So I’m trying to decide between two potential summer internships (one I’d be surprised not to get because of what was said in the interview, the other is still unclear - but I want to think through my priorities now since I’ll hear back from them a few days apart and may not have long to make a decision), and I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts on which might be the better choice.
Option 1
This position would be education-based (I’m interested in education, but it’s kind of my second choice in terms of internships; I’d prefer something political), and it would involve working with really interesting people from the international region that I focus on at school. It pays pretty well (food, housing, and a stipend) and it would only take up half my summer, so I’d also have time to do research and maybe some trips with friends. Taking this position was a no-brainer for me before I got an interview with Option 2.
Option 2
This position is completely unpaid, but it’s in human rights work, which I’m super interested in, and it’s also related to the region that I focus on. I feel like this internship could give me skills that are more related to where I want to work after graduation, and I can afford to take an unpaid internship (I don’t have any student loan debt and my parents are willing to help out with housing costs), but obviously getting paid would be awesome and would give me more financial freedom over the next year or two (I’m living abroad for a year after graduation so I’d love to have extra money to travel while there). It requires a longer commitment (pretty much my whole summer) but is part time, so I still wouldn’t be overwhelmed with work - it would just mean a little less flexibility?
What do you guys think? A paid position that’s somewhat related to my field of interest and could be fun, but maybe not the most applicable to my career? Or an unpaid position that’s closer in line with what I want to do but would make me spend some of my savings instead of adding to it?