<p>Hi you guys, i'm currently a junior and I realize that the time to start applying for internships has arrived. I've heard that internships are most valuable when they're related to something you're interested in but I'm really unclear as to the field I want to pursue. I'm planning to apply to an internship that's focused on leadership and volunteering- how much weight would that carry? Will this make me a stronger applicant in the eyes of colleges?</p>
<p>Oh and also, do colleges prefer/value paid internships over unpaid internships or vice versa?</p>
<p>Colleges themselves would rather it be a for-credit intership, as it more directly relates to your study. But it’s really your choice. If your financial situation warrants a paid internship, then pursue one. But if not, it would be much easier to obtain a nice unpaid (and or for-credit) internship. These are in greater supply than the former.</p>
<p>Given your desire to express leadership qualities, I would suggest an internship with a member of the civil service (congressman, senator). These demonstrate a willingness to lead and communicate a sense of self-valuation towards civil (community) service. Both outstanding qualities, and the letter of rec. from a US Senator backing them up can look quite impressive on a future application.</p>
<p>An internship would be a great opportunity! When I started mine, I had no idea what I wanted to do either, but within a week of starting I fell completely in love with the field and knew I wanted to do it for the rest of my life.</p>
<p>I think GoldenDomer is assuming you are a junior in college. I assume you are a junior in high school. If so, it doesn’t matter if the internship is paid or unpaid - in fact, it might be better, from your perspective, if it’s unpaid, assuming your family can afford it because you probably won’t find many people who are willing to pay you.</p>
<p>Rather than focusing on qualities like ‘leadership and volunteering,’ focus on industries you are curious about or types of work you think you might like. For example, if you are interested in medicine, try to volunteer at a public health clinic or other healthcare setting. If you are interesting in teaching, find a tutoring program where you can get some ‘in the trenches’ experience.</p>
<p>Finding the internship requires developing networking skills. You talk to everyone you know (parents, teachers, neighbors, people at your place of worship if you have one, coaches, etc…) about your interest and whether they know anyone who might be interested in having an unpaid intern. Realize that bringing on an intern is hard work for the person supervising, if it’s not going to be a complete waste of the intern’s time. It requires planning, some training, providing oversight and feedback - and if it’s only going to be for a few weeks, it’s often not worth the effort. So be prepared to present what you have to offer and how you can contribute (get a resume together, cover letter explaining what you want, hours/week of availability, what skills you have).</p>
<p>Will it make you a better candidate in the eyes of colleges? Compared to what? Sitting in front of the TV all day? Curing cancer? This isn’t and shouldn’t be about making yourself look good to colleges. It should be about discovering what you want to do with the rest of your life.</p>