The problem is that pursuing an internship isn’t a simple matter of, say, enrolling in a class. Finding an internship is a lot like looking for a job, and many students said they didn’t know where to begin the process—they didn’t know how to find internship opportunities, and they didn’t know how to apply for them if they did.
Moreover, participating in an internship creates scheduling challenges for students who are already juggling school, work, and personal responsibilities. And commuting can be a problem for those who have limited access to transportation. On top of that, students who need to earn money to support themselves said unpaid internships aren’t an option—and many internships are unpaid.
Both students who had completed internships and those who hadn’t told us they needed more support finding and applying for positions. For some, the search for an internship ended like any other job hunt: Many job postings led to dead ends. One student without contacts in the business community recalled being “left to flounder,” and a Gulf West student said, “You’re almost having to beg people to take you as an intern.”