Student Life

Explorer Externship Program

Explorer Externship Program: Real World Experiences

The RE Explorer Externship Program provides upper school students with tangible opportunities to connect classroom learning with the real world. By engaging with professionals and tackling authentic tasks in the workplace, students explore potential careers and begin to shape their futures while testing themselves and honing marketable skills. Designed to complement the RE Pathways initiative and foster intellectual curiosity and civic engagement, this program provides students with a variety of opportunities to explore, learn and grow.

Available host sites offer two types of opportunities:

Expeditions – longer, immersive experiences that require a student application
Waypoints – one-day opportunities students can sign up for directly

EXPEDITION: Extended Immersion and Applied Learning

The Expedition experience invites students on a deeper journey into a professional setting. Designed primarily for rising juniors and seniors, Expeditions last a week or longer and emphasize immersive, skill-based learning. Students engage in meaningful tasks or projects that align with the host's work, gaining both observational insight and hands-on experience. Through this extended engagement, students contribute fresh perspectives and valuable skills while developing confidence, communication abilities and a greater sense of professional readiness. Expeditions are well suited for students looking to apply their academic knowledge to real-world challenges.

When: Summer break
Duration: A minimum of one business week or longer

WAYPOINT: Short-Term Career Exposure

The Waypoint experience offers students a brief yet meaningful glimpse into a professional environment. These full-day or half-day opportunities are designed to introduce students to a variety of career fields through site visits, job shadowing or hands-on workshops. Whether enabling students to observe a courtroom proceeding, tour a communications office, or participate in a design sprint, waypoints provide a snapshot of real-world work. These experiences are ideal for students who are beginning to explore their interests and want early insight to help guide future academic and career decisions.

When: During Thanksgiving, winter, February and spring breaks
Duration: Half-day or full-day experiences

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 6 frequently asked questions.

  • What is an externship?

    An externship is a short-term, real-world learning experience in a professional setting. It allows students to explore potential career paths by observing and collaborating with professionals in fields that match their interests.

  • How is an externship different from an internship?

    Unlike internships, externships are shorter and unpaid. They are focused on exploration rather than extensive job training. They are designed to help students decide whether a particular field is the right fit for them or open their eyes to new or different opportunities in a field that they may not have considered.

  • How long does an externship last?

    Externships are short in duration, ranging from a few hours to a few weeks. Our program is designed to offer two different types of experiences: either single day or multiple days/weeks.

  • Are externships paid?

    No, externships are unpaid. The primary purpose is career exploration and learning.

  • May I get credit at RE for my externship?

    No, externships are not for credit and do not appear on your transcript. They are designed as exploratory learning experiences to help students gain insight into potential careers and apply academic learning in real-world settings. However, they are great to showcase in college essays and resumes to demonstrate your professional experience.

  • Is there a final project or requirement?

    Yes, students are expected to reflect on their experiences by completing written or oral reflections that demonstrate what they have learned. This reflection may be incorporated into an academic commitment, such as the Pathways program classes, or in a venue open to the entire school community.

Middle School

2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: 305 250 6850

Upper School

3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: 305 460 8800

Accreditations and Memberships

FCIS | SAIS | NAIS | NACAC | SACAC | ACCIS |
College Board | CSEE | INDEX | One Schoolhouse
Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.


Ransom Everglades School®, The RE Way®, RE Pathways® and Bowden Fellowships in the Humanities™ are trademarks of Ransom Everglades School.