<p>During the summer, I work about twenty hours a week washing dishes at a local restaurant. I recently heard about an unpaid internship at a law firm that is 30-40 hours a week of really demanding work. I have gymnastics in the mornings from 6-8 and would have to rush to the firm to arrive by 9 AM and would not leave until 5 PM. I live 20 minutes away from the firm, but I would probably have to take the train (all in all, probably a 1 hr commute). Obviously this would be really tiring, but I want to be a lawyer, so it would definitely be rewarding. The school I am hoping to attend is TCNJ, and I think that I would probably be labeled a "reach." I have a 3.3 cumulative GPA, but it's been steadily improving since freshman year and this year I had a 3.8 for my first semester. My SAT's are in the 1900's. I have some EC's, but nothing really special.
So, my question is: would this demanding internship be worth it? I am currently a junior in high school and the idea of working full time without pay is a little daunting. Would this internship give me a significant enough edge in college admissions to warrant the sacrifice?</p>
<p>To be honest, I would not do it. Find something else to volunteer to do. You could look at volunteer match and see if you can find something that fits your interest.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.volunteermatch.org%5B/url%5D”>http://www.volunteermatch.org</a></p>
<p>They have categories of:
Advocacy & Human Rights
Education & Literacy
Justice & Legal</p>
<p>Even volunteering at a food bank shows your interest in helping your fellow man. </p>
<p>Alternatively, dress up in your nicest clothes and get a list of other law firms and make some visits. Offer to help in the summer for 10 hours a week doing anything they need help with eg filing, making copies, mailing things etc. Explain that you work 20 hrs a week so can only offer them 10 since you also do gymnastics.</p>
<p>this should be your last resort</p>
<p>I know nothing about law but I know that employers and admissions gobble up any kind work experience, and especially so when its relevant. A lot of kids just aren’t working these days (I am in engineering the supposedly “smart” and “serious” major and I know several students who have never had a job) and they like to see that you know what the real world is like. It is up to you but I would say do it. Either way you are already working which proves you aren’t going to be a failure like many in our lazy generation. Good luck with your college admissions!</p>