Getting an Internship During College

College is the perfect time to get some valuable experience in the real world. Many students are able to secure great internships within their field while also continuing their college studies. It's an excellent way to explore your future career path, gain great contacts, network with experienced professionals and learn more about your field. Many students find that the internship experiences they had during their undergraduate education play an important role in their ability to find a job after graduation.

One important factor in obtaining an internship is whether or not the student will be able to earn college credit for their experience. Every student should check with their academic advisor to find out if an internship can be counted as a college class. Many programs have a special listing in their class catalog for internships, where students can arrange internships on an individual basis for an upcoming semester and have the time they spend at their internship count as the same number of credits as a typical class. This is a great way to get even more value out of your internship. Plus, academic advisors within your major may have several excellent contacts which you can get in touch with in order to set up an internship in your field.

Students should also pay close attention to any compensation (or lack thereof) provided through the internship. Many internships are unpaid since students are gaining class credit for their experience. Others offer an hourly wage much like a part-time job. There are also many internships, both paid and unpaid, which provide students with a monthly stipend that can go towards related expenses like transportation to and from work, lunches or appropriate work attire. Although it's not uncommon for students to accept unpaid internships, they should always make sure that taking on an internship won't interfere with their ability to pay any bills, rent or other expenses for things that they need on a day-to-day basis, such as groceries and school supplies. Many students are able to make this financial situation work, either by spending less or taking out additional loans.

It's important for students to also balance their studies with their internship. Although a student should always complete any assignments or expectations from their internship, they should make sure these obligations don't detract from their other school obligations. School projects, essays, papers and research also need to completed thoughtfully and on-time, so students need to make sure to schedule in enough time to complete the assignments for both school and work.

Overall, an internship can be one of the best ways for a student to explore possible career paths and gain excellent experience in their field. Many students report that their previous experience through an internship helped them land a job after they graduated from college. Students from both community colleges and four-year universities are often able to complete internships at some point during their college education.