Frequently Asked Questions for Students

Which companies will be participating?

Companies or organizations of any size, located anywhere throughout the United States, can hire a Climate Corps fellow. See all past and present company participants »

Can I apply to a specific company?

Applicants cannot apply to a specific company and will be asked to accept an offer prior to knowing which company they will be assigned.

Company assignments are made on the basis of applicants' relevant experience, company needs and applicant preferences. Fellows will speak with their host company supervisors before the internship begins.

How many summer fellows will be placed?

In 2010 we placed 51 fellows. The final number depends on the number of companies participating in the program. In summer 2009, we placed 26 fellows. See all past and present company participants »

Who are the fellows?

Climate Corps fellows are MBA candidates recruited by EDF and are chosen for their environmental passion and demonstrated ability to conduct financial analyses, facilitate organizational change and analytical skills. While the Climate Corps fellows are not expected to have a background in energy efficiency, experience in this field does help. Read more about fellow qualifications »

Is attendance to the three-day training mandatory?

Yes, the training is mandatory. The training gives fellows the opportunity to meet other summer fellows and EDF staff. Fellows will learn the basics of energy efficiency strategies, hear from guest speakers, tour a building's energy systems and learn more about expected deliverables of the fellowship. More about the training »

Does EDF or the Company provide summer housing or transportation?

Unfortunately EDF is unable to provide fellows with summer housing or transportation to the cities of summer employment. Company participants are not required to provide this either, however, fellows can check with their managers to see if this is offered for their company fellows. For some larger companies that hire many interns, this can be an option.

Are there full-time opportunities available with the Company participant or EDF after I complete the fellowship?

Unlike traditional MBA internships where students are evaluated for potential full-time opportunities and are given a yes or no offer at the end of the summer, the EDF Climate Corps Program does not have automatic conversion to a full-time position.

However, each participating company is different and depending on availability and budget, fellows may be asked to consult or be brought on full-time by their host company. This, however, is not something that EDF asks of the company. Opportunities within EDF are limited due to the small size of the organization; however, fellows are encouraged to check out the EDF website regularly for job openings.

Who do I work for officially, EDF or the company at which I am placed?

Fellows officially work for the company at which they are placed, but in addition to reporting to their supervisor at that company, fellows will also be reporting to EDF Staff. Each fellow will have an EDF staff project manager as a primary point of contact for the summer. Work products are turned in to both EDF and to the company manager. EDF has a contract with each company to ensure confidentiality of each project.

At the end of the fellowships, EDF will review and aggregate the results from each fellow. The aggregate results of this program will be made public in order to maximize both environmental and business benefits. However, EDF will not refer to any company's program or results publicly without prior written approval.

EDF's objective is to demonstrate that energy efficiency saves energy and saves companies money. EDF staff will follow-up with participating companies to find out whether identified measures are implemented and the resulting energy savings. EDF will aggregate these savings over time to give an overall picture of how much money companies can save with energy efficiency.

EDF will also take salient stories and anecdotes from the fellow’s reports to further make the case for energy efficiency. Any public statements about a company will be forwarded to the company for approval.

In some instances, fellows may refer to their employment status as working for "Company X, as a fellow in the EDF Climate Corps Program."

What are my work hours over the summer?

We expect fellows to work 40 hours a week with start/end times dependent on the norm of the company at which they are placed. Depending on your progress and the complexity of the project, you may find that you have to work more than 40 hours in some weeks to complete your analysis.

Can international students apply?

We welcome applications from anyone who fits the criteria of the program and is eligible to work in the United States during summer 2010.

If you are an international student, please make it clear on your application that you are eligible to work in the United States when applying. While we hope to expand internationally, EDF and the companies with which we work cannot sponsor international students for this fellowship.

Do I have to have an MBA to apply?

All past fellows have been pursuing an MBA or a joint degree including an MBA. While an MBA is preferred, we welcome applications from students in other disciplines who meet the Climate Corps criteria.

Can I speak to past fellows about their experience?

While we understand that you'd like to speak personally with past fellows, we try to respect their time and privacy. Please see Results page for detailed descriptions of past fellows’ projects and learn more about their work.

What is the difference between Climate Corps and Climate Corps Public Sector?

Climate Corps is targeted towards working with companies to make energy efficiency investments. Climate Corps Public Sector brings the energy savings and leadership training of the Climate Corps program to the public sector. EDF embeds trained graduate students in colleges and universities, hospitals, houses of worship, and state and local governments to identify cost-effective energy efficiency improvements.

Posted: 10-Sep-2009; Updated: 09-Sep-2009