Semester in The City (SITC) Student Application

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Application Questions

Semester in the City will match you with an internship at a nonprofit, government agency, or social mission business, at which you’ll be able to gain professional skills in a real-world setting. You’ll also take two courses in social innovation and problem solving while experiencing the city of Boston. Why are you applying to our multifaceted Semester in the City program? (150 words minimum recommended)

At Semester in the City, we give students the opportunity to work in our community to make meaningful change. What are you passionate about? Why is this important to you? (150 words minimum recommended)

Top Skill/Strength

#2 Skill/Strength

#3 Skill/Strength

Please specify what other skills you posses

What skill would you most like to strengthen?

Placement Considerations

What is the primary issue area you would be most interested in working in during your internship?

What is the secondary issue area you would be most interested in working in during your internship?

Would you prefer a placement that is:

What is your desired level of support?

Do you have experience working in a professional environment?

Select the type of workplace culture and environment you best thrive in

Select the types of groups you have worked with in the past.

Functional Teams - Members from the same department (e.g., Marketing, IT, HR) working toward shared goals.Cross-Functional Teams - Members from different departments collaborate on projects requiring diverse expertise.Project Teams - Temporary teams formed to complete specific projects within a set timeframe.Task Forces - Short-term groups assembled to solve urgent problems or implement critical initiatives.Committees - Ongoing groups that oversee policies, culture, or initiatives (e.g., Environmental Committee).Leadership Teams - Members who set strategy and guide the organization.Advisory Boards - Internal or external experts providing strategic guidance on key decisions.Mentorship/Coaching Groups - Members who guide and develop junior team members through structured mentoring.

Briefly describe your previous internship or work experience, including what aspects worked well for you and what challenges you faced.

Resume

Special Project Interest Areas

Fellows dedicate at least 40% of their internship to a special project, where they take the lead in planning and execution. These projects provide real responsibility, have clear goals, address a genuine organizational need, and result in an evaluable final product assessed by both a Mentor and CfSI staff for cross-cohort parity.

Please select your top 3 special project areas below that align with your personal and/or professional goals. Reminder: We cannot guarantee a special project area in your placement, but this information will provide a key component in making an effective match

Special Project Categories

Direct Service – Fellow manages part of the organization’s direct service, supported by existing systems.
Example: Design and implement after-school workshops, creating a guide with lesson plans and an evaluation.
Event Planning – Fellow organizes and leads a new event (not an annual one).
Example: Plan and execute an Assistive Technology Resource Fair, then document replication guidelines.
Report or Analysis – Fellow conducts research or data analysis, producing a report or presentation.
Example: Analyze program data and present recommendations for improvement.
Social Media – Fellow develops and implements a new social media strategy, focusing on design and planning.
Example: Launch a Snapchat channel for Playworks and create a style guide for future use.
Strategic Project – Fellow executes a specific, self-contained strategy that aligns with broader organizational goals.
Example: Develop and launch a Spanish-language newsletter to improve Latinx outreach.
Other – Custom projects that meet the outlined criteria.

Top Special Project Area

#2 Special Project Area

#3 Special Project Area

Summary

To assist in internship selection and placement, please rank your preferences from 1 (most important) to 7 (least important) to best support your success, the project, and the organization's needs. Please note: preferences will be considered but are not guaranteed.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Placement with a mentor that has the type of support level I desire
Placement that has a mission connected to my interest areas
Placement that will help me develop desired skills
Placement that has a special project that is aligned with my skills/interests
Placement that has day-to-day tasks that are aligned with my skills/interests
Placement that has a workplace culture and environment I best thrive in
Placement that is the type of workplace I desire (hybrid, remote, or in-person)

In 2-4 sentences, describe your ideal internship position and the special project you hope to work on. This description will help match you with potential organizations by providing insight into your goals and interests. While your project may not be exactly as described, we hope it will align with both your aspirations and the organization’s needs and priorities.

If known, describe your intended career path. If you're unsure, simply write "unknown."

Is there anything else that would be helpful for us to know when we are matching you with your internship?

Financial Aid Consideration

CFSI is deeply committed to increasing access to high-impact experiential learning for students with financial need. We have a limited number of need-based scholarships available, with priority given to Pell-Eligible and high-financial need students. If you are eligible to receive aid, your award will be applied to the housing portion of your bill.

Would you like to be considered for financial aid? If you select yes, you will receive a short financial aid application form to the email provided in this application.

YesNo

Reference

Please provide a reference who we may contact regarding your application. List someone who knows you well, such as an advisor, professor, community leader, work supervisor, coach, etc. References should NOT be family members, friends, or peers. Below your reference, please provide the contact information for your faculty advisor.

First Name

Last Name

Phone Number

Title

Organization

Acknowledgements

In the past four years, have you been placed on disciplinary or academic probation, suspension, or expulsion at your educational institution?

YesNo

Please provide details about the situation. Answering "yes" will not automatically disqualify you.

I understand that all information provided in this application can be shared with my university.

Yes

I understand I must complete my university's required eligibility process prior to enrolling in Semester in the City. (We can help you out with this! Email sitc@collegeforsocialinnovation.org with any questions.)

Yes

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Semester in The City (SITC) Student Application

General Information

Key Things to Know:

Special Project Categories