10 steps to International Internship

After getting a myriad calls and messages asking me about how and when and where, I decided to make it simpler for you all by sharing the whole process of International Internship through this blog. 

So, let’s get started.

Boston Twilight- View from MIT

Step 1: Begin 6 months before the date you want to start your dissertation/Internship.

This timing is very critical to the application of the internship, for the visa process to any foreign country usually takes a while, so we keep a good buffer time in hand.
While the visa to Europe is comparatively easier to get than the USA, the US Embassy can be really a pain in the butt, especially for us Indians and especially those of us applying to biological sciences. Yes, you geeks better get aware of the term “The Pink Slip”.
It’s a sort of document which puts you to further inspection into the study of your research, destination of that study, your mentor, etc.

But don’t worry, it’s just a sort of formality, your visa will only get delayed by a month or so.

Step 2: Make a list of Universities you want to apply to based on their ranking with respect to your course of Interest.

For the ranking in US, you can check out http://www.usnews.com/rankings or Forbes.
For the world ranking, you can check out http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2014/03/05/the-worlds-most-reputable-universities-in-2014/.

For Biotechnology, I’d applied to Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Max Planck, Imperial College London, Oxford and Cambridge.

Step 3: Dig out the specific departments you want to apply to on the university website.

Once you have made a list of the universities you want to apply to, make a list of the departments you want to apply to.
There can be many departments which match your interests, credentials and past achievements.
For example, based on my past experience and interests, I’d applied to Immunology, Microbiology and Genetics, in the aforementioned universities.

Step 4: Identify the Professors working in the fields of your interest and start shooting emails.

Once you have made the list of the universities and identified the departments, start spotting the Professors working in the field of your interest. Read a couple of their research papers (if not thoroughly, just go through their abstracts) and start shooting emails.

Try to keep the emails as short and crisp as possible.

And if you are not sure about the area of your own interest, just keep shooting emails to the professors in the alphabetical order from the list of Professors in your department of interest.

Sample Email that you can use:
“Dear Dr. X,
I am a masters student of (mention the department), pursuing (mention the course) with specialization in (mention the specialization) from (mention the current university).
I am presently working on a review paper/ project/ anything that you are doing and is of relevance to the Professor

I am very intrigued by your area of research. (Talk a little bit about the professor’s research paper, if you have read) I would like to know about the opportunity to work with you in your research group for my thesis, from January through May, 20XX.
I am also attaching my resume and statement of purpose for your consideration.

Waiting in anticipation
Sincerely,
Your Name”

Note: Don’t forget to attach your Resume and SOP

Step 5: Replying, Following-up and Letters of Recommendation

The Professors will definitely reply sooner or later, but don’t get disheartened by the negative ones, the positive replies are soon your way.
In a negative response, the professors will usually say that they either don’t have funds to assist an international student or that there is no space in the lab to accommodate another candidate.

Keep emailing. Don't give up. I used to email hundreds of professors each day, beginning from 1^st of May, 2012 until 17^th of May when I got my first positive response.
It’s after hundreds of emails that you get a positive response.

The most important part of emailing process is “Follow-Up”. If you think that the reply you got is slightly positive, mark that email and keep following up until the professor asks for you to send him 2-3 letters of recommendation.

Get two letters of recommendations emailed to the professor, from your professors in the current University/ your project mentor/ whoever you think you have a good rapport with. And, soon you'll be having letter of invite in your hands.

Step 6: Arranging the Funds

If you are applying well ahead of time, you may be able to find a funded internship, and all that you’ll be taking care of is just your flight expenses.

The positive in the negative:
If the professor replies that he doesn’t have funds to assist you then that means he could have you work with him, if only you could take care of your expenses. And if you really can fund your internship, then follow-up right then, telling him/her that you will be able to fund your stay in XYZ city.

The lab expenses will anyways be taken care of by the professor. All that you need to worry about is flight, lodging and fooding.

Step 7: Taking care of the expenses: Lodging and Fooding

I will only be talking about any city in the US for now:
If you want to live luxuriously, traveling around, trying different food and wine J then anywhere USD1200-1500 per month would do. But, if you can save on the lodging (because for me it hardly mattered), then you can make do in USD1000. .
If your sole purpose of an international internship is just the internship, then you can make do with USD 700-800 p.m.

Note: The aforementioned expenses may vary a bit according to the standard of living of the city you are going to. I am talking about one of the most expensive cities along the east coast of USA.

Step 8: Scheduling the Skype interviews and phone call

Once the Professor is impressed by your application and the funding is all sorted from your side and his too, then he might want to schedule a phone/ Skype interview with you and if the odds are in your favor, it will all come out right. You’ll soon receive your letter of Invite.

Step 9: Schedule a date for the visa interview as soon as you receive the Letter of Invite and Visa documents.

Once the deal is done, the professor will be sending you the official letter of invite and the visa documents from the university/lab you are going to. As soon as you receive those, you can schedule for your visa interview and start preparing.

Step 10: If the visa gets approved, pack your bags and fly J

The International internship is the easiest way to immerse yourself in your favorite city, culture, research, university etc. Each one of us must give it a shot. It sure as hell is going to be a lifetime experience