FAQs

Welcome to our FAQs section! Here, we've compiled a list of the most common questions we receive, along with answers to help you better understand our program, processes, and offerings. If you don't find the answer you're looking for, please feel free to reach out to write to us at contact@ladderinternships.com!

Program

  • You get to work alongside a mentor who actually guides you rather than just watches you, pick the company and field you're genuinely interested in, and take on real projects with real deliverables. These are the kinds of experiences that genuinely show up on college applications and resumes, and give you direct access to managers and CEOs in a way most students never get.

  • Skip the prestige trap — what really matters is what you're working on, who's mentoring you, and what skills you're walking away with. A well-structured internship is worth far more than a famous name with very little to take away from it.

  • Interns engage in diverse projects depending on their interests, project scope, and the host company.

    Some examples of projects our interns have worked on include strategy development, market analysis, cybersecurity, and coding MVPs.

  • Our team ideates and designs projects along with companies to ensure that they are meaningful and can add value to the company in the long run.

    In the past, our interns have ideated and coded technical MVPs and have conducted research to come up with pitch decks for founders over the span of 8 weeks.

  • Absolutely! Our team suggests company projects based on an applicant’s interests and notes from their interview. Details of the best fit projects are shared with students who have the final say in whether they wish to move ahead with the suggested match!

  • Ladder has a competitive selection process. The acceptance rate for our Summer 2023 cohort was 10%, with 700 applicants for 70 spots.

  • The program is fully online! Our team itself operates remotely across multiple countries.

  • The internship will be fully virtual and will run for a period of 8 weeks. Interns usually require 5-10 hours a week to work on assigned tasks and to meet company management.

    The program is designed to deliver tangible results without demanding day-to-day work!

  • Certainly, our program offers four cohorts annually: spring, summer, fall, and winter. If you're unable to join this cohort, please feel free to apply for the next one!

Tuition

  • A lot of free internships leave you handling tasks that don't go anywhere, with a supervisor who has little time for your development. With a structured program, you get a mentor who's genuinely invested in your growth, projects you can be proud of, and skills you'll keep using long after it's over.

  • Tuition varies by program, but the true cost evaluation should be based on the experience and skills you would receive from the program. At Ladder, the price is built around giving you real mentorship and meaningful work — something that will actually develop your skills and contribute to building your career!

  • The cost of our program covers training for interns, hiring management to facilitate their work with companies, and operational costs. By solving real challenges for startups, our interns gain professional experience that mirrors the responsibilities of full-time roles.

  • The total cost for our basic startup internship program is $2990, payable in two installments. The initial $200 deposit secures your spot, with the balance due after you’ve approved a company match!

Financial Aid

  • Yes, we offer full financial aid to those in need. We have provided financial aid to over 150 students so far.

  • We offer financial assistance to those in need. Applicants should select 'Financial Aid Required' on the application form. Roughly 10-20% of our cohort receives financial aid, and it's a competitive process.

    Learn more by visiting the ‘Financial Aid’ section on this page.

  • Competition for financial aid is always fierce, with about 10-20% of our cohort receiving aid due to the limited availability of spots.