Update your one-page Professional Resume In the application, you will be asked your budget over the course of your summer experience. Please be sure to consider all your living costs and enter each expense as the questions are asked. You will also be asked to total all of your expenses. *Please note: The purpose of the budget is to show the selection committee that you’ve thought through what living and travel expenses you might incur during the summer

STEP 5: SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION The application is a two-step process: Step 1. You must first complete the General Application on the SES One Form. **If you have never logged into the SES One Form before, the system will automatically start you here upon log in.**

Step 2. After completing the General Application, you MUST complete the “Northwestern Career Advancement - Summer Internship Grant Program (SIGP)” Application. **Please note: the SIGP questions are different from the General Application Questions**

If you have technical issues with your application, please email careerservices@qatar.northwestern.edu or sigp@northwestern.edu

PART III. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT

CARRER SERVICES

@CAREERSERVICES@QATAR.NORTHWESTERN.EDU

WHAT DOES A SIGP APPLICATION ENTAIL?

IS THERE SOMEONE I CAN TALK TO ABOUT MY APPLICATION MATERIALS BEFORE SUBMITTING?

DO I NEED TO HAVE A SUMMER INTERNSHIP/EXPERIE NCE SECURED BEFORE I APPLY?

As part of the SIGP application, students will submit two essays and complete an application questionnaire. Questions about your summer experience interests and well as a summer budget is among the questions that will be included. Find the essay questions and steps for how to apply on the SIGP website.

Yes! Students can schedule an appointment to review SIGP application material. Schedule a meeting withM your career counselor or adviser via Handshake. Please bring drafts of your materials to your appointment.

No. At the time of application, students are not required to have a summer internship/experience secured. If selected for an award, recipients who do not have an internship at the time of selection must meet with their NCA career adviser to develop a search strategy. Awardees without a secured internship by June 1 will forfeit their grant.

I MISSED AN INFORMATION SESSION. CAN I VIEW THE PRESENTATION ONLINE? I APPLIED TO SIGP LAST YEAR. CAN I REAPPLY?

WHEN WILL I FIND OUT IF I'VE BEEN AWARDED A SIGP GRANT?

CAN I APPLY TO SIGP WITH MORE THAN ONE OPPORTUNITY?

Yes. You can view the virtual information session online. Virtual information session coming in mid-February.

Yes. Previous SIGP recipients may apply again for this year’s grant, so long as they meet the qualifications.

No. At the time of application, students are not required to have a summer internship/experience secured. If selected for an award, recipients who do not have an internship at the time of selection must meet with their NCA career adviser to develop a search strategy. Awardees without a secured internship by June 1 will forfeit their grant.

Yes. As long as you are able to meet the 250 hours of required work. Students can work more than opportunity if they are able to manage more than one role over the course of the summer.

I MISSED AN INFORMATION SESSION. CAN I VIEW THE PRESENTATION ONLINE? I APPLIED TO SIGP LAST YEAR. CAN I REAPPLY?

WHEN WILL I FIND OUT IF I'VE BEEN AWARDED A SIGP GRANT?

CAN I APPLY TO SIGP WITH MORE THAN ONE OPPORTUNITY?

Yes. You can view the virtual information session online. Virtual information session coming in mid-February.

Yes. Previous SIGP recipients may apply again for this year’s grant, so long as they meet the qualifications.

No. At the time of application, students are not required to have a summer internship/experience secured. If selected for an award, recipients who do not have an internship at the time of selection must meet with their NCA career adviser to develop a search strategy. Awardees without a secured internship by June 1 will forfeit their grant.

Yes. As long as you are able to meet the 250 hours of required work. Students can work more than opportunity if they are able to manage more than one role over the course of the summer.

CAN I APPLY TO SIGP IF I AM STAYING WITH FAMILY/FRIENDS DURING MY SUMMER EXPERIENCE?

HOW CAN I STRENGTHEN MY SIGP APPLICATION?

WHAT CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WILL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN AS PART OF SIGP?

Yes. Students are still eligible for SIGP even if they will be staying with family or friends during the summer. Students should be sure to note what other financial needs SIGP would be able to assist them within the summer budget portion of the application.

A few ways to enhance your application include drawing connections between your experiences (academic coursework, leadership, and volunteerism) and your career field of interest, telling a cohesive story, and demonstrating consideration for your personal learning outcomes for your intended summer experience and how that applies to your career development. Find more tips on the SIGP website.

In addition to receiving a grant for living and travel expenses accrued during the summer of an unpaid experience, students are required to participate in career development activities that include: LinkedIn professionalism and SIGP virtual community participation, informational interviews, networking, midway review, and donor appreciation.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY IN QATAR Additional Information

1.For students traveling abroad (out of Qatar or home country): I. Contact Marie Newkirk at least 40 days before the departure. The trip will need to be approved by NU-Q II. Once the country has been approved, the student will need to do the following pre departure requirements:

Sign Trip Documentation Pack (Student Traveler and Health Assessment Forms). Click here for the forms International Trip Forms Complete the Risk Management Course. Click here for the online course Northwestern SSO Risk Management Plan: Learn to mitigate risk and be safe while traveling. See information on the following page. Section “Additional requirements for students traveling independently”: Pre-Departure Requirements: MyNUQ - Student Web Purchase your own insurance: NU-Q is responsible for paying the student’s insurance for the SIGP trip. The student must complete the Insurance Purchase Process for NU-Q to pay for the insurance. For more information, contact Patti

2. For Students NOT traveling abroad (internship in Qatar or home country): If the student is staying in Qatar, the insurance is covered by Doha Bank Assurance Company If a student is staying in their home countries, and the country is not on the list of countries that NU-Q insurance Covers, the student must complete the Insurance Purchase Process for NU-Q to cover the insurance.

P.S: Students are responsible for arranging their transportation to and from their internship location.

STEPS AFTER BEING ACCEPTED TO THE PROGRAM

Before the Internship 1. Send information about your internship to Career Services 2. Attend Career Development Program sessions 3. Complete the Post-acceptance form

During the internship 1. Submit required projects on regular basis

After internship 1. Complete SIGP Follow up Assessment 2. Share your experience

CONTACT INFORMATION

QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT SIGP: sigp@northwestern.edu NU-Q Career Services: careerservices@qatar.northwestern.edu