Value of Health Internships

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.