Spring Break
The Value of an Internship
The summer experience of Princeton undergrads
Cindy Hong '09
Issue date: 10/1/06 Section: Campus News
This will be fun," I thought on a warm Saturday in June, as I scanned the cramped apartment that I was sharing with three strangers for the next ten weeks. What could be better than living in crowded conditions, commuting two hours a day, and working thirty-five hours a week when I could be lounging around at home with a desk job and making lots of money? Of course, it was all for the sake of having an internship at a non-profit where I would gain hands-on work experience, great contacts, and learn useful information that would change my life - or so I told myself.
A similar line of reasoning must have convinced many other Princeton students to undertake internships this summer. A random sampling of Facebook profiles at any given moment this summer revealed that Princeton students were busy in places as exotic as Tanzania and as familiar as Princeton. I - along with hundreds of other Princetonians - chose the nation's capitol, Washington DC. Indeed, the number is sufficiently large that every year there is a Princeton-in-Washington program that coordinates educational events for the interns.
But not all internships are worth moving to a new city. When choosing an internship, one must weigh the costs. Although many internships come at a price, Princeton students have the advantage of a supportive university to find suitable, well-funded internships.
As Sarah Vancil, the Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator of the Office of Career Services, points out, some of the benefits of summer internships are:
- To "try out" a career field with less commitment than a permanent job.
- To gain professional experience and a competitive edge.
- To engage in and learn about the job search process prior to graduation.
- To build a network of professional contacts within an organization or industry.
- To make the connection between your liberal arts education and the "real world."
- To frame questions and focus on key issues to reflect on and incorporate into coursework and independent work.
A similar line of reasoning must have convinced many other Princeton students to undertake internships this summer. A random sampling of Facebook profiles at any given moment this summer revealed that Princeton students were busy in places as exotic as Tanzania and as familiar as Princeton. I - along with hundreds of other Princetonians - chose the nation's capitol, Washington DC. Indeed, the number is sufficiently large that every year there is a Princeton-in-Washington program that coordinates educational events for the interns.
But not all internships are worth moving to a new city. When choosing an internship, one must weigh the costs. Although many internships come at a price, Princeton students have the advantage of a supportive university to find suitable, well-funded internships.
As Sarah Vancil, the Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator of the Office of Career Services, points out, some of the benefits of summer internships are:
- To "try out" a career field with less commitment than a permanent job.
- To gain professional experience and a competitive edge.
- To engage in and learn about the job search process prior to graduation.
- To build a network of professional contacts within an organization or industry.
- To make the connection between your liberal arts education and the "real world."
- To frame questions and focus on key issues to reflect on and incorporate into coursework and independent work.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Katrina Arkwright
posted 3/12/09 @ 3:48 AM EST
Good information. Thanks for the post.
Penny Jackson
posted 3/16/09 @ 9:26 AM EST
I thought this debate was about them, as opposed to featuring them. Whoops.
Teresa Carder
posted 3/20/09 @ 12:07 PM EST
Thanks to author! I like articles like this about , very interesting.
resume writers
posted 12/08/09 @ 11:18 AM EST
Internship is a real value.
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