what did your college kid do in the summer?

[Anonymous]

My college freshman says she feels like a "failure" because she's going to be scooping ice cream (and probably will get another seasonal job like country club waitress) again this summer, like she did in high school, and doesn't have an internship or anything related to her major/future plans.

[Anonymous]

At this point in her life, having a job is more important than getting an internship.

But if having an internship is important to her, the feeling of failure should motivate her to seek one out for next summer.

I would stand back and let it work itself out.

[Anonymous]

My first year college student is hoping to be a bagger and cart herder at Safeway. I think it is the perfect job. Next summer he hopes to have an internship or Co-op job. Hard to get freshman internships that pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My college freshman says she feels like a "failure" because she's going to be scooping ice cream (and probably will get another seasonal job like country club waitress) again this summer, like she did in high school, and doesn't have an internship or anything related to her major/future plans.

At least she could do those things while travelling in say Chile or Australia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college freshman says she feels like a "failure" because she's going to be scooping ice cream (and probably will get another seasonal job like country club waitress) again this summer, like she did in high school, and doesn't have an internship or anything related to her major/future plans.

At least she could do those things while travelling in say Chile or Australia.

those jobs wouldn't cover her airfare nor living expenses.

[Anonymous]

My daughter was upset at that stage that she was "a glorified babysitter." She nannied in Italy. I thought it was great - she's now fluent.

[Anonymous]

My DD worked in a gift shop after her 1st year. and most of her friends did similar jobs. This summer she has an internship which she just recently secured. Your DD shouldn't put pressure on herself to get an internship after only 1 year in college. Frankly, the internships are hard to come by with only 1 year of college and most who have secured them have done it through family/friend connections.

Just let her work it out on her own. Sounds like she may be dealing with competitive people at her college...when she gets home she will find that most of her friends are doing the same. She can then be motivated to get an internship for next summer.

[Anonymous]

Does she have any interest in volunteering? She could spend some time helping a good cause and add to her resume.

[Anonymous]

My DD was a mentor for the school's online math program. Had everything from high school students to post doctorates in her classes. I think it was one of the only online programs that almost all colleges accept for credit. It was great because she could set her own hours and workload. The best part was she could work from anywhere so she split her time between her boyfriend's state and her home state. Helped with her degree and with getting an internship this year. Lots of colleges have opportunities for the summer but most kids just don't look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she have any interest in volunteering? She could spend some time helping a good cause and add to her resume.

This is a good idea, in addition to the make-money job.

I hire interns for every semester and never hire someone after their freshman year, maybe will after sophomore year if they had some really exceptional academic projects that relate to what we do. Most of our interns are in the summer after Jr. year.

I'd advise my kids (now in HS) to spend the summers after...

Freshman year - yes, look for things related to your major but the usual teen retail/food/camp type job is fine.
Sophomore year - work harder to find a field-related job, might be a PT job at a smaller organization. Maybe helping with faculty research.
Junior year- this is the one that matters. You have to have an internship in your field. Start planning for it early in Jr. year. My firm interviews for summer interns in January.

[Anonymous]

I loved being camp counselor after senior year of HS and freshman year of college. Feeling the pressure, I got a summer job working for a bank after sophomore year. What a mistake! Boring, I missed being a camp counselor, and I don't think it had any bearing whatsoever on my future career.

I'm thinking a post-graduation internship (living free at home in DC metro area) is a best bet . . . more substantive than a summer, more likely to turn into an actual job. Why not let the summer simply be about making money in whatever way your DC sees fit?

[Anonymous]

One of mine couldn't even find ANY job after his freshman year. He is interviewing tomorrow for a part time job that would be good experience in his field, otherwise working sophomore summer at Sonic. My older son has enjoyed working at a summer camp as a counselor and has no desire to spend his junior summer doing anything else - he says he'll spend his life working so he wants to enjoy himself now. I know given his field he'll have a choice of jobs once he does graduate and as long as he's earning some $$ towards his college living expenses I'm fine with that. Your daughter's not a failure as long as she's got something going to earn some money!

[Anonymous]

My DD has an internship with the U.S. State Department working at an Embassy doing research on agriculture and agricultural trade issues between the U.S. and Europe.

[Anonymous]

She also got to meet President Obama!

[Anonymous]

I'm totally jealous of the state department gig. My DD is already applying for next summer to be a TA at CTY. She says that after working at her internship she misses having summer fun and if she can't have any she would at least like to watch the kids having fun.