how much do internships really matter?

[Anonymous]

We have high school and middle school kids. Every time I mention to my husband that I am worried about their futures (they're good kids but average and not destined for HYS), he says things like "don't worry I will hook them up with internships." And "even if they decide to do something in a different field, a good internship can be a steppingstone and provide work experience, a reference" etc. He says he's been doing favors for people for a long time just for this purpose.

Is this true, in your experience? A good internship makes up for an average college?

[Anonymous]

I don't know what you mean by Average College. But a kid with internships at FAANG, F500, IB, Consulting is going to get more attention than a kid with summer jobs at the pool. Both will end up fine 10 years down the road but one good internship leads to another, and leads to a solid first job so internships pave the path.

[Anonymous]

Depends. Can he get them "meaningful" internships where they'd actually get to do and learn things?

Do you have the money to support them through unpaid internships?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what you mean by Average College. But a kid with internships at FAANG, F500, IB, Consulting is going to get more attention than a kid with summer jobs at the pool. Both will end up fine 10 years down the road but one good internship leads to another, and leads to a solid first job so internships pave the path.

outside of the top tier. colleges that are less well known. we're full pay so we might be able to squeeze them into a top tier LAC that way (like a Bucknell or a Colgate?) but I kind of doubt it. IDK how much that really matters.

[Anonymous]

You sound like you have anxiety.

Your kids should be fine if you don’t pass that on to them.

Internships provide a positive that is important but different than selectivity of college.

Only some types of jobs care about the latter. Your kids just need to try their best, and get into a place that is well suited to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what you mean by Average College. But a kid with internships at FAANG, F500, IB, Consulting is going to get more attention than a kid with summer jobs at the pool. Both will end up fine 10 years down the road but one good internship leads to another, and leads to a solid first job so internships pave the path.

Most college kids don't have FAANG internships, they have nepo internships like OP's husband is proposing. They are probably better than nothing, but when we hire new grads, we prefer real internships or real jobs to a month of take your kid to work day

[Anonymous]

I think that's a great experience if they have an opportunity like that but its not needed. My DS got into T15 schools without internships or research and is from an average FCPS public high school.

[Anonymous]

Your kids should be getting their own internships when they are in college. If they have to rely on daddy, they are doing it wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have high school and middle school kids. Every time I mention to my husband that I am worried about their futures (they're good kids but average and not destined for HYS), he says things like "don't worry I will hook them up with internships." And "even if they decide to do something in a different field, a good internship can be a steppingstone and provide work experience, a reference" etc. He says he's been doing favors for people for a long time just for this purpose.

Is this true, in your experience? A good internship makes up for an average college?

I pretty much owe the entire course of my career to my junior year internship on Capitol Hill because of the connections I made and one particular person who took it upon herself to be my mentor. I do think if you do a good job in an internship opportunity that can happen. It wasn't a resume thing, it was a work/connection/trust-building thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that's a great experience if they have an opportunity like that but its not needed. My DS got into T15 schools without internships or research and is from an average FCPS public high school.

I think OP is talking about college internships, but maybe I'm wrong.

I think internships help. FWIW, I went to a T150 school, and got an internship which turned into a job. But this was eons ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids should be getting their own internships when they are in college. If they have to rely on daddy, they are doing it wrong.

We are talking HS. senior year the kids do internships. Like NIH or something

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids should be getting their own internships when they are in college. If they have to rely on daddy, they are doing it wrong.

This is 100% not reality and you are doing dcs a disservice if you believe this. If parents can help, they should. At my dc's college orientation (business majors) they told the parents they can play an important role in helping secure internships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kids should be getting their own internships when they are in college. If they have to rely on daddy, they are doing it wrong.

We are talking HS. senior year the kids do internships. Like NIH or something

No, OP is talking about college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what you mean by Average College. But a kid with internships at FAANG, F500, IB, Consulting is going to get more attention than a kid with summer jobs at the pool. Both will end up fine 10 years down the road but one good internship leads to another, and leads to a solid first job so internships pave the path.

Most college kids don't have FAANG internships, they have nepo internships like OP's husband is proposing. They are probably better than nothing, but when we hire new grads, we prefer real internships or real jobs to a month of take your kid to work day

WTF are you talking about. A 10 week internship is an internship on the resume. It will read as Finance Intern, Supply Chain Intern, Enginering Intern. And there is no way you are going to tell whether an applicant got the job through nepotism or alumni or luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what you mean by Average College. But a kid with internships at FAANG, F500, IB, Consulting is going to get more attention than a kid with summer jobs at the pool. Both will end up fine 10 years down the road but one good internship leads to another, and leads to a solid first job so internships pave the path.

Most college kids don't have FAANG internships, they have nepo internships like OP's husband is proposing. They are probably better than nothing, but when we hire new grads, we prefer real internships or real jobs to a month of take your kid to work day

WTF are you talking about. A 10 week internship is an internship on the resume. It will read as Finance Intern, Supply Chain Intern, Enginering Intern. And there is no way you are going to tell whether an applicant got the job through nepotism or alumni or luck.

+1