Welcome to our FAQ page. Here you will be able to find answers to most frequently asked questions. Should you have any other questions, contact us via e-mail.

TOPICS
Introduction
SDS Specialization, Mission
Application Process
Visa requirements
Transportation, Location
Current Projects
Internship Structure
Housing
Former Interns
Tangible Output of the Internship Program
Security and Safety Issues
Prices, Finance
Other Questions
Additional information

Q. What is an internship?
A. Internship is an on-site professional experience that is either directly related to your major field of study or your career interest. The primary goal of internship is to allow students to incorporate and emphasize the lessons learned in the classroom into a real-world experience set in a professional practice-oriented environment.

Q. Why internship experience is so important?
A. As a professional experience, internship provides many benefits to your academic and professional career. In today's competitive job market, it is essential to have a relevant professional experience before you obtain your diploma. Internship gives you the chance to explore potential career and allows you to gain valuable experience working in a real-world professional environment. As a result you be better prepared to make more informed decisions about your professional goals.

Q. What is the SDS internship duration? 
A. Duration of our internships varies mostly between three and six months. 

Q. What are the start/end dates?
A. The positions are open all year round, so you can apply anytime during the whole year. 

Q. What are the program requirements?
A. In order to be successfully invited to our program you should:

Q. What kind of internships does SDS offer?
A. SDS offers a variety of internships for young American and international professionals seeking experience in:
- Hydrological research and environmental monitoring
- Computer simulation of hydraulic and hydrological systems
- Production of training and project report videos
- Design and management of telemetry and database systems
- Non-profit organization management and community activism
- Marketing strategies and administrative support
- Land development and constructions
Click here to learn more about internship positions we have available.

Q. What is the company mission?
A. We provide agricultural engineering, water management, and water quality services. SDS specializes in hydrological monitoring equipment, BMP research, data collection, and results analysis.

Q. How big the company is?
A. SDS is not the place for you if you seek a traditional company with generous funding and a formal environment. SDS is a small company and office consisting of Dr. Capece, a couple of assistants and several interns being in different stages of theirs training.
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Q. How can I apply for the program?
A. Applicants interested in being considered for an internship must submit process on line application and/or e-mail us your CV/Resume.

Q. I would like to know more about application process, can you help me?  How can I know that I am selected?
A. After submitting on line application you will receive notification per e-mail. If selected for program, our officer will contact you to lead you through the pre-arrival procedures, schedule your arrival and help with other issues. Click here to learn more about our procedures.

Q. Are there deadlines?
A. Yes and no. Our internship positions are open all year round, so you can apply anytime you want - whenever it fits in with your schedule and plans. However, once you are accepted and your training timeframe is set, you should follow the planned dates. 

Q. Can undergraduates apply? Can a non-student apply? 
A. We accept any educational level. Beside typical interns (college junior, senior or graduate students) we have hosted high school students and college professors. 

Q. Will I have an interview?
A. No, we do not require a phone or personal interview. We will send you a Questionnaire via email however, where you will need to describe your internship motivation and goals and then there will be also several emails where we will clarify all necessary details.

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Q. Can a foreign (non-US) student apply for SDS internship program?
A. Yes, however, we require obtaining proper visa. In selecting visa option, be sure that you fully understand the costs and procedures involved. Do not request from us to process J-1 application forms if you are unable to pay the costs to the visa sponsoring agency and medical insurance sponsor. Once you select a visa option, follow through the process listed step by step. You are responsible for tracking the process and making sure all forms are completed by SDS and submitted to the DS-2019 sponsor, to you, or to the US Embassy/Consulate. 
You will need to keep us informed about your choices and your progress in the visa application process. J visas can take as long as 2 months to complete, so we do not want to introduce additional delays as the result of poor communications between us. In some countries (notably Germany, Italy and France) the processing time for J visas can be as short as 4 weeks if you push the process along personally. B visas can be secured very quickly, from one week to one month.

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Q. What is the location of the program?
A. The program is located in LaBelle, in Hendry County, an agricultural region of south Florida. LaBelle is located approximately 30 miles east from Fort Myers or 120 miles west from Miami. Click here for detailed office map location.

Q. How can I get there? 
A. Click here to learn more about traveling option. 

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Q. How many hours per week will I work? What is my working schedule?
A. Your working hours will be from 9 am to 6 pm (Mon. – Fri.).

Q. What will I do most of my time? How my working day will be organized?
A. It depends mainly on your project assignments. There is a variety of activities that come up on a daily and weekly basis – working in the office and laboratories, going to field trips, organizing community events and seminars, and many others. In any way your supervisor will tailor the scope of the program to your own background and needs, indicate duties and responsibilities, develop a performance plan which includes a training schedule to follow, training elements and performance standards. 

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Q. Is the housing provided? Where will I live during my internship? How does the house look like? 
A.  There is a variety of housing that are used by the SDS interns. For detailed description, click here. We provide you a residency in furnished house or apartment, in a single room, with basic domestic equipment (washer/dryer, pots/pans/dishes, towels/sheets, TV), utilities (water, electric, local telephone, etc.), DSL Internet access with network and shared PC in each house. Additional Housing Agreement should be signed with our partner – Intellitemps Inc.

Q. What should I bring to the house?
A. Basically nothing. You just need to bring positive attitude, since you will be sharing the housing unit with people from different nations and cultures. However, you will have your single room for yourself. 

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Q. How many interns participated in your program and where did they come from? 
A. For the last six years we have hosted more than 190 interns. Most of them come from overseas countries, for more information check the nationalities table. Click here to learn more about our former interns.
 

Q. Will I get academic credit for the internship?
A. The authority to grant academic credit is entirely determined by each academic department; some absolutely never do, some commonly do; with some it might be negotiable. You should ask in the department of your academic major; it will be your responsibility. Some students are not in need of credit to graduate and will not want to sign up for credit at all. Should you decide to pursue credit-bearing options, we will help you to fill out the appropriate paper work, but you need to inform us about that prior your training gets started.

Q. Can I include internship experience in my resume?
A. Yes. Our internship opportunities provide related experience to your career field and will definitely strengthen your resume and attract the potential employer's attention. Usually employers rate career related experience as a fundamental factor affecting their decision to hire candidates for full-time positions.

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Q. Is it safe to go to US? 
A. Security issue is defined as a top priority by the US government, so you shouldn’t be afraid to come here more, than to any other safe country. Moreover safety is our company’s primary concern. Poor safety habits and practices can be a sufficient basis for canceling the internship. 

Q. Are the positions paid?
A. No, as a non-profit organization we can’t afford to pay you for your training. You won’t receive any direct salary or payments.

Q. I heard that the internships at SDS are not paid. How can I finance my internships/internship in USA then?
A. It is very important that you consider if you can afford to come to the US and support your living, before you confirm the internship.

As an option you can choose to apply for student travel and training support grants that many universities provide. Moreover students have also a possibility to apply for a student grant program or fund. There exists a number of them, as many universities and schools already work closely together with various student grant organisations. You should ask a person at your university career center that is responsible for your practical training whether there is such opportunity.

Q. Are there any program fees that I have to pay to the company?
A. No. There are no program fees for our interns.  

Q. Do you provide housing? Is the housing paid? How much will it cost me?
A. Yes, we provide a residency in furnished house or apartment, in a single room, with basic domestic equipment (washer/dryer, pots/pans/dishes, towels/sheets, TV), utilities (water, electric, local telephone, etc.), DSL Internet access with network and shared PC in each house. The total housing cost for 3 months internship is $1500.

Please note that we require from our participants to pay Initial housing reservation deposit - $150 upon their formal program participation acceptance. This deposit is non-refundable and is included into the total sum of housing cost.

Q. What kind of insurance do I need?
A. Prior to your arrival for a program, you will need to submit to III evidence that you have proper medical and accident insurance. It is your responsibility to verify that the insurance certificate you have bought at your insurance company meets or exceeds the coverage limits set forth by U.S. Federal Regulations... Click here for more detailed information.  

Q. Will the company cover meals during my internship?
A. No, you will be responsible for covering that cost yourself.

Q. What is an estimated cost of meals per month?
A. It really depends on your demands, "average" intern needs probably $250/month. It is very usual though those residents, living together in one house, also cook together. Therefore the expenses decrease rapidly and you can also get the fun of cooking and eating meals prepared by your roommates from completely different ends of the world.

Q. How much money will cost me the whole experience?
A. As there are several factors to consider, it will be different for each and every applicant. Do the mathematic yourself, base on your costs estimate for these items:

• program fees (are you self-supported or dual supported applicant?)
• return flight ticket (where from will you fly? do you want open-end flight ticket or fixed dates ticket?)
• health/medical insurance (do you prefer standard or higher quality insurance?)
• living expenses (how high are your demands?)

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Q. What is the appropriate dress code required during the program participation? 
A. Program participants are allowed to dress in a casual manner since SDS is a hands-on training environment, not an aloof office. However, that is not to say that anything goes. Click here for additional information.

Q. Is my English appropriate for the program? 
A. That’s a question you should answer honestly yourself. We do not expect you to be a fluent speaker, however you must be able to communicate in written and spoken English.

Q. What are the evaluation standards?
A. Students are evaluated on their overall performance and suggested areas of improvements. Specific areas emphasized are the student’s technical and communication skills, initiative, and the company’s overall impression of the intern. Upon arrival the intern will be issued an evaluation ledger. The program participant is responsible for getting the form completed each two weeks by the personnel manager. The intern must also initial this form each two weeks. Bi-weekly evaluations will include assessments of progress on technical tasks (first letter grade) and their general conduct as a intern (second letter grade). These descriptive terms can be interpreted as corresponding to the US-style letter grades listed next to each descriptive term. 

E – Excellent
G – Good
S – Satisfactory
I – Improve
U – Unsatisfactory

Q. Can I get vacation days?
A. Interns are allocated no vacation days in addition to the standard holidays. Interns may earn vacation days by accumulating extra project hours on weekends however. Each intern is allowed sick days which are granted on a case by case basis. If vacation days are requested and approved then arrangements must be made to make up for these absences on subsequent weekend days.

Q. Can I do internship with SDS more than once? 
A. Yes, you can be enrolled more than once. 
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