Which will impress colleges more: Internships or summer jobs?

<p>It's kind of late to ask this...but I figured it would be good to ask as a general question. With the admissions process, which do colleges generally find more impressive: having an internship where you gain experience in your field of interest, or having a summer job where you help your family gain some money and get general work experience?</p>

<p>Right now, I'm trying to decide which I should go for...and I'm leaning towards the summer job, just because the idea of having a paycheck of my own appeals to me more, and I know my parents would appreciate some self-sufficieny. But, internships seem like such a big deal nowadays. Do I need an internship to get into top colleges, or will a summer job suffice?</p>

<p>I'd say def internships, learning and volunteering in my opinion is better than a job where colleges just think you're after extra spending money</p>

<p>Which one is better for a math major? Paid architecture internship or college course at hunter college (matrix alg)?</p>

<p>the one where youre not asking yourself "Why am i doing this"</p>

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I'd say def internships, learning and volunteering in my opinion is better than a job where colleges just think you're after extra spending money

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<p>haha</p>

<p>no a summer job can show that you're willing to sacrifice valuable time for the sake of independence. Though, colleges can't judge on one's character just because they decided to work over the summer....***.</p>

<p>But that being said, I'd think internships would be appealing. </p>

<p>However, take the course of action that grants you the greatest satisfaction.</p>

<p>I completely agree with SLAK. </p>

<p>This is your summer. Assuming you are a junior, this is basically your last one. After senior year, you will be busy moving and such during summer. Molding your entire vacation after what you THINK some panel of "judges" will find appealing isn't a very good idea, because for 1) you could do what looks best and still get rejected-- meaning you wasted an entire 2-3 months.</p>

<p>You have to balance it out. Don't tilt completely in the direction of your college application! To me, saving money to help your family seems much less self-absorbed than forcing yourself into an internship. Also, earning responsibility and helping your family through working can and will shine through on your application. They want human beings.</p>

<p>Just my two cents</p>