How to Get an Internship Under American Professors | Detailed Explanation
Summary
TLDRThis video offers insights on securing internships with American professors, emphasizing the value of recommendation letters for university admissions. It explains the rarity of such opportunities for overseas undergraduates and the professor's perspective on investing time in short-term interns. The speaker shares personal experiences and strategies, such as building connections, demonstrating research interest, and offering to work remotely or unpaid, to increase chances of securing an internship that can significantly boost one's academic and career prospects.
Takeaways
- 📚 Having any form of work, internship, or research experience with an American professor can significantly improve your chances of admission to higher-ranked American universities due to strong recommendation letters.
- 🔗 Recommendation letters are a critical component of an admission packet in American universities, and having one from a professor you've worked with can be a significant advantage.
- 🌐 Many undergraduate students worldwide seek internships at American universities, often reaching out directly to professors for positions.
- 🏫 Universities rarely offer internships, making it uncommon for undergraduate students abroad to gain research experience in the U.S.
- 👨🏫 Professors are more inclined to work with doctoral students due to the long-term relationship and mutual benefits, as opposed to the short-term nature of internships.
- 💼 Professors view their time and energy as valuable and are less likely to invest in training students for short-term internships where they receive little benefit.
- 🤝 Personal connections often play a crucial role in securing internships, with successful cases involving connections through senior students or family members.
- 💡 To approach a professor for an internship, it's essential to understand their research, read their papers, and express genuine interest and capability in their work.
- ✉️ Avoid sending mass emails to professors; instead, craft personalized emails that demonstrate your understanding of their research and your potential contributions.
- 💼 Be prepared to work without payment, as professors may be more willing to consider your application if there's no financial burden, and consider remote work opportunities to reduce the need for visa sponsorship.
Q & A
How can an internship with an American professor enhance an international student's chances of admission to American universities?
-An internship with an American professor can significantly increase an international student's chances of admission to higher-ranked American universities because it provides the student with valuable work experience and a strong recommendation letter from a reputable source within the American academic community.
What is the importance of recommendation letters in the university application process in America?
-Recommendation letters are a key component of the university application process in America. They provide insights into the applicant's capabilities, work ethic, and potential from the perspective of someone who has directly worked with the applicant, which can greatly influence the admissions decision.
Why do American universities rarely offer internships to undergraduate students from abroad?
-American universities rarely offer internships to undergraduate students from abroad because such opportunities are uncommon and often require significant time and effort to train the intern, with limited long-term benefits for the university or professor.
What is the typical relationship between a professor and doctoral students in terms of research?
-The typical relationship between a professor and doctoral students is a long-term, mutually beneficial collaboration where the professor guides the students in their research, and the students contribute to advancing the professor's research agenda.
Why might a professor be less inclined to work with a master's student compared to a doctoral student?
-A professor might be less inclined to work with a master's student because the time and effort invested in training a master's student may not yield long-term benefits, as master's students typically stay for a shorter period and then leave after completing their degree.
What are the common ways international students have managed to secure internships with American professors?
-International students have often secured internships through personal connections, such as knowing a senior or a relative who is already studying in the US and can vouch for them or facilitate an introduction to a professor.
Why is it crucial for students to understand the perspective of the American professor when seeking an internship?
-Understanding the perspective of the American professor is crucial because it helps students tailor their approach and demonstrate their value and potential contributions, which can increase their chances of securing an internship.
What advice does the speaker give regarding the initial contact with a professor for an internship?
-The speaker advises against sending mass emails and suggests that students should research the professor's work, read their papers, and write a personalized and informed email expressing genuine interest in the professor's research.
How can students demonstrate their commitment and potential value to a professor when seeking an internship?
-Students can demonstrate their commitment and potential value by showing a deep understanding of the professor's research, offering to assist doctoral students or the professor's team, and being willing to work remotely or without payment if necessary.
What is the significance of having an American professor's recommendation letter for an international student's application to American universities?
-Having a recommendation letter from an American professor is significant because it adds credibility and authenticity to the student's application, showing that they have experience and have been endorsed by a recognized figure in the American academic community.
Outlines
🎓 The Value of Internships with American Professors
The speaker, Chaitanya Sambhara, a faculty member at the University of Texas at Arlington, discusses the benefits of securing an internship with an American professor for international students. He explains that such an internship can significantly improve one's chances of being admitted to higher-ranked American universities due to the strong recommendation letters that can be provided by the professor. Chaitanya emphasizes the importance of understanding the professor's perspective, as they are looking for long-term research contributions, typically from doctoral students. He clarifies that undergraduate internships at American universities are uncommon but not impossible, and suggests that personal connections often play a crucial role in securing such opportunities.
🤝 The Role of Personal Connections in Internship Opportunities
Chaitanya Sambhara elaborates on how personal connections are often the key to securing internships with American professors. He shares examples of students who leveraged connections through senior students or family members already studying in the US to approach professors. These connections facilitated the process by reducing the time and effort the professor needed to invest in training the intern. The speaker also points out that in most cases, these internships are unpaid, reflecting the reluctance of professors to invest in students who will be with them for a short period. He advises students to understand this perspective to improve their chances of securing an internship.
💡 Crafting an Effective Approach to Professors
The speaker advises students on how to approach professors for internships effectively. He discourages sending mass emails and emphasizes the importance of personalizing communication. Chaitanya suggests that students should research the professor's work, read their papers, and understand their research to demonstrate genuine interest and knowledge. He also recommends building connections with doctoral students who can vouch for the intern's capabilities and potentially reduce the professor's training burden. The speaker encourages students to express their willingness to work remotely and without pay to show their commitment and reduce the professor's investment.
💼 Case Study: A Successful Internship and Its Impact
Chaitanya Sambhara shares a case study of a student who worked remotely for him, without the need for visa sponsorship, and was paid for the summer work. This student, initially rejected from multiple universities, was later able to secure admission offers and is now employed at Microsoft, thanks to the research experience and recommendation letter from the professor. The speaker uses this example to illustrate the potential benefits of internships and the importance of demonstrating research capabilities and a strong work ethic. He also highlights the value of a recommendation letter from an American professor in enhancing a student's application for further studies.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Internship
💡American Professor
💡Admissions
💡Recommendation Letters
💡Research Experience
💡Undergraduate Students
💡Personal Connections
💡Unpaid Internships
💡Academic Research
💡Visa Sponsorship
💡Remote Work
Highlights
Having work experience or an internship with an American professor can significantly increase your chances of admission to higher-ranked American universities.
Recommendation letters from American professors are crucial for university applications in the U.S.
Many undergraduate students worldwide seek advice on securing internships at American universities.
Universities rarely offer internships to foreign undergraduate students, making such opportunities uncommon.
Professors prioritize long-term relationships with doctoral students for research collaboration.
Master students are less preferred for research collaboration due to their shorter duration of study.
Undergraduate students seeking short-term internships are often not a priority for professors due to limited time and potential for minimal research skill development.
Personal connections are key to securing internships, as seen in cases where students leveraged relationships with senior students.
Unpaid internships are common for foreign students, with some professors sponsoring application fees.
To approach professors, students should avoid mass emails and instead craft personalized, well-researched messages.
Students should read and understand a professor's research papers to demonstrate genuine interest and knowledge in their field.
Building connections with doctoral students can be a strategic way to approach a professor for an internship.
Expressing willingness to work without payment can be a persuasive factor for professors considering the investment of their time and resources.
Offering to work remotely can alleviate the burden of visa sponsorship and paperwork for the professor.
Demonstrating the ability to perform quality work can improve chances of securing an internship, even if it's unpaid.
A recommendation letter from an American professor can significantly enhance a student's CV and admission prospects.
The speaker shares a personal anecdote of hiring a student remotely and how it positively impacted the student's career and admission to American universities.
Transcripts
so i will share something i will tell
you something that nobody would have
told you and nobody could have told you
okay
how can you get an internship with an
american professor at an american
university now what happens is that if
you have work experience of any kind
internship of any kind research
experience of any kind with an american
professor and then you apply for
admissions at american universities your
chances of getting admitted at higher
ranked universities can increase
dramatically because now you have
somebody recommending you who is from
here because
i'm sure you know that right when you're
applying to schools in america one of
the key components of your admission
packet are your recommendation letters
and if you can show that you have worked
on some kind of research project with a
professor at an american university that
professor will write you a
recommendation letter and your cv will
also be enhanced because of it
and many people therefore have asked me
many undergraduate students particularly
from all over the world have asked me
how can we get an internship at an
american university in particular rather
than asking how they can get an
internship they have reached out to me
asking for an internship position so i
felt that if i make a video on this and
explain everything that happens in the
background many of you can really
benefit from it
[Music]
this chaitanya sambhara faculty at the
college of business university of texas
arlington so now many people write me
asking for some kind of project if they
can get an internship in the us if they
can come here and work under me and my
response to all of them has been quite
elaborate but it is very difficult to
communicate each person individually
right so hopefully this video will make
everything clear for you now
when you are looking for an internship
there are two parties involved of course
right it's you and the other party who
is supposed to give you that internship
position right in that intern position
now all you know is you your side your
party but you don't know anything about
the other side and i will disclose as
much as i can the perspective of the
other side knowing which you will really
understand how to tackle the whole
situation now who are you most likely
you are an undergraduate student who
wants to come to america and work with a
professor at a university right now
what is your proper background
you are a student
you want some experience so that you can
get better opportunities when you apply
for masters of phd degrees that is all
your perspective is i'm looking for some
kind of opportunity and i would wonder
if the other person will give me the
opportunity
now
how can you go ahead without
understanding the other side
before i explain the perspective of the
other side let me make it very clear
universities rarely rarely ever give out
internships okay getting an internship
experience or any kind of research
experience at an american university
while you are an undergraduate student
abroad is very very uncommon
okay but
it's not that nobody does it people do
that
how does that work out and
why you should know the other side's
perspective
okay now
if you have to look at the whole
situation from an american professor's
perspective this is how things are
as a professor you have a lot of
research responsibilities okay if you
are at a research university research
oriented university
you have to work with doctoral students
sometimes even master students and once
in a while maybe even undergraduate
students as a professor your perspective
is to carry forward your research agenda
and doctoral students who are spending
four to six years of their lives with
you getting trained under you are the
ones who are your real assets now it's a
long term relationship with a student
right you spend immense amount of time
and effort working with that student and
that student is also taking your
research forward and it's a mutually
beneficial relationship where both
parties grow in their professional
careers one party is taking their
research agenda forward the other party
is learning those research skills so
that they can do independent research
later on therefore for a professor it
makes complete sense to collaborate with
phd students because they are willing to
put their time and energy in a long term
okay then somewhat less preferred are
master students definitely less
preferred than doctoral students who
come here just for one or two years they
get their master's degree and then they
just leave
now why would a professor want to invest
their time and energy on someone where
it takes quite a bit of their effort and
time investment on training the master
student okay and
after all your efforts the master
student will do a small thesis graduate
and never see you again
right so the professor has even less of
an incentive to work with a massive
student in comparison to a doctoral
student now
you
some random undergraduate student
somewhere abroad wants two months long
internship
okay from a professor's perspective you
are going to be here for a very very
short time just one small summer one
very short summer
and then you know nothing for the most
part i would expect that you hardly have
any research skills
and
not just that you're not even working on
your research skills to that extent okay
your background is not as strong as a
master student who has already completed
a degree you're still just a high school
graduate you do not have an
undergraduate degree and then you want
professor to give their time and energy
into training you
while they will not benefit much at all
because you will do your internship and
go away so why would a professor want to
spend their valuable time on some random
undergraduate student who wants to go
for an internship okay now these are all
my perspectives and i believe that uh i
would personally believe that you can
generalize to for the most part everyone
so now you need a way to connect with
that professor so that that professor
can give you an internship right
now what happens is that in every single
case that i have seen where a student
has done a summer internship at an
american university with an american
professor
in every single case
there were some personal connections
okay
the kind of personal connections were in
one case there were two students who
were doing their internship at a
university in new york state
their senior from their university was
already a doctoral student at that
university so they approached their own
senior who was a phd student to see if
they can get an internship and the phd
student went to the professor
and then said see i'm working on this
and this research project some of the
work i can probably relegate to some
other people who will be very quick and
talented and i will be happy to coach
them for a period of two to four months
so the professor's own time investment
and energy was not all that much okay in
that case because the professor had a
very good relationship with the doctoral
student the professor agreed okay and
another case where i know of a case
where a student who was pursuing and who
is pursuing his undergraduate degree in
computer science in bangalore
his older brother
is a master student at texas a m
university
and working on a thesis with the
professor okay and how did this student
in bangalore approach the professor
this student of course his own elder
brother is working on thesis right but
that elder brother himself is just a
master student so this older brother
approached another phd student saying
that hey i'm helping you with your own
research project that you're working on
with the professor and i'm doing all
this task right some of the additional
tasks i can actually relegate to another
student and i will be happy to spend my
time and energy so in this case a
bachelor's student approached a master
student his own brother and the master
student approached a phd student and the
phd student then approached the
professor
so in this case most of the time and
energy put on training this bachelor
student was by his own older brother who
was a master student in this case it is
even easier because even the phd student
does not have to spend all that much
time training him and making him do the
work he had guidance at home literally
and of course the professor hardly had
to spend much time at all
so in this case it was very easy for the
professor to let him come and remember
in both these cases the first case where
these students from another country
their senior was doing his pursuing his
phd in new york
in all these cases they were unpaid
internships to the best of my
understanding i think it was an
internship in new york and in this case
of texas a m i know for sure that was
unpaid internship however the professor
agreed to sponsor
the application fee and all those things
from his own pocket because remember
if you are coming to america for an
internship
you cannot sponsor yourself the other
party which is hiring you must sponsor
you so that is one of the other reasons
why professors hesitate to bring
students from abroad and give them
internships because they don't have
strong incentives for
in putting time and energy on you so now
now that you know that most of the
things are not in your favor
how can you still try and succeed in
getting an internship and that is what
probably you really want to know from
this video right
so now there are two or three things you
can do first thing first
never ever send
mass emails to professors never copy
paste emails and generate emails and
write to professors it will never work
you will never get a response now what
should you do then in another video
which is linked in the description i had
discussed in detail how you should write
emails to professors okay
now look at that video watch that video
and learn how to write good emails now
when you are writing an email to a
professor you need to somehow convince
the professor that you are somewhat
worthy of his time and energy
now how you do that is this
go to that professor's website and i
would suggest that identify maybe three
four ten professors not all that many
okay
go to their websites access their
research papers at least bother to read
them do not just read the title and
abstract open those papers if you can
and then go through those papers and try
and understand as much as you can
because a lot of people send me emails
saying that i have read this paper of
yours and i really like this part of the
paper i know that all they have read is
probably the abstract only they have not
read anything beyond the abstract okay
because had they read the paper really
they would have mentioned something
which is inside the paper
they would have looked closely at the
paper
so i don't even bother replying to those
people
now when you read the professor's papers
make notes what kind of research
questions they are asking what kind of
problems they are studying what is the
methodology they are using in those
research papers and how are they
building up the whole story and what
kind of research agenda they are
suggesting at the end of the paper where
you have directions for future research
section
once you have some basic understanding
read a few more papers okay and then
draft everything that you've understood
from those papers and you must make sure
that you have some interest in that area
and you are willing to develop some
knowledge in that area okay now if it is
a case where you know nothing about that
topic get a book educate yourself
understand what is going on in that
research papers and then go ahead and
write an email to the professor
now once you write a more elaborate
email expressing interest and explaining
why you're interested with credibility
that you have actually read that
professor's papers
then the professor might be more
inclined to talk to you okay otherwise
what happens really is that as you might
have seen in many countries when you are
stopping at a traffic light these
beggars come and knock at your windows
right
most people don't give anything to them
but some people do but why do they do
that because there is not much time and
energy investment but you are asking the
professor to give that time and energy
invested in you
so you have to have strong
reason you have to give the professor a
strong reason to even consider hiring
you
now what you can do next is that
rather than just reaching out to the
professor try and build connections with
the doctoral students okay of that
professor
see what kind of work they are doing and
ask them
offer them a reason that you are willing
to assist them in any which way you can
okay
and that might be a better route to
approach the professor okay
now the worst of the worst case and it
is not actually a bad case at all
make it clear that you are willing to do
that work without any payment
now i'm not suggesting that you should
definitely do that if you want money go
ahead and do that but all i'm trying to
say is that why would a professor want
to give you money where it is professors
time and energy that is being
compromised or their team's time and
energy is being compromised so this is
my personal suggestion is that
express interest to work with the
professor
and if you really want that job
also try to convince or convey to the
professor that you are even willing to
do the same job remotely so that the
professor does not have to sponsor your
visa or any go through any such things
okay
ask the professor to assign you some
work or at least the doctoral students
his team lab members ask them to assign
you some work and you will perform and
show them that you can actually do some
good work
that can actually improve your chances
of getting some kind of
traction do you really think it matters
where you are on location or if you are
doing the work remotely
if you can get a paid internship with a
professor in a university and you come
here and work in person nothing like it
but know that summer times are usually
the dull times even in academia and
summertime is probably the only time
available for you
so
that
might not work out for the most cases
therefore i'm suggesting my personal
view is that
offer to do the work for free of charge
now in one case not any time recently
about three to four years ago i had made
an exception okay
when i actually hired somebody to work
through the summer for me
and in that case
that whole work was done remotely that
particular student who did all the work
for me
was abroad was not in the us i did not
have to go through and file all that
visa paperwork and pay for all that
money all i did is that i had the budget
at the time and i paid i think if i'm
not mistaken uh sixteen hundred dollars
for the whole summer
and i can do that even now but i know
that for the most part
do i want to do it again it is just a
lot of hassle and lot of inconvenience
but at least i'm giving you some ideas
this student worked for me remotely
with me not having to sponsor their visa
and that student made money right now
let me brag for a second okay this
student who worked for me a year before
that had applied to six to eight
universities in the us and he was
rejected from all those universities he
could not get a single admission
now after he worked for me
i wrote him a recommendation letter and
now he was able to show some research
experience on his cv and then he
received multiple admits in american
universities okay he did his internship
with me during the summer and then that
significantly improved his admissions
and now he works for
microsoft so he has had a very good and
successful career because at the time i
had some extra work which i did not want
to spend too much time doing so i had to
spend around four to five days working
with him coaching him what exactly i
want him to do how i wanted him to do
those things and then every week or two
i used to check up on him and he used to
send me whatever the data that he was
supposed to collect and process and send
the refined data back to me and i used
to assess the work he did and that is
how he himself gained some research
experience and when he had some research
experience he wrote about it in his
personal statements and then he was able
to enhance his cv and he had my strong
recommendation letter when he applied to
american universities because now he was
getting a recommendation letter from an
american professor at an american
university and that is any given day
more preferred than some other professor
somewhere abroad who nobody knows about
because if you have a recommendation
letter from an american professor they
can easily look that professor up and
look at their profile to make sure that
this professor indeed is doing some
proper research work and has assigned
that work to this particular student and
this is how you can try and approach the
professors by first actually conversing
their research profile what kind of work
they are doing and be prepared when you
are communicating with the professor and
in some cases they might want to
interview you so at least show a good
profile and good background so that you
can potentially get that internship
position so i hope now that you
understand the other person's
perspective thank you for watching jain
and god bless america
[Music]
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