Owl Edge Externships

The Owl Edge: Hands-On Opportunities & Connections

Engaging with the Global Rice Network is a critical component of your career development. At Rice, your career journey is supported by a thriving Career Ecosystem, where alumni and employers are ready to help you navigate life beyond the hedges. The Owl Edge Externship Program is the best way to dive into this ecosystem - allowing you to explore career fields, build connections, and gain professional clarity without the long-term commitment of a traditional internship.

What to Expect

An Owl Edge Externship is a short-term, immersive observation experience hosted by Rice Alumni, parents, and friends of the university. These experiences are designed to provide first-hand insight into specific professional environments and organizational cultures.

Format: Virtual or In-person

Duration: 1 to 5 days during Winter Break (December/January) or Spring Break (March), typically.

The Experience: Depending on the host's industry and schedule, an externship typically includes:

• One-on-one or group informational interviews about your host's career path.
• Observation of daily operations, team meetings, or client calls.
• Tours of the workspace and introductions to different departments.
• Small projects or case studies to understand the "real-world" application of your studies.

How to Apply?

All opportunities are managed through 12twenty. We encourage students of all academic backgrounds and degree levels to participate.

1. Identify Opportunities: Review host profiles and their externship descriptions within the 12twenty career platform.
2. Prioritize Interests: Select and rank your top 3-5 (max 10) choices based on your personal career goals.
3. Submit Materials: Submit application materials to each externship you would like to be considered for.
   • Provide a current resume (refer to CCD resume guides on 12twenty)
   • Compose a concise "statement of Interest" (approximately 200 words) for each host, articulating your objectives for the experience.
4. Selection & Matching: Participants are matched with hosts based on alignment of interest, academic goals, and host capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need prior experience to participate in an externship?

No, externships are designed for exploratory learning. Genuine curiosity and professional conduct are the only prerequisites.

Are externships paid opportunities?

Externships are unpaid, volunteer-based mentorship experiences centered on student learning.

Can I participate in multiple externships?

Yes, we encourage students to use these experiences to explore different industries throughout their tenure at Rice. You can complete more than one externship per cycle. Apply to as many externships as you are interested in (we recommend 3-5), and we will notify you if you are eligible to participate in more than one externship.

I am a graduate student. Can I participate in externships?

Yes, externships are a great way for graduate students to connect to the Global Rice Network. All Rice students served by the CCD (undergraduates, non-MBA master's students, and doctoral students) can participate in externships. While the majority of externships are open to graduate students, we also set aside a list of externships hosted by Rice graduate alumni and prioritize graduate students who apply to these opportunities.

What is the difference between an externship and an internship?

An externship is an unpaid, short-term job shadowing opportunity intended to be a learning experience where students ask questions to explore their career options. An internship is often a paid experience and typically lasts for an extended period and is usually structured in a more traditional 9-to-5 setting with hands-on work to be completed.

Does Rice cover my travel expenses for in-person externships?

We have limited funding to cover travel expenses for externships. Funding is intended to offset the cost of lodging and travel to/from in-person externships, but stipends will likely not cover the full cost. If you match to an eligible in-person externship opportunity, we will share the funding application with you.