Externship program remains popular despite poor pay

By Matt Matros

While some Yalies will soak up the rays or hit the slopes this spring break, others will take advantage of the Association of Yale Alumni's annual spring break externship program. Externs will spend part of their vacation working for corporations, agencies, and organizations such as New Age Publishing, CBS, and the White House,
experiencing the everyday routine of an occupation.

Jenny Edwards, head of the popular externship program, described it as "a way to connect and reconnect alumni to Yale."

In addition to giving students something interesting to do over break, Edwards said that the program provides students with valuable exposure to a field in which they are interested. "It's perfect for the student sitting in their room thinking, `I'd like to be a lawyer, but what do lawyers do all day?'" she added.

Although 173 different opportunities are named in the Spring 1997 Externship Position List, nearly 80 percent of them are located in the Northeast.

Edwards attributed this to the greater number of alumni, companies, and interest in this region. Accepting positions in the Midwest or on the West Coast is simply not a feasible option for many, according to Edwards. "From what I hear from most students, it's difficult to do financially," she explained.

One significant obstacle potential externs must face is the scarcity of free housing provided by sponsors. Unlike the well-funded Yale Club of New York City, "most Yale Clubs [which sponsor externships] don't have much of a budget. Most don't even have dues. We do encourage sponsors to provide [housing and transportation], but it's generally up to the sponsors themselves," Edwards said.

Cincinnati's Procter & Gamble (P&G) is one company that does provide housing and transportation costs to externs. Therefore, the company receives the largest number of applications each year, according to Edwards.

"I'd recommend it [a P&G externship] to anyone. Every person had their own hotel suite. [P&G] paid for everything, including phone calls," Albert Ko, TD'98, said.

Since such largesse is not typical of companies involved in the AYA Externship Program, students appreciated the financial support provided by P&G. Leisle Chung, CC '98, said that without financial assistance "there is no way I would have been able to [do the externship]."

Potential extern Kevin Irwin, SY '99, commented, "It's a good way to explore possible career fields, and also a good way to spend less time with my family over spring break."

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