Stanford Students' Summer Resource List

On campus, one of the most stressful questions is, “What are you doing this summer?” Once Winter Quarter starts, the immense pressure to find a summer internship, job, or research position sets in. It can be challenging to find time to apply to positions while still focusing on your schoolwork, extracurriculars, and part-time jobs. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of some fantastic summer opportunities that Stanford offers to its students, ranging from internships in the arts to internships at non-profits abroad. 

Anticipating Summer Plans

To begin, we want to emphasize the importance of listening to oneself and what will serve your well-being best. Let’s normalize going home for a quarter, spending time with family, taking time to heal, rest, and restore ourselves as a wonderful way to spend the summer. It’s easy to get caught up in the comparison game and feel the immense pressure to have a shiny internship to show- but what is a shiny internship without peace and joy? We encourage you to listen to yourself- if it’s in your path to apply for summer internships- find something that speaks to your heart, and if it’s in your path to not do an internship this summer to honor and embrace that as an equally “shiny" experience!

If you are interested in some cool summer internship opportunities we’ve highlighted some below. Get applying ASAP as most deadlines are approaching very soon. 

Haas Center for Public Service

The Haas Center for Public Service offers a variety of fellowships and internships that integrate academic learning with field-based experience, allowing students to contribute meaningfully to communities both locally and globally. 

Cardinal Quarter Fellowships

These fellowships provide undergraduate students with the opportunity to design and implement a full-time service experience during the summer quarter. Students can engage in diverse service themes such as arts, education, health, racial justice, climate solutions, and public interest technology. Each fellow receives a base stipend of $7,000 to support travel and living expenses. 

Health Equity Fellowships

Through this program, undergraduate students support efforts to address the health and well-being of underserved communities across the United States. Opportunities may include direct service in community-based clinics, advocacy with nonprofits, or community-engaged learning and research with legislative bodies. 

Community-Based Research Fellowship Program

This fellowship allows students to work with faculty to conduct research that addresses community-identified needs, integrating academic learning with public service. 

Rising Bird Fellows

The Rising Bird Fellows Program, named in honor of Dr. Tina Rising Bird and Dr. Jeff Bird, provides stipends to students who have secured unpaid experiential opportunities. The program offers up to $7,500 for qualifying full-time summer opportunities and up to $2,815 for part-time opportunities during the spring quarter. Priority is given to undergraduates with financial need. 

Stanford Career Education

Eligibility and application process for Stanford Career Education: Undergraduate students who have secured an unpaid opportunity may be eligible for funding if their opportunity meets the Rising Bird Fellows requirements. Stipend amounts are calculated based on the student's time commitment during the quarter for which they are applying. 

Stanford Internship Program in the Arts (SIPA)

The Stanford Internship Program in the Arts (SIPA) provides Stanford students with an introduction to the variety of ways individuals can be part of a vibrant arts ecosystem. Open to current Stanford undergraduate freshmen, sophomores, and juniors from all academic disciplines. Co-terms and graduating seniors are not eligible. It offers two tracks:

• Pre-Arranged Internships: Students participate in a 10-week, part-time placement with one of Stanford’s arts institutions, such as the Cantor Arts Center or Stanford Live.
• Self-Designed Internships: Students design and secure a full-time internship with an off-campus arts organization that aligns with their unique interests.

Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship (CAF)

The Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship provides opportunities for Stanford students to explore career pathways in the arts, focusing on arts administration, arts & social justice, or apprenticing with a practicing artist. Open to current Stanford undergraduate students.

Whether you decide to pursue one of these opportunities or do something different, we hope you are able to prioritize your well-being and decide the path that is best for you independent of feelings of pressure or comparison.

Written by: Chase Klavon, Class of 2025 & Cherrial Odell, Class of 2026