(This is copied verbatim from https://www.cs.columbia.edu/cpt-faqs/.)
Post-CPT reports should be approximately 5 pages and can cover the following items:
Introduction: Begin the report with a brief and engaging introduction. Provide an overview of the internship, including the name of the host organization and its area of focus. You may also mention any significant achievements or recognition of the organization.
Goals & Tasks: Clearly outline the objectives and goals of your internship. Explain the specific tasks and responsibilities you were assigned during the internship. Be comprehensive in describing the scope of your work, including any projects you were involved in or significant contributions made to the organization.
Learning: Elaborate on the skills and knowledge you gained during the internship. Discuss the technologies, tools, and methodologies you were exposed to, and explain how they contributed to your professional growth. Mention any training sessions, workshops, or mentorship programs that enhanced your skills.
Challenges & Solutions: Describe the challenges you encountered during your internship journey. It could be technical, teamwork-related, or anything else that posed difficulties. Be honest about the obstacles you faced and, more importantly, detail the strategies you employed to overcome them successfully.
Contributions: Emphasize the value you brought to the host organization during your internship. Discuss your key contributions to projects, initiatives, or any other areas where your work made a tangible impact. If possible, quantify the results or outcomes achieved through your efforts.
Reflection: Offer a thoughtful reflection on your overall internship experience. Discuss how the internship aligned with your academic and career aspirations. Share insights into how the experience has influenced your understanding of the field and the skills you acquired that you believe will be valuable in your future endeavors.
Conclusion: Conclude the report with a concise summary of the most important takeaways from your internship. Reiterate the significance of the experience in shaping your professional growth and expressing gratitude to the organization and mentors for their support.
In addition, students should also ensure that they obtain signatures from their internship managers as part of the internship report process. These signatures serve as an official acknowledgement from the supervisors that the student has completed the internship and fulfilled the required responsibilities. Including internship manager signatures adds credibility to the report and validates the information presented. It also demonstrates the student’s professionalism and commitment to the internship program.
Your post-CPT report should be submitted to your advisor by the dates below unless an alternative deadline was provided.