The internship was part of a program run by Cornell's Alliance for Diversity and Inclusion. As part of the program, weekly luncheons were held with different Cornell departments to learn about what goes on behind the scenes of Cornell and how the university is kept running. I really enjoyed learning about the projects being developed for Cornell in the next few years and getting a better idea of what must be considered when running a university.
What I wish was different
I wish there had been more time to socialize with the other interns in the program outside of luncheons with a set agenda. In addition, I think having a little more structure within the internship itself would have been nice. My project was a bit different in that it was more research-based/proof-of-concept oriented, so a set project timeline was not viable but a more structured relationship with the supervisor would have been nice.
Advice
Many of the presenters at the luncheons offered to talk to the interns one-on-one if anyone was interested. Definitely don't be afraid to take them up on the offer! I think it's always interesting to hear more of how they got to where they are in their careers and learn about their experiences.
