Summer Professional Experience Program
Get a head start on your career during college through distinguished internship opportunities with participating QuestBridge career partners.
Discover career opportunities
A career is a journey, and QuestBridge provides opportunities for you to explore future career pathways. Jumpstart your professional search during your second year of college through the Summer Professional Experience Program to be connected with and considered for distinguished internships at our career partners.
Our career partners are committed to creating workplaces where you can thrive. Throughout your summer professional experience, you’ll have the opportunity to discover different industries, build your network, and gain core skills that will make you a more qualified candidate for future internships and full-time roles.
The Summer Professional Experience Program application for summer 2027 internships will open in early September. View the timeline →
Meet our participating career partners
Interested in becoming a career partner? Contact us here.
Charles River Associates Internships
Through the Summer Professional Experience Program, CRA offers a 10-week immersive experience for QuestBridge Scholars to learn more about consulting careers. Through research-driven projects, mentorship, and professional development, interns improve their skills to launch them to the next step of their career journey.
Why intern with a career partner?
Diverse & tailored roles
Roles span a wide range of career fields, and you can find a position that matches your interests across our participating career partners.
Robust mentorship & community
Our career partners are committed to incorporating mentorship, community, and other supportive structures as you build your professional network.
Transformative skill-building
Each internship is designed to accelerate your professional growth and develop your transferable skills that you can bring with you to future opportunities.
Competitive pay
Our career partners offer competitive pay based on role and location.
How to apply
Submit your application
Include your career interests and goals, updated resume, and answers to short prompts. Your application will be shared with our participating career partners.
Get contacted by career partners
Select Scholars will be invited to apply to company-specific opportunities.
Engage in career partner interview process
Select Scholars will be invited to interview. Interviews allow you to learn more about a company, and for the company to learn more about you!
Receive your offer
Companies will reach out directly to select Scholars to extend internship offers.
Timeline
The process takes place throughout the fall and includes key dates by which certain actions occur. Overall, it is a rolling process, meaning that participating career partners may evaluate applications as they are received and will move candidates through their processes accordingly.
All deadlines are at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time unless otherwise noted by career partners.
| Dates & deadlines | What | Details |
| Early September | Summer Professional Experience Program application opens | The QuestBridge application for consideration for internships at our participating career partners will be available through our website. |
| Mid-September | Career partner information sessions | Learn more about participating career partners, including their industry, work culture, and available internships. |
| October 5 | Summer Professional Experience Program application deadline for eligible Scholars | Apply to be considered for internships at our participating career partners. |
| By mid-October | Extension of invitations to apply to company-specific roles | On a rolling basis, participating career partners extend invitations to Scholars to apply to their company-specific roles. |
| Late October | Company-specific role application deadline | If invited to apply to a company-specific role, submit your application by late October. |
| October - December | Interview period | On a rolling basis, participating career partners will reach out to select Scholars to invite them to interview for roles. |
| Late November - early January | Offer period | Participating career partners will extend internship offers to select Scholars on a rolling basis. Offer recipients are granted at least two weeks to consider their offer. |
| Summer 2027 | Internship period | Selected Scholars complete summer internships with participating career partners. |
Frequently asked questions
Find answers to common questions about the Summer Professional Experience Program below. Contact us at [email protected] if you have additional questions.
Generally, QuestBridge Scholars in their second year of college currently enrolled at a college partner are eligible to apply. Specific eligibility requirements (major, etc.) may vary by available opportunities. Check the application for more information.
Please note: QuestBridge is limited to facilitating paid professional experiences for those who are legally able to work in the U.S.
These are full-time professional experiences that generally last between 6 and 12 weeks. Most offerings will require 40 hours of work per week and may offer a hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment. If you are unable to work approximately 40 hours per week for 6 - 12 consecutive weeks, you may want to consider exploring other opportunities.
We encourage you to discuss any known summer obligations (vacations, orientations, moves, etc.) with recruiters/Human Resource (HR) personnel as you move through the interview process at a particular company.
QuestBridge’s career partners offer experiences in a variety of locations. Many companies offer housing/relocation assistance to mitigate barriers associated with moving.
Career partners will extend invitations to select Scholars via email to apply to specific roles. Check your email regularly!
Generally, company representatives will reach out to select Scholars via email to invite them to interview. Check your email regularly!
Companies will extend offers according to the timeline above. If you do not hear from a company representative within that time frame regarding an offer, you should continue to explore other professional opportunities.
Find more opportunities and upcoming events, and check out our Work & Career resources in the QB Hub to support you on your professional journey. QuestBridge will offer an information session to learn more about career partners and QuestBridge Staff are available to answer questions via email at [email protected].
If you are not invited to apply for a company-specific role or do not advance in their process, don't be discouraged. Applying and interviewing for opportunities is great practice, even if your journey takes you in a different direction. We encourage you to work on your application materials and interview skills, connect with your college's career center, and look out for more opportunities from QuestBridge and your college. Find more opportunities through our Job Board, and check out our Work & Career resources in the QB Hub to support you on your professional journey.
Through the Summer Professional Experience Program, Axusmawe joined Dimensional Fund Advisors as a marketing intern and was invited back as a software engineering intern the following summer. After graduating from Boston University in 2025, Axusmawe accepted a full-time position as a software engineer at Dimensional Fund Advisors.