Frequently Asked Questions

The Residence Life Intern role runs from June 7th to August 8th, 2026. This includes a 2-week training and a 7-week practicum. 

The Internship in Building Community will be in an in-person modality for Summer 2026. There will also be additional offered positions in an online capacity for those who are unable to attend the onsite program. 

Although experience as a Resident Advisor is useful in this internship, it is not a requirement to apply. For more information regarding eligibility please visit the apply page.

Residence Life Interns are compensated $18.00 an hour and are paid on a bi-weekly schedule. Residence Life Interns can expect to work around 35 hours per week during Seminar and 30-45 hours per week during the Practicum.

Travel expenses for intern relocation to NYC are not covered by Columbia University. Housing and weekday meals on campus are however covered throughout an intern's stay on campus for the program.

We are glad to have applicants who are new to the city. In fact, during the Seminar period, interns have the opportunity to explore the city and learn firsthand how to navigate local transportation.

You do not have to attend Columbia University or Barnard College to apply for a Residence Life Intern position. However, applicants must have completed at least one academic year of study at an American college or university by the start of the internship, must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, and must be located in the United States.

International students may apply, however applicants must have completed at least one academic year of study at an American college or university by the start of the internship, must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, and must be located in the United States at the time of application.

The intern population is made up of undergraduate and graduate students from universities across the U.S. with various cultural and educational backgrounds.

The application opens on December 8th, 2025 and closes January 25th, 2026

All application materials must be submitted for an applicant to be reviewed. This includes the online application, resume, and recommendation form. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

If granted an interview opportunity, applicants will know if they have been extended a role by March 31st.

If you would like to inquire about the status of your application, you can email ibc-apply [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu (ibc-apply[at]columbia[dot]edu).

Applicants who are invited for a first round interview will be notified within a few weeks of submitting a completed application. However, we may extend additional interviews beyond that date.

All interviews are conducted online via a video platform service and Zoom. Applicants should have a functioning webcam and microphone and ensure they have a stable internet connection prior to their scheduled interview.

Please note, not all applicants will receive an interview request. Only those deemed qualified for the next round in the application process will receive an invitation to interview.

Applicants should email the recommendation form to their recommender and ask them to submit the form no later than the application deadline of January 31st at 11:59 pm.

The time commitment varies between 6 to 8 hours a day, and 30-40 hours a week, with designated hours set according to your Program Assistant role and hours you are expected to be on-call for your high school students or run additional evening activities, such as optional clubs or pre-scheduled cultural excursions for the students. We expect that all Residence Life Interns are available for the duration of the program which includes a 2-week training and a 6-week practicum between June 11th and August 5th.

The average work day at the IBC involves designated work hours and hours during which interns are “on call” and are expected to be available if one of their students or the program has need of them. These can lead to unscheduled hours in the cases of student needs such as an administrative, behavioral, or medical issues that may arise.

Residence Life Interns are asked their preference related to their Program Assistant roles during the Seminar Period. We will do our best to accommodate people’s interests but cannot guarantee that Interns will get their top choices.

As is detailed in the interview and employment contract, the IBC does not allow interns time away from the program for such events. Additionally, interns should not make plans for their free time during the internship until after they have arrived and understand the program schedule and requirements.

Students are in class for 5 hours a day with a 2-hour midday break for lunch and midday activities. After class, additional extracurricular and co-curricular activities are offered. All students are welcome to participate in community outreach activities, special interest clubs and seminars, cultural activities, and college prep programming.

Students participate from all over the world and across the United States. In past years, students have hailed from 70 countries and 45 U.S. states.