The LAB 2024
MiddCORE Summer Lab is designed to complement your summer experience, from anywhere!
For two hours a week in June-July, join 30+ mentors from the MiddCORE community to build critical skills for personal and professional success.
Applications Open February 2025
Applications for The LAB open up in February for the summer of 2025.
Each Tuesday night, you will be joined by alumni and distinguished MiddCORE Mentors to dive into interactive skill-building sessions and gain real-world insights. Each week is designed to build on the next—realize your potential this summer and deepen your connections within the Middlebury community.
MiddCORE Lab schedule May–July 2024
The schedule and content are subject to change based on mentor availability. All sessions are required and all times are in Eastern Daylight Time. Convert times with a time zone conversion calculator into your location this summer.
9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. ET
MiddCORE Summer Lab Kickoff
(in person)
7:00–9:00 p.m. ET
Networking
(zoom)
7:00–9:00 p.m. ET
Negotiation
(zoom)
7:00–9:00 p.m. ET
Discovering Your Leadership Style
(zoom)
7:00–9:00 p.m. ET
Storytelling and Personal Branding
(zoom)
7:00–9:00 p.m. ET
Financial Wellness
(zoom)
7:00–9:00 p.m. ET
Practical Ethical Decision Making
(zoom)
7:00–9:00 p.m. ET
Innovators Panel
(zoom)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q How does MiddCORE Summer Lab differ from a traditional MiddCORE program?
MiddCORE Summer Lab is designed to complement and enrich your summer experience whether you are participating in an internship, community-based learning, or another experiential learning opportunity. This summer, you will experience the magic of our programming while gaining additional real-world experience in your job/internship/opportunity. To balance the workload, we have altered and abbreviated the curriculum to run over the course of eight sessions.
MiddCORE J-term class
• 40 sessions (credit-bearing)
• Strategic challenge partner work
• No internship running alongside
MiddCORE Summer Lab
• 8 sessions (non-credit-bearing)
• Your work will be explored within your Internship
• no strategic challenge
Q Is there a benefit to applying in earlier rounds of the application process?
Yes! We will be limiting this summer’s intake to 33 students per round. 100 students total will be in the cohort. It is advantageous to apply early as most students apply in the later rounds. By applying in round one or round two, and you are not committing yourself to coming.
Q Why apply to be a part of the MiddCORE Summer Lab cohort?
Work with peers, expand your network, develop skills, and make the most of your internship/experience. Through our weekly workshops and asynchronous engagements, develop the skills, mindsets, and behaviors to excel in your summer experience. Collaborate with your peers and cultivate relationships with our distinguished mentors to up-level your potential.
Q What professional skills will I be learning from MiddCORE Summer Lab?
In this program, you will learn the essential MiddCORE Summer Lab skills throughout eight sessions and through our asynchronous activities. These core skills include elements of leadership, strategic thinking, networking, financial wellness, and negotiation.
Q What are the dates and how much time will I need for the program?
By design, this program was created with your busy schedule in mind! Please refer to the schedule above for all synchronous session dates/times.
Outside of synchronous sessions, students should expect 1-hour of asynchronous work per week. (All relevant to your personal growth.)
Q I am a remote learner. Can I participate in MiddCORE Summer Lab?
Yes, and we are excited to have you! Throughout June and July, all sessions will be held remotely. The sessions scheduled above are in Eastern Daylight Time and you will have to attend these session times given your time zone. Here is a time zone converter.
Q My summer opportunity is not funded through the CCI, CCE, or the Elizabeth Hackett Robinson ’84 Innovation Hub. Can I still apply for the program?
We will give first priority to students with summer opportunities funded through CCI, CCE, and the Innovation Hub. However, if you have an exciting summer opportunity and could benefit from MiddCORE Summer Lab, fill out an application and tell us more about your interest in joining us!
Q Who will be leading the sessions?
Sessions will be run by MiddCORE Summer Lab mentors who are industry experts giving first-hand insight into leadership, innovation, and persuasive communication. In addition, we will have young alumni at several sessions to talk about how they used and applied these teachings to their everyday lives. You will have the opportunity to network with them and ask your own questions. The young alumni panel has always been a favorite of students and in the MiddCORE Summer Lab, we will be offering that opportunity in multiple sessions. The MiddCORE team (professors and staff) will facilitate the cohort discussions and reflections.
Q How many students will make up the MiddCORE Summer Lab cohort?
We will be limiting this summer’s intake to 33 students per round. 100 students total will be in the cohort. It is advantageous to apply early as most students apply in the later rounds. By applying in round one, and you are not committing yourself to coming.
Q What tools are the MiddCORE Summer Lab team planning to use?
Our goal is to deliver interactive programming that ensures connection and collaboration. We will plan to use a combination of the following: Zoom, Canvas, Mural, and Google Workspace.
Q Who is the MiddCORE Alumni community?
All graduates of MiddCORE and MiddCORE Summer Lab programming. In addition to Middlebury alums, this network spans several colleges and universities across the country, now working both nationwide and abroad.
The alumni community is organized on LinkedIn, Midd2Midd, and Facebook.
Q Will course credit be given for MiddCORE Summer Lab?
No, there is no course credit offered for MiddCORE Summer Lab.