Cleveland is a bustling hub filled with multiple opportunities regardless of students’ areas of study. From roles in IT, to healthcare, education, and so forth, opportunities are diverse to correspond with various student interns. Summer on the Cuyahoga is an internship experience that caters to all aspects regarding students’ professional development.
The program is set up to meet student needs by providing paid internships ranging between twelve to twenty dollars an hour, free housing, full time networking opportunities, and built-in time to experience all Cleveland has to offer.
Potential applicants are required to fill out the Summer on the Cuyahoga application where they will be asked for their personal and school information, along with the question “what is the value of this internship and SOTC program to you?” The convenient aspect of this application is that you can apply to multiple positions as you see fit. Each position usually requires a personal statement as to why you’re interested in that particular role, resume/CV and sometimes a writing sample. Transcripts and letters of recommendations are generally not required. Make sure to check the application portal frequently since they do tend to upload internship opportunities continuously throughout the spring semester.
Upon landing your position, the SOTC program works to pair students with an alumni host from Denison to orient you with the program, the Cleveland area and any other concerns that might come up. This is the perfect opportunity to create an alumni network, where opportunities/ advice can be passed along, and connections can be fostered. A year later, I’ve managed to continuously connect with my alumni host, which I find has been mutually beneficial, and one of the best things I ended up leaving the program with.
Accepted students are required to live on the Case Western Reserve University campus which is conveniently located close to multiple food options, museums and other attractions. Student interns usually work during the weekday between the hours of 9-5, however this varies depending on the individual internships. Regardless, this usually leaves room for interns to participate in networking events, and bonding amongst the other interns within the program. I highly recommend going to Wade Oval Wednesdays, where every Wednesday a free concert with multiple food trucks and vendors is hosted close to Case Western’s campus. Students are also required to attend five events, with an additional ten that are optional throughout the course of the internship program to further maximize their experience. Ultimately, what you put into the program is what you get out, and SOTC provides you with all the necessary resources to make it a fun, educational and fulfilling internship experience.
