How to Apply and Interview
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Below is an overview of the steps you should take in order to apply for internships in the Higher Education program at the University of Michigan. All applicants admitted to the CSHPE master's program as a full-time student for fall 2023 should participate in this process. Master's students participate in an internship during their first two semesters while also completing coursework.*
*Dual degree students with the MBA program typically wait until year two to complete an internship. Part-time students who are working full-time in a higher education setting are often eligible to waive their internship requirement. Please contact Dr. Madden directly to discuss your particular circumstances if you intend to pursue the program as a dual degree student or on a part-time basis. Please note that participating in placement requires a fast turnaround time, as your materials must be submitted by February 20, 2023.
We look forward to working with you during this upcoming placement process!
1. Create a Google log-in
1. Create a Google log-in
If you currently have a Gmail account or use Google apps that require a log-in, you may use that account. You will be able to view this information page without a Google account, but in order to upload your application materials, you must supply your Google log-in information (and will then receive a confirmation via Gmail for each position to which you apply). The University of Michigan supports Google Drive and has approved using Google Drive for sensitive and private information such as your application materials.
If you are unable to access a Google account, please contact at cshpe.internships@umich.edu.
2. Update your resume
2. Update your resume
Please update your resume. If applicable (e.g., you have a number of research presentations, publications, etc.), you may choose to submit a CV in place of a resume. Some internship sites will request contact information for professional references as part of the placement process whereas others will not.
3. Complete your CSHPE interest chart
3. Complete your CSHPE interest chart
A copy of the CSHPE interest chart template is located here, which you should download, complete, and save as a file with your information. This chart is designed to help you name and prioritize your interests. This table will aid internship providers in understanding where your interests lie and what specific skills you hope to develop.
The experience of being a graduate student involves both building on current interests and discovering new ones. Please be honest but open to a broad range of areas of practice, particularly those less familiar to you.
4. Register to participate in internship placement (this is separate from Campus Visit Day registration)
4. Register to participate in internship placement (this is separate from Campus Visit Day registration)
Please combine your updated resume and CSHPE interest chart into a single pdf document. By 11:59 p.m. ET on February 20, register to participate in spring internship placement by submitting your combined pdf document here. This combined copy of your resume/interest chart should be a stand-alone document (i.e., it should not have cover letter statements because supervisors from many different internship sites will have access to it). If you need to make a change to this document before the February 20 deadline, after you submit it, please email cshpe.internships@umich.edu.
To ensure your documents are reviewed by the appropriate individuals, it is important that you name your documents according to CSHPE placement guidelines. Please click on Guide to Naming Internship Application Documents to review guidelines for naming your documents.
We ask that you submit your resume, combined with CSHPE interest chart, a number of times through this process. This stand-alone version (with no cover letters included) provides an important option for internship providers to review every person's materials, as opposed to only those who apply directly to their position. As part of the placement process, you may be contacted for an interview with an internship for which you could be a good fit--but may not have considered!
Even if you are unavailable to participate in virtual interviews during the afternoon of March 13, and will need to schedule internship interviews at a different time, please please submit the registration form.
5. Save the Date for Monday, March 13, when internship interviews will take place (1-5 p.m. ET)
5. Save the Date for Monday, March 13, when internship interviews will take place (1-5 p.m. ET)
All internship interviews will take place virtually, 1-5 p.m. ET on Monday, March 13, which is the Monday after the in-person CSHPE Campus Visit Day on Friday, March 10.
What if I am unavailable to interview on March 13?
What if I am unavailable to interview on March 13?
We highly encourage you to participate in your interviews the afternoon of Campus Previous Day on March 13. However, we realize this may not be possible for everyone. If this is the case for you, please follow the above steps by February 20. We ask that you register to participate in internship placement (#4 above) and share that you have a prior commitment on March 13.
When we create the internship interview schedule, we will ask internship providers to schedule a virtual interview with you during the prior week or on March 14, at a time that is mutually convenient for you. After we email you the list of internship sites with which you will be interviewing, please reach out to the contact for those sites. All interviews should be complete by March 14.
6. Write a cover letter (250 words or less) for 8-10 internship positions
6. Write a cover letter (250 words or less) for 8-10 internship positions
To view internship descriptions and apply to positions, click here. After reviewing position descriptions, identify the 8-10 internships in which you are most interested. Write an individualized cover letter specific to each one.
Each of your cover letter statements can be no more than 250 words and should address these prompts:
The name of the internship for which you are applying
The reason(s) you are applying for this particular internship (e.g. it may represent a skill set you want to gain, the career path you want to pursue, the population you want to work with, etc.)
Previous experience and/or transferrable skills that make you a strong candidate for this position
Concluding sentence(s)
Tips for how to write a strong cover letter are available here.
7. Apply to positions: Combine each cover letter with a copy of your combined resume/interest chart pdf and submit to the appropriate Google form
7. Apply to positions: Combine each cover letter with a copy of your combined resume/interest chart pdf and submit to the appropriate Google form
Please do not email materials directly to internship supervisors.
Please do not email materials directly to internship supervisors.
Combine each cover letter that you wrote into a single pdf document with your combined resume/interest chart. By 11:59 p.m. on ET February 20, log into your Gmail account (which will allow you to submit a document as an attachment to a Google form) and submit each combined cover letter/resume/interest chart pdf via the Google form linked beside the internship description.
Please keep a copy of your confirmation email because this will include a link in case you need to make a change after you submit it, and before the February 20 deadline.
You should complete this process 8-10 times, once for each internship site to which you apply. Please remember to use the Guide to Naming Internship Application Documents when naming each of these final combined pdfs.
8. Rank the positions in which you are most interested
8. Rank the positions in which you are most interested
Also by 11:59 p.m. ET on February 20, please submit a ranking of the 8-10 positions to which you applied (#1 should be the position in which you have the greatest interest).
Please number your list, using the exact name of the program or department as it appears on the internship description, followed by the position title.
We will request that submit another ranking form after your interviews.
9. Submit Your Spark Hire responses
9. Submit Your Spark Hire responses
In addition, by the end of the day on February 20, please submit your brief recorded interview for internship supervisors to review via Spark Hire. This link for this is below.
Submit your Spark Hire interview recording here.
These recorded interviews are not intended to replace your interviews with hiring teams, but are a supplemental opportunity for you to describe your goals in pursuing an internship. You are required to complete these recorded interviews.
You will be asked to create a Spark Hire log in (we suggest you “confirm manually” when logging in rather than using your LinkedIn account).
You will then be prompted to respond to each of the following questions:
What are your name and pronouns?
What skills and experiences do you hope to gain through your CSHPE internship?
What unique knowledge and skills will you contribute in your CSHPE internship?
What is one personal or professional accomplishment that you are proud of? Why?
You will have one minute to record your response to each question. There is no need to use the this full amount of time. After you record yourself, you will have an opportunity to review your recording, then delete and re-record your response to that same question if you wish to, with an unlimited number of "re-takes." After you submit your pre-recorded interview, you will not be able to alter it or re-record your response for any of the questions unless you contact cshpe.internsthips@umich.edu. Please plan to complete the interview in one sitting and wear business casual clothing (e.g. khakis, button down shirt, etc.).
When you prepare your responses, please consider that they will be available to all internship supervisors. As thus, you may want to provide a higher-level overview of your goals--as opposed to tailoring your response to a specific position--and also highlight transferrable skills that will be applicable in a variety of positions. You can also describe skills and experiences you are open to having, even if they may not be your first priority in an internship.
Finally…have fun! This is intended to be not only a resource and valuable practice experience for you, but also an enjoyable way to highlight who you are as a prospective intern.
If you have any questions specific to Spark Hire, in particular if you experience technical difficulties, please contact Spark Hire's 24-hour assistance help line by emailing support@sparkhire.com (24-hour support) or calling 800-219-0480 (10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. EST Monday-Friday).
10. Enjoy your interviews!
10. Enjoy your interviews!
You will receive the list of sites with whom you will be interviewing from CSHPE by no later than March 9. Read about each of these programs or offices so you are prepared for your interview. We hope you enjoy meeting with them.
If you unavailable to interview on March 13, by March 9, we will send you a list of sites with whom you will be interviewing in the few days prior to, or Monday after, Campus Visit Day. Using the contact info in the job description, please reach out to the hiring team to schedule a time to meet via Zoom. The hiring team may also reach out to you directly in order to schedule.
11. Re-Submit your Rankings AFTER Campus Preview Day
11. Re-Submit your Rankings AFTER Campus Preview Day
We request that shortly after March 13 both internship providers and students submit a revised ranking of their preferred candidates or internship placements, respectively. This information will not determine offers, but will help us to facilitate the placement process.
Please submit your rankings by NOON on Tuesday, March 14. Include only sites with which you interviewed. If you have an interview after this deadline, please make a note of this in your rankings. You can include ties if you are equally interested in multiple positions.
Next Steps: Waiting for an Internship Offer
Next Steps: Waiting for an Internship Offer
Internship sites will not extend an offer until Wednesday, March 15. We encourage sites, to the best of their ability, to make a decision by this day regarding who their top choice candidate is, and to contact them directly via phone or email. If you do not receive an offer on March 15, please do not be concerned! If an internship site's first candidate does not accept the position, they will then re-offer it to another candidate. This process may happen quickly, or it may take several weeks.
When you receive an offer from an internship site, please confirm immediately with them that you have received their offer. If an internship site does not hear from you within two business days, they may extend an offer to another candidate.
If you receive more than one internship offer, congratulations! Please know that in the occasional situations when this happens, students can accept only one internship position.
If you have questions about the internship program or placement process, please contact us at cshpe.internships@umich.edu.
We invite you to read more about the CSHPE master's program on the School of Education website.
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