Program Description

Our newly expanded Externship & Micro-Credential Program offers students hands-on career exploration, real-world experience, and skill development through three distinct opportunities during Winter Break. Designed to support students at different stages of their career journey, the program includes:

  • Exploration Externships for early-stage discovery
  • Applied Externships for skill-based, real-world engagement
  • Micro-Credentials for targeted technical skill development

Whether students are just beginning to explore career options or are ready to gain industry-specific experience and skills, this program provides multiple pathways to grow professionally with the support of alumni, parents, and friends of the college.

Since 2008, alumni, parents, and friends of Carleton have offered 2,535 students the opportunity to participate in externships around the globe with Fortune 100 companies, leading non-profits, and top companies specializing in law, medicine, and finance.

2025 Timeline

Exploration Externships

  • Student Registration Timeline: August 25 – November 6
  • Alumni Panelist Names and Bios Released: Thursday, October 23 at 01:00 p.m.
  • Student Registration Deadline: Thursday, November 6 at 11:59:00 p.m. via Handshake
  • Program Duration: Tuesday, December 2 – Friday, December 5
    • Offered virtually from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central Time

Applied Externships

  • Site Host Registration: July 7 – August 21
  • Student Application Timeline: August 25 – October 2
  • Student Application Deadline: Thursday, October 2 at 11:59:00 p.m. CST via Handshake
  • Student Funding Application Deadline: Thursday, October 2 at 11:59:00 p.m. CST via Google Form
  • Site Hosts review, interview, and rank applicants: October 6 – October 15
  • Externship Application Decisions to Students: Tuesday, October 21, starts at 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Externship Funding Decisions Communicated to Students: Thursday, October 23
  • Externship Confirmation Form Due (including self-designed): Tuesday, October 28
  • Mandatory Student Orientation: Tuesday, November 11 at 5:45 p.m. (tentative date)
  • Program Duration: Tuesday, December 2 – Friday, December 19
  • Site Host Post-Externship Survey Deadline: Tuesday, January 6
  • Student Post-Externship Survey Deadline: Friday, January 9

Micro-Credentials

  • Student Registration Timeline: August 25 – November 6
  • Student Registration Deadline: Thursday, November 6 at 11:59:00 p.m. CST
  • Program Duration: Tuesday, December 2 – Friday, December 19