Internships for College and Graduate Students

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any internship opportunities for high school students?
Yes, high school seniors attending New York City schools are welcome to apply for a paid Saturday internship at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. For more information, see high school internships.

Can a current sophomore apply to the Internship for College Students in the Main Building (even if he/she will be a junior this summer)?
No, you must currently be a junior or senior in college when submitting your application. Freshmen and sophomores can apply to The Cloisters Summer Internship.

What is the difference between the Internship for College Students and the Mentoring Program for College Juniors?
While these programs are very similar, participants in the Mentoring Program are partnered with a Museum mentor in addition to a supervisor in their host department. The Mentoring Program is designed to encourage college juniors from diverse backgrounds to pursue museum careers.

Will I need to intern on weekends during the paid summer program?
Yes. Interns in the Summer College and Mentoring Program will occasionally give tours and assist at the Information Desk on weekends. However, interns will never be required to work more than thirty-five hours per week.

I have graduated from college but I am not yet in graduate school. Am I considered a college or graduate student?
In order to be considered for the Internships for Graduate Students, you must have completed at least one year of graduate school prior to the beginning of the internship. If you have finished college but are not enrolled in graduate school, then you qualify for the Internship for College Students, however you must have graduated no more than one year prior to the application deadline.

Can I apply for more than one internship?
Yes, you can apply for more than one internship. You should send in one copy of the required materials and specify in your cover letter the internships for which you are applying. Read the descriptions for each internship carefully and make sure that you qualify.

What departments currently have internship openings?
Individual departmental openings are not specified for any paid or unpaid positions. The Internship Office will determine the appropriate placements for all applicants.

As a graduating senior, am I eligible for The Cloisters Summer Internship for College Students?
No, you must be returning to college following your internship.

Do I need to be an art history or medieval studies major to be eligible for The Cloisters Summer Internship for College Students?
No, we welcome students of varied interests and backgrounds. Students who have taken at least one art history course, preferably covering medieval material, will present a stronger application.

Do I need to be an art history major to be eligible for the Mentoring Program for College Juniors?
No, we welcome students of varied interests and backgrounds.

Does the Museum offer internships in the Counsel's Office?
There will not be a legal intern position for 2008. The Museum occasionally offers one unpaid, full-time legal internship in the summer. Typically, the legal intern has just completed his or her first year in law school.

As a foreign intern, am I responsible for obtaining a visa?
At the Museum's sole discretion, the Museum may be able to aid interns who have (i) at least a master's degree or (ii) a bachelor's degree with extensive experience to secure a J-1 visa; otherwise, non-U.S. citizens must offer proof that they are legally permitted to undertake an internship in the United States.

If I am accepted into a program, does the Museum provide housing?
No. The Museum does not provide housing. If you are accepted into a program, you will be provided with a list of housing possibilities, but it is up to you to arrange for your own housing and accommodations.

Does the deadline indicate the date the application must be received by the Museum or the date the application must be postmarked?
All applications must be postmarked by the specified date.

Can my application be emailed?
No. We do not accept electronic forms of the application materials.

If I am not accepted, may I re-apply the following year?
Yes, please send a new, up-to-date application.

If I am invited for an interview, can it be conducted on the telephone?
No. In order to be considered for an internship program, all applicants who are invited for an interview must come to The Metropolitan Museum of Art or to The Cloisters during March for an onsite interview.

How many interns are accepted into the paid program?
Approximately forty interns are selected each year for the summer and long-term paid internships.

Will I be notified when my application is received?
Yes. Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email.

May I send letters of recommendation and transcripts separately from the rest of my application?
No. All application materials must be mailed in one packet. Sending materials separately will delay the processing of your application. We will only review complete applications.

To whom should letters of recommendation be addressed?
Letters may be addressed to the Internship Coordinator.

Can my recommendations and transcripts be sent after the deadline?
No. We will not accept any materials postmarked after the deadline.

Can my professors email their recommendations?
No. Official letters of recommendation must be signed by your professors, and submitted in sealed envelopes, with each professor's signature across the seal. These sealed letters must be included with your complete application packet.

How should I send my official transcripts?
Official transcripts should be submitted in sealed envelopes from your university registrar and included in your application packet. We will not accept a transcript printed from the web or photocopied.

Do graduate applicants need to submit undergraduate transcripts?
Yes, we require both graduate and undergraduate transcripts for graduate applicants.

Do I need to send my high school transcript for The Cloisters Summer Internship?
For applicants currently in the first or second year of college, we require both your high school and college transcripts.

Can I send a work recommendation instead of an academic recommendation?
We require two academic recommendations. However, you may send a work recommendation as a third, supplementary recommendation.

Do I need to submit additional materials with my application, such as writing samples, slides, or catalogs?
No. Please submit only the requested application materials.

Can I submit my application before the deadline?
Yes.

For all other questions regarding internships for high school students at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (located on Fifth Avenue), please email your inquiries to students@metmuseum.org.

For all other questions regarding internships for college and graduate students at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (located on Fifth Avenue), please email your inquiries to mmainterns@metmuseum.org.

For all other questions regarding internships at The Cloisters, email your inquiries to cloistersinterns@metmuseum.org.

For all other questions regarding the Mentoring Program for College Juniors, email your inquiries to audience.development@metmuseum.org.