Both of my kids have gotten great internships from ads on Indeed or Linkedin (which are also likely on Handshake). They have never once set foot in the career center, which I have scolded them about.

For my junior (CS-adjacent major at a big state U), he had a part-time internship after freshman year through a family friend. Sophomore year he went to some career fairs but mostly applied to a ton of internship listings found on Indeed and/or Handshake (the school jobs portal). Had a few interviews but nothing came through and he worked retail that summer (could have gone back to family friend but wanted a lot more hours). Junior year he started from beginning of 1st semester going to job fairs and applying to listings found via Indeed, Handshake. Google Jobs. Ended up getting a couple interviews from the Indeed applications and has an excellent internship for this summer that was finalized by winter break.

My freshman environmental science major (regional LAC) looked on local area parks, natural resources organization, etc. websites for job listings starting over winter break. Is currently deciding between two offers with a local park system. She didn't do anything with her college except to get feedback on her resume since she said when she looked at what they listed there really wasn't anything near our home and she wants to be home this summer.

IME, the career centers are most useful for resume help and interview coaching but my kids found more potential opportunities searching on their own + parent connections. DD has also gone to some "alumni chat" events focused on careers in her major which she seemed to find helpful just as general education.

How do college students get internships these days? Is it primarily through their college career services office and the events/introductions they organize?

Was talking to one of my kids and was surprised that random job boards are primarily used by he/she and his/her friends. Its been years since I had to go through the process but I went to a few events organized by the school and a few months later got a t-5 investment banking job, no connections/no experience/grades weren't even that stellar - seems things are a lot tougher these days but not sure.

I don't want to be "that parent" that gets the kid a direct internship but is that realistically what happens these days? Personal connections over an open process?