The Value of College Internships

College internships are highly important and beneficial to students. Internships help integrate current studies into the professional workplace, build résumés and give students necessary job experience before they graduate.

The Department of Education wrote that internships are unique opportunities to apply studied subjects to a professional work setting. The practice is even required in the medical field so aspiring doctors can gain hands-on experience treating patients. However, whether they are required or not, internships benefit students in every field, supporting their education and transition from the classroom to their career. Internships are especially vital since many students are required to do an internship before graduation. 

A key benefit of college internships is the creation of better job opportunities. According to Stephen B. Knouse and Gwen Fontenot’s 2008 article in the Journal of Employment Counseling, students who complete an internship are more likely to receive job offers, having proven to be responsible and committed. They have already stepped into the job market, giving them an advantage for future employment. With experience, references and motivation, their existing skill sets become especially enticing to employers. Internships enhance credibility and desirability.

Former Liberty Champion sports editor Annie Cory completed an internship with NBC and discussed how the opportunity propelled her professional career. “(The internship) helped me feel so much more confident exiting college knowing that I was well-equipped to make an impact once I got my degree,” Cory said. “It taught me time management and professionalism, which I’m seeing the effects from now.” 

As Cory noted, internships contribute to personal growth, allowing one to experience a work setting before actually receiving a degree. 

According to the department, positive internship experiences tend to increase a student’s self-esteem and confidence. Students can use the internship to test how they perform and whether the career is a good fit for their skill sets. Practice in the profession highlights strengths and weaknesses, giving students a clear grasp of their abilities and a workbench for improvement. Students also learn firsthand what is expected of them in the workplace and how to interact professionally with co-workers and superiors. 

Despite the benefits, there are potential downsides to college internships. Some, if not most, are unpaid, requiring the student to work a job without financial compensation. P. Wesley Routon and Jay K. Walker’s 2019 article in Education Economics, internships require a great deal of time and can detract from academics. Students split their motivation between classes and internship responsibilities, creating a busier and more draining workload. In some cases, students choose to take fewer classes per semester to avoid overworking themselves. This may extend their time in college, which increases tuition prices. Because of a longer degree program, students may feel pressure to find an undergraduate job, which will hamper their time even more. 

Despite some of the negative aspects, internships are still immensely valuable. While internships can be time-consuming and add to the typical undergraduate workload, they ultimately benefit the student. Students who complete an internship gain work experience, increasing their employability and making future job hunting easier. Building experience before stepping off the diving board into a career can greatly draw students to or away from particular professions as they discover how their personal skill sets apply to different fields.

Westling is an opinion writer for the Liberty Champion.