Internships v. Research

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>I've been looking at internships for this summer and I'm presented with a problem. All of these internships I've found (minus two volunteer jobs) are extremely competitive. My favorite internship has at least over one hundred applicants and takes 2.</p>

<p>But, I have the option of staying at my college for the summer and doing something called "Pioneer Scholars" where I get paid $3,000 to do a research project over the summer. It would be a wash money-wise because I'd have to pay for housing over the summer. So money is not the issue.</p>

<p>I just don't know if it is better for me, a history major looking to go for dual degrees in Library Science and Public History, to do research or to do the internships.</p>

<p>Here are some of the internships I'll be applying to:
Holocaust Museum
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institute Libraries
Library of Congress
National History Day
Mount Vernon
etc.</p>

<p>There are two volunteer opportunities that I know of - the Lane County Historical Society and the University of Oregon History Museum and I'm sure there are more I just don't know of.</p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p>

2

<p>At this stage, it appears that you are in a situation where it’s more important to do something that interests you than to do something lucrative or very career oriented. If that is the case, think about what you think will make you the happiest this summer.</p>

<p>Research is fascinating and gives you the opportunity to do some awesome things as well as work with brilliant minds; internships at museums generally involve a lot of clerical work but could expose you to extremely rare artifacts and papers that you wouldn’t otherwise encounter. It seems to me that it’s in your best interests to apply to everywhere and see what happens. Once you have offers in hand, you can make a decision.</p>