Why internships are just as important as a college degree
By Anne Davey, Opinion Editor //
Summers off in between academically grueling college years are both a blessing and a burden. While time off from college is readily welcomed, after the finals madness subsides most upperclassmen don’t get to spend the summer leisurely relaxing on the beach. The summers between undergraduate years are often spent working 40 plus hour weeks in business, offices and in the field. In our job market, it will not be enough to simply have a degree. While connections and education can take you far, nothing can take you further than experience. Getting practical, hands on time in whatever your field of study may be is critical for success in the modern economy.
The decision to take an internship is not an easy one, nor is it a short-term one. Applications often open in the fall, and candidates that are serious about competitive positions apply throughout the first semester, interviewing and going through the rest of the process in early winter; this process necessitates early, decisive action, and forward thinking. Not only does the fall semester bring with it the daily toils of academia and a reinstatement into collegiate life, but also the need to plan for the upcoming summer. Most college kids can’t think a few days in advance, much less half a year. Perhaps this process weeds out the “slacker” types, as it clearly favors the more proactive, planning type by design. This process requires foresight, commitment and discipline. It’s incredibly easy to miss a deadline, finding out just as you start to think about summer that the application due date passed weeks ago.
If you manage to apply for and land an internship position, the financial burden of spending your few months free to earn an income in an unpaid position is a harsh reality. It is not an easy decision in most cases, to sacrifice a summer of earning in a restaurant, as a lifeguard, a babysitter or in some other more traditional typical teenage job. While some positions are paid, and other provide housing, the majority of positions both full and part-time, and unpaid and without such features. While its easy to weigh the negatives against the positives and find yourself discouraged, the long-term benefits of an internship, having it on your résumé and being able to clock that time on paper makes these sacrifices worthwhile.
Internships are such an integral part of the modern application process that having one or more is almost a requirement. Beyond the necessity, the positions offer students a chance to get experience in a field they may be interested in, or rule out specific jobs. As the age-old adage goes, the best way to learn something is by doing it. Internships truly are an investment in future wealth, rather than short-term income. Growing skills, expanding your network and investing in practical experience is, though not as financially rewarding in the present, the most sound investment in your future you can make.