FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you are a Yale student who has completed your freshman year, or are a graduate student, we welcome your application! Currently graduating students are particularly encouraged to apply, as the Cleveland alums are focused on helping participants jump-start their careers.
If you are enthusiastic about exploring a city from many angles – through friendships, fantastic internships, diverse events and your own sense of adventure, this is the program for you.
If you happen to be from Northeast Ohio originally, you should look forward to rediscovering Cleveland while living at Cleveland State University (CSU).
You apply directly, through the Summer on the Cuyahoga website, to the potential employers of your choice. You’ll submit the usual information – employment history, cover letter, academic details – and may be contacted for an interview. If you are offered a position, congratulations! Acceptance of the position will automatically award you a spot in the Bulldogs on the Cuyahoga program. The internships and BOTC go hand-in-hand; we regret that students are not permitted to accept a job but decline BOTC participation.
Be aware that, if offered a position, you will have a limited amount of time to make a decision. This can be a little stressful since you may be weighing many options, and you’ll probably experience similar situations throughout your life whenever employment opportunities arise. It’s okay to ask for a few days to think about the offer, but positions are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis and employers will need to move on to the next candidate within a week. Professionalism, both in being straightforward with the potential employer about your decision and the ability to follow-through on that commitment, is important. If you have time constraints (planning to take the MCAT at the beginning of the summer, a large family event in the middle of July, etc.) these should be clarified with the employer at this time.
After you’ve accepted, you can look forward to getting additional information via mail and email, and enjoying the rest of your semester with the knowledge that your summer housing, events and job are all lined up.
When it comes to career sectors, Cleveland has a wealth of opportunity. If you are interested in medicine or research, we’ve got top-ranked hospital systems (The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals) along with the resources of Cleveland State University (CSU). There are biotechnology firms looking for fresh talent, as well as incubators that nurture entrepreneurs. The not-profit community in Cleveland is extensive, with organizations targeting neighborhood development, literacy, youth development, environmental sustainability, fighting homelessness and supporting the arts.
Cleveland has a rich history as an industrial powerhouse with engineering and marketing experiences available. Numerous Fortune 1000 companies have their global corporate headquarters right here in town, including manufacturers, banks, law offices and accounting firms. Internships with city government, philanthropy and educational institutions are common. Best of all, the 75-90 students participating in Summer on the Cuyahoga will each have a different summer position, so you can learn about other fields of interest via your roommates. Learn more about the jobs available at:
What are the dorms and neighborhood like?
Housing will be pre-arranged by SOTC at the campus of Cleveland State University. Students will be living in Fenn Tower. Students will be assigned to double rooms in 4-person suites, furnished with beds, dressers, closets, and desks. Each room also has a full bath. Common rooms for the suites have a couch and chairs, and each will have a kitchen with a stovetop, refrigerator, and microwave. As for other amenities, the dorm has a common area on the floor with a stove and oven. Students should bring their own kitchen items: pots, pans, dishes, glasses, etc. The building has wireless Internet access, and a computer lab located on the first floor. Parking is one block from the dorm and available for a small monthly access fee. Laundry facilities, the mail room, and a fitness center are located on the lower level of the Tower. The second floor has a game room with a ping pong table, several pool tables, foosball tables, chess/checker tables, and multiple televisions. Students also have access to CSU buildings, such as the recreation center, student center, and libraries. Fenn Tower is located on Euclid Avenue and is in close proximity to Cleveland Theatre District, the Warehouse District, and restaurants near East 4th Street and Gateway. It is also a short ride away from Ohio City, Tremont, University Circle, Little Italy, Coventry and Shaker Square. H ow does transportation work?
We recommend that you fly into Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) if you are traveling by air; it is the closest airport and while Akron/Canton is often cheaper, it is 1.5 hours away. If you are driving, MapQuest and Google Maps are good resources. Greyhound buses and Amtrak both serve downtown Cleveland as well. If you plan to swim, Lake Erie is nice during the summer. If you’d like to carpool, let us know and we can try to match you with someone else coming from your area.
Once you are on site, you are responsible for your own transportation to and from your job and events. If you are working downtown, the Rapid Transit is cheap and it takes only 15 minutes to get downtown. You can probably walk anywhere in University Circle. There is new, high-speed bus service right past the Cleveland Clinic. Anywhere else probably requires a car, although we do encourage carpooling when possible. If you don’t plan on bringing a vehicle, know that there are usually plenty of people willing to offer rides to stores or activities. We heartily suggest that passengers chip in a few bucks to help offset the cost of gasoline.
Cleveland-based alums had the vision and persistence to bring the Bulldogs concept to the North Coast of the U.S., and these same leaders are still involved. While Summer on the Cuyahoga handles administration of the program, Yale alums provide funding, champion events, serve as hosts, encourage employers to offer internships and join the Bulldogs in exploring the city.
Each intern will be matched with at least one Yale alumni/ae host who may be a retired CEO, a mother of two or a recent graduate embarking on his or her first job. These locals will invite you out to dinner a few times over the course of the summer, help you network in your potential career field and provide advice on the best restaurants, parks or concerts. It’s important that you complete and return the “interests form” that SOTC will mail you prior to your arrival in Cleveland. The Host Committee uses the information you provide on that form to match you with an alum who shares your passion for indie rock, plays golf, studies patent law, loves Ethiopian food or can’t stand Chihuahuas. So be honest and detailed – we want to know about you!