Internships As A Financial Aid Option

Paid and Unpaid: the Purpose of an Internship

Internships often get a bad wrap. You may hear that many are unpaid and those that are paid are pitiful. And who wants to spend months as everyone’s office lackey? Right?

Falsehoods on the above.

Truth: Internships are a fantastic way to gain practical, hands-on job experience in your chosen field. And there are plenty of paying opportunities available that can help you contribute to your college finances on top of the valuable experience. Office lackey? It’s called entry-level position and if you’re not up to it then you may want to rethink your career choice.

Benefits of Internships

The benefits of internships are numerous, which is why they continue to be one of the best opportunities for college students:

  • Opportunity to apply academic know-how to on-the-job situations.
  • Some knowledge and experience just cannot be taught in a classroom.
  • Chance to work with very experienced people and in some of the best companies in the country.
  • Chance to really consider the value of the career choice you’ve made.

**And yes, there are plenty of paying internships; you just have to know where to look. Three areas that offer well-paying and interesting internships include the State Department, the Peace Corps and the private sector.

State Department Paid Internships

If you want a real hands-on experience, the State Department is a fantastic place to locate an internship. Most of these internships are located abroad in various countries, however there are some available in Washington, D.C. as well. These are competitive paid internships and include room and board. It is an opportunity best suited for students studying business, the environment, foreign policy or cultural affairs. Knowledge of a second language is often required, as well.

Intern with the Peace Corps

Interning with the Peace Corps is popular. Students gain practical experience, applicable to any career path, plus internships are paid so you have immediate financial help for college bills.

Volunteering with the Peace Corps requires a two-year commitment. Once completed you are offered job placement assistance Plus other attractive benefits, such as retirement credit and noncompetitive eligibility for one year for government jobs—meaning you do not have to go through the same competitive application process as those that have not served with the Peace Corps.

Private Sector Internships

The private sector takes in all other businesses that may offer internships to promising students or graduates. Here is where you’ll find a slew of non-paid as well as paid internships. The sky’s the limit with internships and your best bet is to talk it over with a professor in your department or your advisor.

Most departmental bulletin boards have current internship postings relative to your career and major. There are bound to be plenty in your area. They are just not that widely publicized. If you do the legwork, you’ll find internships that suit your needs. Remember, the real purpose of an internship is to provide you real-world, hands-on, practical experience in your field. You can leverage your internship experience on your resume, as well. It counts as work experience. If you’re lucky to be paid for it, well, that’s the icing on the cake.