<p>Just posted in internship forum but think I want parent advice, too.
Here is the gist of the dilemma:</p>
<p>D1 has applied for several internships and has been interviewed and waiting to hear. Today she was offered an unpaid internship close to home. They want an answer ASAP. She has interviewed with another OOS organization and the interview went very well and they said she would hear back in a week or so, again unpaid. Earlier in the week she was contacted for a third, very prestigious national organization internship saying she had made the first cut and would be interviewed soon. This is a full time, paid position with housing and travel subsidy. What to do??? She wants the second or third position. Business profs told her to contact second org and tell them she has an offer and could they tell her her status. If they offer she wants to take it. What if......things work out for third position???? Can you back out and take it???? Ish... Talked with some HR directors and they said it happens all the time for interns to turn down unpaid spots for paid positions. Really???</p>
<p>The profs advice makes some sense. Perhaps they could at least give her some indication of her status - of course, they may decide to share nothing. </p>
<p>Which gives her the best experience for later in her career? It can hard to figure out which is best in terms of close to home vs. far, most career related vs. least related, paid vs. unpaid. </p>
<p>If she can buy a little time or get some info try it. Otherwise, sometimes you just have to make a decision and live with it or try and deal with it later.</p>
<p>Well, first you have to answer the question of whether internship #2 (the unpaid OOS position) is financially feasible. There will be housing costs that your daughter would not face if she took the near-home unpaid internship.</p>
<p>If it is, then I think the professor’s advice is valid.</p>
<p>As for the prestigious paid internship, I would suggest that your daughter go ahead and interview. If she gets an offer but has already accepted one of the unpaid internships, she should contact the organization that offered her the unpaid position, explain that she was unexpectedly offered a paid position, and ask to be released from her commitment to the unpaid position on the grounds that in the current economy, she really needs the money from the paid internship. The worst they can say is no.</p>
<p>Practically every student applying for internships faces this sort of bird-in-the-hand versus who-knows-what-in-the-bush problem. Unfortunately, there is no uniform reply date for internships, the way there is for college applications.</p>
<p>Thank you for your thoughtful replies! Yes, #2 is feasible as we have family OOS that she can live with. The problem will be not having cash next year at school as she uses her summer money to live off of at school. We would have to front her that and we would be able to do that if necessary. Marian…great suggestions!!!</p>
<p>I’d choose what’s behind door number three!</p>
<p>If option 2 is doable and preferred to option 1, then option 1 can be taken off the table and she can give them the ASAP response they want.</p>
<p>She’s still waiting on both 2 and 3 so hopefully she can stall 2 as long as possible to get a clearer picture on 3.</p>
<p>Worst case, if she has to give 2 a response before she gets the firm offer from 3, she can accept 2 and when 3 comes in as a go, contact 2 with the explanation that she received a paid internship opportunity she just can’t turn down. She’ll then need to deal with what to do if number 2 comes back with a paid offer.</p>
<p>In the meantime, she can always try for a 4, 5, etc. but perhaps discount the unpaid positions.</p>