Internships offer students a plethora of advantages that not only
impact their academics, but also personal and future goals. Internships offer
students the opportunity to develop competitive resumes, strengthen career-related
and academic skills, and broaden their understanding of their chosen fields.
In
early stages of undergraduate studies, the completion of an internship can help
students uncover likes and dislikes about their chosen major and help them
decide whether they wish to continue to pursue that field. If a student wishes
to continue in their chosen field, more often than not, they are able to claim
academic credit for their internship.
The competitive edge that internships add to a student’s
graduate school or job application helps them to stand their ground in high
demand situations. For example, when applying to graduate school, having one or
more internships may incline review boards to not just accept your application,
but to advocate for you to represent their program which can lead to an
increased likelihood of receiving adequate funding.
Similarly, for students who
dive directly into the workforce, the experience gained through internships
helps to strengthen resumes and increase employers’ interest and confidence in
the applicant. Not only do internships help students to strengthen job
applications, but often the completion of an internship leads to guaranteed
positions upon graduation.
Internships also allow students to network and develop
relationships with various professionals not only in their field, but also across
related fields. Having a diversified arsenal of contacts increases students’
ability to enhance their futures and opens the doors to options they have never
considered. Internships are not required for success; however, they do offer
the possibilities of advantages in being selected in competitive professional
and academic settings and the attainment of valuable skills.