<p>How do colleges view unpaid internships? As a high schooler, it's not exactly easy for me to find paid internships.</p>
<p>An internship is an internship. If anything, not getting paid should be in your favor, proving your desire to work hard for no pay. The point of internships is experience and one of the best benefits will be the networks you get out of whatever internship you choose.</p>
<p>Thanks, bump.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE=ATLs09]
proving your desire to work hard for no pay
[/quote]
Ha… a personal quality that is deeply appreciated among graduate students as well! :D</p>
<p>(Agree with ATLs09. Work is work, as long as you treat an unpaid internship as seriously as a paying job. Think of reference letters and networking prospects as your payment.)</p>
<p>i’m a senior. i’ve had 2 unpaid internships, and i did pretty well in the admissions process. i also made some great connections and got some great experience that will hopefully help in the job search in the future. i think it definitely reflects well on you, but one other thing to consider - people who take unpaid internships are people who don’t have to get a job. by taking an unpaid internship, you’re communicating something about your financial situation/your drive to pay for college. in short, only wealthy kids can afford to take unpaid internships. if you’re going to apply for need-based financial aid, internships might work against you in the future… but maybe that’s just overthinking, i don’t know.</p>