The Summer Dilemma: Classes vs. Internships vs. Jobs

By Karolyn Castaldo on June 13, 2012

For the college student, summer is no longer a time for lounging in the sun with a book and your iPod, catching the warm rays in your best swimsuit. Now, we are faced with a choice; take classes, have an internship or get a job, because those are what look best on a resume or transcript. So, which do you pick?

Photo from Flickr.com by SLU Madrid Campus

At University of Denver and many other schools, summer term offers students the chance to take classes that they wouldn’t usually take. For some, this means that they are able to go abroad with a school program because they are not bogged down by restrictions and time constraints from their major. For others, it just means that they will take a class that is not necessarily offered during the regular school year. Summer term is a great way to catch up on credits if you are behind or to retake classes that you had to drop during the year. These types of courses can be taken at colleges that are closer to home and most of the time, as long as you check with an academic advisor, the credit can be transferred to your university.

An internship is a great view into your potential life after college. Getting the chance to work in the field that you wish to pursue, even if you aren’t getting paid, is a great opportunity. Though these internships are usually very competitive depending on the company, it is a great addendum to your resume, and worth the effort it took to get accepted into the program. You may only be getting coffee for some hotshot business man in a fancy suit, but future employers will see your experience at that company on your resume and be impressed. Students who do internships typically have a greater chance of getting hired after school in the field of their choice. Most schools will also offer internships for credit as well, so you can put your time in this position towards your degree.

 However, getting a job can be unavoidable in the summer. As students, we find ourselves becoming more and more responsible for payments and it does add up. Taking the summer to work and save up your money, rather than traveling abroad with a class or working for nothing with an internship, you will be able to afford more once you get back to school. Also, these jobs can lead to the same sorts of benefits with future employers that the internships do, depending on the types of companies you work for. It will add experience to your resume and you will be more independent in the end.

Whatever you choose, each of these options presents benefits for college students in the long run. Say “so long,” to the restful summers of your youth, because summer is now a time for productivity and trust me, you’ll be glad you did it.

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