Are Internship Opportunities Drying Up for College Students?

[Anonymous]

There seem to be a lot more internships that don't really have any chance of converting to fulltime jobs--the companies are pretty clear about that, too, that even a great candidate probably won't get a return offer unless the economy picks up like crazy right before their grad date and they need a new grad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, senior DD at Pomona is taking a gap year because no internships and no grad school in science.

Same for friends DD at Stanford

[Anonymous]

In some fields, kids are increasingly competing with graduate students, especially fields like data science or science fields. Even consulting is hiring more and more grad students as first year analysts--at MBB, a master's degree that's not a MBA with less than 3 years of work experience enters as an analyst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In some fields, kids are increasingly competing with graduate students, especially fields like data science or science fields. Even consulting is hiring more and more grad students as first year analysts--at MBB, a master's degree that's not a MBA with less than 3 years of work experience enters as an analyst.

I got an internship in finance at a well-known investment bank for the summer between my undergrad and grad program, and my full time analyst offer was actually conditional on my finishing my Master's program.

I went to a T20 for undergrad and grad school, but my undergrad courses were not super duper rigorous, so that may be why.

[Anonymous]

PP here. It was actually conditional on both finishing and a review of my grades in the Master's programs. I did well in the Master's program so I don't know what would have happened if I didn't do well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious about internship opportunities overall. Parents of college students—can you share your experiences? I know the entry-level job market is tough, but are companies also cutting back on paid internships or return offers? It feels like the degree-to-job pipeline is broken right now, leaving many students with little choice but to pursue graduate school or switch tracks, often toward med schools.

There still out there. Keep plugging away. My CS jr. was able to land a summer 26 internship back in October. They’ve even labeled him as a PT employee (guess that's a requirement) so they can conduct the clearance process. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

My rising sophomore has had no luck and has been trying since August. Econ major at T50 school - not trying for anything competitive. Just really anything at this point and only a handful of interviews that did not lead anywhere.

I am silently freaking out for DC b/c if they can't get an internship this summer, how are they going to have anything on their resume to get an internship rising into senior year?

Personal contacts of parents, school contacts, career center, 50+ well tailored-applications have led no where.

I think DC will return to last year's regular job and do a short study abroad. It sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising sophomore has had no luck and has been trying since August. Econ major at T50 school - not trying for anything competitive. Just really anything at this point and only a handful of interviews that did not lead anywhere.

I am silently freaking out for DC b/c if they can't get an internship this summer, how are they going to have anything on their resume to get an internship rising into senior year?

Personal contacts of parents, school contacts, career center, 50+ well tailored-applications have led no where.

I think DC will return to last year's regular job and do a short study abroad. It sucks.

most places want rising seniors, not rising sophomores. But, yes, keep plugging away.

[Anonymous]

Anybody's kids gunning for investment banking or other high finance internships? My DD at a target school (T15) has been working hard trying to land a summer analyst (2027) position in high finance but so far no luck. Has had 3 first round interviews and a super day coming up next week but no offers yet. I'm just wondering if this year is tougher than previous years.

[Anonymous]

Dh's company hasn't cut back, but the opportunities have always been nepotistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most kids are getting internships through personal connections. Instead of blindly applying on LinkedIn, successful students are finding companies that interest them, figuring out who they know there, and asking for a warm hand-off.

They should go through handshake, their college career fairs or directly on the company's website.

That's what my kid did, and they got several offers. CS/math major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, senior DD at Pomona is taking a gap year because no internships and no grad school in science.

Same for friends DD at Stanford

any stanford student in good standing (correct prereqs, 3.5+ which is below average by a lot) can get into a stanford masters program, either as a 4+1 before senior year or to start after senior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising sophomore has had no luck and has been trying since August. Econ major at T50 school - not trying for anything competitive. Just really anything at this point and only a handful of interviews that did not lead anywhere.

I am silently freaking out for DC b/c if they can't get an internship this summer, how are they going to have anything on their resume to get an internship rising into senior year?

Personal contacts of parents, school contacts, career center, 50+ well tailored-applications have led no where.

I think DC will return to last year's regular job and do a short study abroad. It sucks.

Econ majors just like every other major can do research, typically paid, but unpaid is also fine, with a professor at their school or connect with professors at other schools. It is late in the game for summer 2026 but they should ask now, advisors, professors, all. Research is great experience and looks good on all resumes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising sophomore has had no luck and has been trying since August. Econ major at T50 school - not trying for anything competitive. Just really anything at this point and only a handful of interviews that did not lead anywhere.

I am silently freaking out for DC b/c if they can't get an internship this summer, how are they going to have anything on their resume to get an internship rising into senior year?

Personal contacts of parents, school contacts, career center, 50+ well tailored-applications have led no where.

I think DC will return to last year's regular job and do a short study abroad. It sucks.

Econ majors just like every other major can do research, typically paid, but unpaid is also fine, with a professor at their school or connect with professors at other schools. It is late in the game for summer 2026 but they should ask now, advisors, professors, all. Research is great experience and looks good on all resumes.

Research is a good option. You can also be a teaching assistant for a summer school course at the college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In some fields, kids are increasingly competing with graduate students, especially fields like data science or science fields. Even consulting is hiring more and more grad students as first year analysts--at MBB, a master's degree that's not a MBA with less than 3 years of work experience enters as an analyst.

MBB recruits undergrads actively as juniors at DC's ivy and other target schools, specifically wanting engineering, physics, math, econ, but also hiring english and humanties majors. They have events on campus targeting different interests/majors. They have not backed off recruiting in fact they have increased it this year.