Help give students the Owl Edge.
Host an Externship
The Center for Career Development invites Rice alumni, employers, parents, and friends of the university to engage with current Rice students through the Owl Edge Externship Program. This program provides Rice students with vital career exploration through job-shadowing and networking opportunities during the Winter and Spring breaks. As an externship "host," you can offer students a "first impression" of your industry, helping them build their "Owl Edge" through professional insights. If you are a recruiter, this is a great way to identify early talent for your organization's pipeline.
Important Dates to Know
We suggest hosts set their externship dates during the ideal dates below as they align with student breaks. If you would like to meet with your student extern(s) on another date, please indicate that in your registration and with your students after you have matched.
| Phase | Winter Break Cycle | Spring Break Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Externship registration deadline | October 5, 2025 | January 6, 2026 |
| Externship match notifications | Mid November | Mid February |
| Ideal dates to host externship | Dec. 17 - Jan. 11, 2026 | March 14 - March 22, 2026 |
Structuring your Externship
Externship activities and schedules are entirely at your discretion. Anything that gives students a tangible, realistic idea of a day in your career is considered an externship. Please review our sample externship formats, and if you have additional questions, please contact externships@rice.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How are students selected for an externship?
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CCD staff review every application for fit and quality of application materials. Students apply to externships via our 12twenty career platform with a resume and a paragraph of interest. We notify students of their matches and then introduce externship hosts to the students who matched.
- What are the benefits of being an Owl Edge Externship host?
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This high-impact program is an excellent way to mentor the next generation of Rice students. If you are involved in recruitment or talent management, this is an excellent way to showcase your organization, company culture, and daily activities. Build your talent pipeline and give Rice students the “Owl Edge.”
- How are students prepared for the externship?
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Students complete a mandatory online orientation prior to their externship that focuses on professionalism, communication, informational interviewing, and goal setting.
- Do I need to pay students or provide housing and transportation?
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Paying students is NOT allowed, as this program is purely for learning and networking. If you are able and feel comfortable opening your homes to students, picking them up from transport hubs, or offering to buy them lunch, that is acceptable as long as your externship students agree. Students are responsible for travel expenses, but the CCD provides limited travel funding to help offset those costs.