Summer and Winter Break

• Off campus
  • Many juniors and seniors who live off campus sublet (rent out) their rooms over the summer. This is a great option if you want a bit more flexibility than living on campus or if you don’t want to be on a meal plan. To find a room to sublet, try talking to your junior and senior friends or joining the Macalester Housing Facebook page.
• On campus
  • (The following information is subject to change. The Residential Life Department is the best source of information for summer housing.)  If you have any questions about summer hall please feel free to contact Residential Life at [email protected] or visit them on the second floor of the Campus Center.

Any person working in the United States must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN). If you are planning on working this summer and do not have an SSN, make sure to apply early so that you have it by the time you need to start work! The number can take 1-3 weeks to arrive after you apply.

If you would like to work on campus over the summer and you already work on campus during the academic year–this includes doing research with a Macalester professor–you do not need to get additional work certification.

If you are doing an internship off-campus, you need to register for CPT (Curricular Practical Training). Any time you work off-campus for an employer that is not Macalester, you need to register for CPT.

Work on campus

Many of Macalester’s departments and offices employ students over the summer. Inquire at your current job or keep an eye on the student employment job portal for summer opportunities. Working on campus is an easy and stress-free way to spend the summer at Macalester, since you need no additional work permission if you already work on campus during the academic year.

Do research

Doing research with a Mac professor is a great summer work option. If you are interested in doing research, we recommend talking to professors who work in your field of interest and also keeping an eye on job postings that may get sent out by departments.

If you do research with a Mac professor, you do not need to get CPT but you will need to get a Social Security Number if you do not already have one.

Do an internship/Get a Summer Job

There are many great organizations in the Twin Cities and elsewhere where you could intern or work for the summer. The Career Exploration Center is a great resource for finding internships and completing the necessary paperwork.

Students doing paid internships over the summer must do so for credit because of immigration regulations. Macalester covers the cost of one credit required for the internship. This means you will have to have an advisor for your internship, fill out a learning contract, and register for CPT.

Students doing unpaid internships should come into ISP to see what kind of work certification is required of them.

Apply for a Project Grant

The Institute for Global Citizenship offers funds for students to conduct their own social entrepreneurship projects through several different grants:

• The Live it Fund can give you between $250 and $2,000 to live out your definition of global citizenship. The application deadline for Summer 2023 has already passed.
• The Davis Projects for Peace is an initiative to design grassroots projects backed with $10,000. The application deadline for Summer 2023 has already passed.

Take a class

Over the summer you can participate in several types of academic opportunities. Through Macalester you can do an independent project or participate in the summer Physics Institute. You could also take classes at other colleges and universities and get them approved for Macalester credit. Check with the registrar for more information and opportunities.

Summer in Minnesota is beautiful and you’ll have more time than during the school year to explore and be outdoors. Try biking to Lake Nokomis, Lake Bde Maka Ska, or Minnehaha Falls; going to some of the many open air music and food events put on in Minneapolis and Saint Paul; or going camping in northern Minnesota.

• Explore Minnesota – find what events are going on, book a cabin or camping site
• St. Paul Parks and Recreation and Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board  – find lakes or parks close to you
• MN Daily – offers you daily news and quips
• Minnesota State Fair – one of the biggest state fairs in the country
• Minnesota Valley Fair – an amusement park with great rides
• Northern Spark – an all-night music and arts festival in June

Take a photo tour of Minneapolis or St. Paul.

The residence halls close over winter break for two weeks, starting on the day after finals end until usually January 2nd. For these weeks, it is easy to find housing off campus: many juniors and seniors look for subletters while they are home over winter break. The best way to find a place to live is through the Mac Daily and the Macalester Housing group on Facebook. ISP also can help put you in touch with other international students subletting their rooms over break.

After January 2nd all international students who apply for January housing may move back into the dorms. Make sure to keep an eye out for the application for January housing at the end of fall semester if you are planning on living in the dorms over J-term.

Any person working in the United States must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN). If you are planning on working over J-term and do not have a SSN, make sure to apply early so that you have it by the time you need to start work! The number can take 1-3 weeks to arrive after you apply.

If you would like to work on campus over J-term and you already work on campus during the academic year, which includes doing research with a Macalester professor, you do not need to get additional work certification.

If you are doing an internship off campus you need to register for CPT (Curricular Practical Training). Any time you work off campus, for an employer that is not Macalester you need to register for CPT.

Work on campus/Do an internship

Some of Macalester’s departments and offices employ students over J-term. Inquire at your current job or keep an eye on the student employment job portal for J-term opportunities.

There are many great organizations in the Twin Cities and elsewhere where you could intern or work for J-term. The Career Exploration Center is a great resource for finding internships and completing the necessary paperwork.

Students doing paid internships must do so for credit because of immigration regulations. Macalester covers the cost of one credit required for the internship. This means you will have to have an adviser for your internship, fill out a learning contract, and register for CPT.

Students doing unpaid internships should come into ISP to see what kind of work certification is required of them.

Volunteer

The Community Engagement Center (CEC) can connect you with a number of volunteer opportunities in the Twin Cities in January. Whether you are interested in environmental justice, immigrant and refugee work, or tutoring kids, there is something for you! Check out their website or drop-by the 3rd floor of Markim Hall.

Invest in your career

This is a great time to do those career-building things you are too busy to do during the semester. Schedule an appointment with the Career Exploration Center. They can help you:

• Write and/or edit your resume
• Connect you with alumni in your area of interest to schedule informational interviews, and if they go well, even spend a day shadowing a professional!
• Find strategies about landing an internship later on!

Stay smart

If you have a particular topic of interest, you can do an independent study for credit over the break. You will need a faculty supervisor, so the best way to get started is to ask your adviser or a professor whose work you are interested in.

• Go ice skating, cross country skiing or snowshoeing!
• See the frozen Minnehaha Falls
• Make a trip to one of the many great museums in the Twin Cities
• Find a new cozy coffee shop to study in!
• Ice skating!