<p>So this is kind of a stupid question, but I just wanted to CONFIRM something.</p>
<p>If you get an internship that DOES NOT PAY, is it counted as volunteering or an internship?
If it does pay, then it is NOT volunteering.</p>
<p>Correct?</p>
<p>Just wanted to double check.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>hmm…i’d like to know as well! </p>
<p>especially for unpaid research internships. would that be considered “volunteering”?</p>
<p>It is not uncommon in some fields for an internship to be unpaid. If it’s called an internship, then it is an internship, not “volunteering.” The distinction, I believe, is that an internship is supposed to help you develop professionally, while volunteering could mean any number of things. Which is not to say that interns are always doing relevant, educational work, but that is the point. </p>
<p>It is possible to have a paid volunteer position, although you are given a “stipend” instead of wages/salary usually well below minimum wage. Gets a bit fuzzy, I guess.</p>
<p>I considered research opportunities - paid or not - as internships, not volunteering activities, since technically you’re learning skills, opportunities to use your research in competitions, working on a project that’s more or less your own, etc.</p>
<p>Ok, thanks!</p>
<p>Volunteering- primary objective is typically to help people/organizations in need (think altruism). Unpaid.</p>
<p>Internship - primary objective is typically to gain experience in a job field (professionally). May be paid or unpaid.</p>