<p>Interesting that all the rave reviews are from New members making their first post?</p>
<p>what is the point about the rave reviews coming from new members? it seems there are some real advantages to what u of dreams offers, if you look at it as an entire experience. certainly, if you look at it as paying to get an internship, it seems pricey. However, it seems that the fee is for more than the internship placement. is there someone out there who has gotten a JOB as a result of their u of dreams internship??</p>
<p>All the raves coming from 1-post members = the company having employees pretending to be students post to make themselves look less pathetic. Which has the opposite effect.</p>
<p>If you try to look paint it as not paying for the internship, you just look like a gullible chump or a paid shill. The program fees are far more than market value for housing obtained on your own, and what kind of college students need planned activities on the weekends to keep themselves busy? It's overpriced summer camp for spoiled rich kids who can't get a job or internship on their own. I just feel bad for the people who think so little of themselves or their children that they get sucked in.</p>
<p>I also find it someone suspicious that the reviews are all from first post members (okay, I am like 5 posts ahead of them but who is counting? :] )</p>
<p>However, I do think its a little too easy to start raging against the price machine we are calling summer program for the rich. Its different for everyone - different strokes for different folks. </p>
<p>People make the same argument all the time on CC boards about the elitist kids that go to HYPS. As a Stanford grad, this was a cost my parents were willing to bear. I appreciate them with all my heart. I still carry education loans but do I regret it? Not one bit. I loved my time at the "farm" and it has undoubtedly opened doors for me.</p>
<p>For these supposed "unpaid internships" - we have no idea if they are interning as a sales clerk at 7-11 (no offense to 7-11 employees) or if they are getting some real life work experience at a fun and exciting internship position. Internships are important for all college students as its one of the main ingredients to help them distinguish themselves (besides the usual grades, ECs etc) for future employers. In this economy, any edge is important. I know this from my Stanford years. Working experience, learning to be a professional, meeting new people - are all invaluable opportunities. Now is that worth $8k? I don't know. Is it worth $45k for Stanford? I sure hope so!</p>
<p>Bump. Curiosity killed the cat I guess. The combination of people getting up in arms about this program and the idea of paying for an internship v. the potential covert defense made this an interesting thread. Is this actually legit?</p>
<p>Chambay (OP), what did you decide on this?</p>
<p>sevan9: These are interesting posts! I still like what U of Dreams offers, but as a parent, I don't think I have that much SPARE change these days. so sad. Maybe next summer...</p>
<p>Just an FYI....</p>
<p>When you receive college credit for an internship, please remember that you PAY THE SCHOOL per credit hour for the internship.</p>
<p>At my school its $2.5k for a 3 credit hour class...I paid $2.5k to my school so I could receive credit for doing an unpaid internship. Yes, your school does it too. (Unless you go to Northwestern...)</p>
<p>What's the big deal? I want an internship at The New York Times or Washington Post. </p>
<p>Then again, I don't have the money =P</p>
<p>chambay: I agree. Money, unfortunately or fortunately, sure buys some nice things. Did you see today's WSJ article on parents cutting back on summer program spending? Timely read.</p>
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i thought unpaid was bad enough, now this...haha, i'd seriously laugh if i saw this on someone's resume as a recruiter.
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<p>Who's going to put on their resume that they did the internship through a paid program. They're simply going to say that they interned at X company or Y organization.</p>
<p>Marian - excellent point. If you do an internship at say Coke through a paid program, the end result is that your resume will say Summer Intern at Coke. I don't think there's anything wrong with that - if anything, in this environment, any work experience is a positive to the start of anyone's career 99.5% of the time.</p>
<p>As to paying for that opportunity, that's a personal choice.</p>
<p>I have participated in this program and I wholeheartedly recommend it. I did the Chicago Summer 2008 program and I worked for a pro sports team doing promotions and marketing for the team. I really enjoyed it and found the price well worth it. It would have cost me that much money to sublease an apartment for 2 months, and to pay for food and transportation and all of the activities that I got to do during the program. The price covers housing, a meal plan, transportation, and planned weekend activities. I got to see Wicked, went to a Cubs game, a dinner cruise, city tour on a double decker bus, saw a comedy show at Second City, and spent the night in a luxury condo on Lake Geneva for 4th of July. I met a lot of really great people and learned a lot while I was there. I definitely think you should look into it.</p>
<p>And by the way - i am highly offended by some of these posts because I did participate in this program and I really enjoyed it. And I am not a spoiled rich kid that can’t get a job. I am actually quite poor and this program offered me financial aid to be able to participate. I am a senior advertising major about to graduate from FSU and I was working a part-time job, taking 15 credit hours, and I was active in 3 student organizations when I decided to enroll in UofDreams. I probably could’ve gotten an internship on my own but I found it highly convenient to have someone supply housing, food, and transportation for me instead of having to seek it out myself. I also was required to have 6 credit hours of an internship to graduate so I couldn’t risk the possibility of not procuring one on my own. The guarantee at UofDreams is that they will help secure you an internship that you approve in your industry of choice, or you will receive your money back. I would watch what you say about a program that most of you clearly know nothing about.</p>
<p>I participated in the 2008 Chicago summer program and I loved it. Although most UofD internships are unpaid, I was paid a monthly stipend. Additionally, I am an independent student which means my parents have no part in paying for my education. This made me very hesitant about participating in the program because I wasn’t sure if it would be a smart investment for me. After speaking with various UofD alumni, which I contacted through facebook, I decided to participate in the program. My school funded half of the cost so I only paid about $3,000 :).</p>
<p>I was placed in a corporate public relations firm and my experience there was priceless. I also attended the weekly seminar series where UofD brought in professional guest speakers from different fields. This was actually my favorite part of the summer program because I left those seminars being very inspired and motivated to reach for my dreams. I was influenced so much that I did a presentation for the other interns and executives at the company I was interning at. </p>
<p>I don’t believe UofD is for everyone but it was definitely worth it for me. UofD gave provided me with the guidance, inspiration, experience I needed to go out on my own and pursue my career. My roommate didn’t feel the same as I did about the program but then again, she didn’t actively participate in everything UofD had to offer. She also wasn’t happy with her internship so you should do your research before you accept your internship job instead of relying solely on the enrollment advisers.</p>
<p>Lastly I want to note that YES, I am a new member to this website BUT I think it’s important to also know that the only reason I became a member was to respond this forum.</p>
<p>lol… all these 1 post promoting :-p…it’s pretty obvious</p>
<p>I was doing some research on University of Dreams, and came across this thread. I’m honestly shocked at the number of people who have shot U of D down because you have to pay. Think about it, most degree programs require an internship, and when you get one it is usually unpaid, and you have to provide your own housing, food, and transportation. If you live in Alabama, and are interning in New York, your expenses would be outrageous!! With this program you are guaranteed an internship, place to live, a meal plan, and other activities. It saves you a lot of stress! I’m pretty sure these people are making the money that they need to be made, so I really don’t think that they’d come on here and make one little post to “CHANGE EVERYONES MIND WITH 4 SENTENCES” Its not that deep…and for the people who said they’d just take summer classes…summer classes don’t get you contacts, and you can’t really add that to your resume’. Has anyone else had any experiences with U of D? I’m thinking of trying them out.</p>
<p>Someone should delete this thread. Half the people posting in it are either the same person or all people who work for this piece of crap.</p>
<p>Just by the fact that they feel the need to come defend themselves on an internet forum and spam everyone with advertisements leads me to believe they’re not legit.</p>
<p>EVERY company promotes. From McDonald’s, to Sephora, to nursing homes. Why should University of Dreams be any different? I have never seen an ad from them, I was on my schools website looking for internships, and they linked to University of Dreams. People are always so busy trying to find fault in everything that they pass up a good thing. Think about it; you’re interning in New York and you live in Alabama. You don’t know anyone there. You have to have a roof over your head, and rent there is ridiculous. You have to eat, you have to get to where you have to go. I will be looking for an internship in 2011, and honestly, I’d invest in U of D. It reminds me of summer camp, which is pretty cool.</p>
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<p>But you obviously work for them or are paid by them to post on this forum, what you really think you made an account just to defend this company?</p>
<p>University of Dreams is a scam. Ignore the people posting with less than 5 post.</p>
<p>If you want an internship, go out and find one yourself. Don’t pay someone $8,000 to find one for you. </p>
<p>Then again, I’ll find you an internship if you’re willing to pay me $50.</p>
<p>No, I made this account because I am a college student, and there is information about the school that I will be attending. I thought that U of D could be a scam, but then I came to the realization that if I where going to try and go to an unfamiliar place, I may as well pay that price, rather than possibly get screwed over in the long run. I am defending the company because I think what they are doing is good. Kinglin, I would be more than willing to give you $50 if you could guarantee me an internship, place to live, food to eat, and transportation…think you can handle all that in NYC for me? I’ll be looking for an internship in advertising for the summer of 2011.</p>
<p>Uh oh!! My 5th post! Check me out!!! lol.</p>