The Carleton Externship Experience

The Carleton Externship Experience is a strategic bridge between academic inquiry and professional practice. Held during the first three weeks of December, this growing suite of programs provides students with the career exploration and skill-building necessary to navigate the modern workforce with confidence.

The Externship Experience includes three distinct pathways:

These programs are designed to support students at various stages of their career journey, offering career development, first-hand industry exposure, and skill development.

Since 2008, Carleton’s network of alumni, parents, and friends has provided 2,949 students with externship opportunities across the globe, giving Carls first-hand experience across a multitude of industries, and building a professional foundation through world-class guidance and industry connections that last well beyond their time on campus.

We are in the host recruitment process for 2026! If you have an interest in hosting, please fill out this form and a Career Center staff member will contact you in 1-2 business days.

2026 Program Timeline:
Tuesday, December 1, 2026–Friday, December 18, 2026
(More information will be available in June 2026)
Megan Haak '27 (left), English major, and Piper Henderson '27 (right), English major, doing their applied externship with Rochester Art Center
Megan Haak ’27 (left), English major, and Piper Henderson ’27 (right), English major, doing their applied externship with Rochester Art Center
Bensen Han '27, Geology major, doing an applied externship with The Northfield History Center
Bensen Han ’27, Geology major, doing an applied externship with The Northfield History Center
Matthew Sigmond '26, Computer Science major and History minor, doing an applied externship with Verbena Vinyl
Matthew Sigmond ’26, Computer Science major and History minor, doing an applied externship with Verbena Vinyl





Voices of Hosts’ Experience





“Serving as an extern host is a way to try to pay it forward, to show gratitude for what I have received myself. The students I host continue to teach me, too, which I think of as a particularly Carleton kind of thing.” — Bruce Manning ’96, P’27 (Minnesota Judicial Branch).





“…is a great opportunity for me and my group to get students excited about what’s becoming possible in biomedical research. Even a short experience can have a profound impact on how students think about their future, and it gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to have such a positive influence.” — Todd Golub ’85 (Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard).





“I enjoy helping others find their path. My hope is that our students’ personal and professional growth has been enriched by our 2-week ‘school of life,’ helping them see the challenges and rewards of medicine.” — Judy Becher P’27 (Multnomah County Health Department).





“We have found Carleton students to be curious, bright, articulate, personable, mature, and an overall bright spot in our winter season.” — Jody Kahn (Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc.).