<p>Hello, so I applied for three internship programs for the upcoming summer and I'm starting to think of other possibilities because I may not get in to any of them. I didn't have too many contacts, and I didn't realize that I had to start contacting the researchers so early on in the year (I'm regretting this a lot). I really don't mind if I don't get paid; my main objective is to find a mentor who can help me with my research. Does it really matter whether I work as an intern or as a volunteer?</p>
<p>intern and volunteer are practically the same thing. internships are generally for “companies” that are for profit, while volunteering is generally non profit. you won’t get paid regardless, but i guess an “internship” would be better since its not as common as volunteering. if all else fails, do a summer of volunteering.</p>
<p>Some interns are paid and some aren’t. Volunteers are never paid. Otherwise, no difference.</p>
<p>What you accomplish during your internship or volunteer experience is far more important than whether you were a volunteer or intern.</p>