Reality Check: How Necessary is That Undergrad Internship, Really?

by Kayleigh Thompson

Many students interviewed for this piece have chosen to remain anonymous in order to provide their most genuine thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The Rival American respects their privacy and is immensely grateful for the opportunity to share their stories.

Everyone in our community knows that a hallmark of the undergraduate AU experience is the DC internship. From the start of the admissions process through graduation, internships are embedded in campus culture, curriculum, and the expectation for every SIS, SPA, CAS, and Kogod Wonk. But how necessary are these internships, really? 

Picture this: It’s early September, and you’re talking with your floormates at the start of your first semester of sophomore year. Your peers are regalling you with tales from their first few weeks of Congressional internships, non-profit work, and think tank write-ups. They ask you where you’re at this semester-- assuming you have started your internship career-- and ask what your plans for the following semester will be. After the conversation, you spend the evening updating your Linkedin profile and looking up resume workshops, already feeling pressure to stay on top of the hiring game for the spring so you can keep up with your classmates. 

If this sounds familiar to you, you know the internship process can be a continuous cycle where you’re either researching and applying for your next unpaid position or balancing your time between schoolwork, a budding career, and free time. 

You feel that if you stop to take a break you'll immediately fall behind your fellow classmates even though you’re exhausted, burnt out, and overwhelmed. 

I asked Brent A. Sullivan, founder of the career and internship networking platform Time on the Hill, if he considered internship culture at AU and DC in general different from the national norm. He explained,

“Probably not. Every college student in America should aggressively consider an internship opportunity in the field for true first hand observation. But there are probably far more opportunities here than in many other towns and cities for interns.”

Despite this, students at AU notoriously feel the pressure to have more than one internship, beginning as early as Freshman year and continuing until graduation. While this is largely considered to be part of the DC experience, this trend has  been pushed against on AU’s campus. Citing the privilege it requires to be able to accomplish what is normally unpaid work in many students feel that it is unreasonable to push for multiple internships in undergraduate programs. One student in SPA explained,

“The cons outweigh the pros almost all the time-- It’s super exclusive. I exhibited so much privilege to be able to intern. It costs so much money, and the manipulation of students for their labor is really just ridiculous.” 

Having to work while holding an internship can significantly limit the amount of time students can spend on academic work or even just enjoy the college experience. Several students expressed regret or frustration over not having the time to effectively study or enjoy the period before they enter the workforce full time. A Senior in CAS recounted,  

“I've had an internship or job almost every semester and summer since my freshman year, and it's left me with a lot of great experience but also almost the sense that I'm burnt out. Chasing these internships has basically resulted in my facing adulthood far before I should have.”

In addition to this heavy workload, the social aspect of internship culture also takes a toll on students. Peer pressure and FOMO (fear of missing out) are cited as major motivators in pursuing an internship, despite the privilege it requires to complete an unpaid internship. Students also often feel ashamed of not having more than one internship by the end of senior year. One student from SIS elaborated, 

“It’s almost shameful if you don’t have an internship. It makes kids more anxious and more competitive with each other. In terms of culture it’s toxic just because people define themselves based on where they've been even though internships in general are something that's very privileged. I think it’s something that's highly detrimental to the wellbeing and overall students experience at AU.” 

But while many students are critical of the culture, there are few who don’t participate in it. AU boasts that 91% of its undergraduate students complete at least one internship during their programs. Some students even embrace the culture, citing it as motivating and beneficial to their professional development, while still being cognizant of its challenges. A third year CLEG student said,

“Getting experience in your field is so important. You can pick up on what you don’t like and what you like, but you shouldn’t feel pressured to do that. It’s all about how you pressure yourself and why you don't do things a certain way. Yeah, there might be some pressure, but its a good kind of pressure I think. Is there pressure from AU? Yes. Is it good pressure and should it be applied? Yes.” 

There is little doubt that having an internship is useful in expanding students’ network and helping them achieve their career goals sooner rather than later, but the question of whether this is a healthy norm to maintain for undergraduate students still remains. There is also the question as to whether or not this is becoming a nationwide norm or if it is centered in the DMV area. 

When looking at a Chegg “by the numbers” report, since 2013 at least 60% of the average undergraduate class reported doing an internship or something similar in their time at college. While this number is already higher than years passed, when compared to the AU norm and the distinct focus on internships at other DC universities, like GW and Georgetown, it is clear that DC, being the political and public service epicenter for the United States, has a unique internship culture compared to the national average. As one student explained,

“I think internship culture at AU is ultimately reflective of the city we live in. DC work culture is always about networking and finding the next best job, and that applies to people from DC universities looking for internships as well. I think internship culture at universities that aren't in major cities is definitely more relaxed.”

 With Mr. Sullivan elaborating, “You need to meet as many people as possible and learn as much as you can as quickly as you can...if you hustle, you win.”

This difference is seen not only by professionals in the workforce, but is also felt by students who have experienced the pressures associated with the DC internship environment. One AU Alumnus elaborated on this, stating,

“I needed to have paid internships and multiple on-campus full-time jobs to make ends meet. This made me want to get out of DC sooner that I would have liked. This was a large part in why I decided to graduate in 3 years, as opposed to the traditional 4.” 

Despite this, out of the people interviewed for this article, most were generally proud of having multiple internships and believed more experience to be better than less. When asked if they were content with the number of internships they had, the majority answered positively, with a few saying that they would have done more had COVID-19 or other life disruptions not gotten in the way. So while there is distinct criticism about internship culture at AU that is well founded, there is still a significant drive to continue to include undergraduate internships as a normal part of the DC college experience.

Regardless, The concern of student wellbeing still remains, and many recent graduates are struggling to feel the same sense of achievement in a world of less employment opportunities and harsh realities.While many are proud of what they accomplished during their undergraduate years at AU, they are realizing that perhaps that culture was not the most sustainable way of life. As recent AU graduate Mya Zemlock puts it, 

“Three words to sum up AU internship culture: post-graduation imposter syndrome.”

For more information about DC internships and Time on The Hill go to www.timeonthehill.com