<p>Is it necessary and/or helpful to take summer internships as a college student hoping to go to business school? Also, how important is it to get a good internship the summer after your freshman year of college? I can't find any internships for which I'm suitable so I'll probably have to work a minimum wage job this summer.</p>
<p>Internships don't really "count" toward work experience from a B-school admissions perspective. They are helpful, however, to the extent that they help you secure a good post-graduation job that you can thrive in.</p>
<p>Don't sweat it if you can't find an internship after freshman year. Most "quality" internships come after sophomore or junior year. Also, keep in mind that minimum wage work can be very valuable, if it's in an industry or profession that you're interested in long-term. And for my money, minimum wage beats an unpaid intership hands-down.</p>