Anonymous wrote:Ugh. My DC is having no luck landing an internship. He is going to keep at it for sure and is doing networking, career services, sending out apps. etc. Has had a few interviews but hasn't landed anything. If your DC did not have an internship after sophomore year, what did they do? Just retail/restaurant? I think he is screwed without an internship this summer b/c how will he get one next year when it is even more important to have experience?

Real students from DC's ivy as well as best high school friend's private T10 and the other friend at a WAS lac:
summer after sophomore:
three industry internships in stem, two school-paid abroad summer research programs, one DA internship, one government research internship non-stem, one government research internships in stem, an"reu" university research internship at other institutions, multiple had paid positions (research, non-research) at the home institutions. Not all positions were for 10+ weeks, but not a single one spent sophomore summer doing typical jobs (pool, camp, waiting tables). Most of them did have those "typical" jobs after freshman year, though a couple had research positions through their school/med center. One of DC's friend's younger siblings is a freshman at the same ivy and has a paid summer research spot with a prof in economics/data already.

These same students have been applying to many different varieties of the above for junior year summer '26. Some already secured positions for this summer, others were finalizing applications over break.
Bottom line it is not too late for applications to some; they also need to network with professors and secure a job that way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine worked for event services at his university. Made around $5k. Also did DoorDash sometimes. We went to the beach for a week and he also took an online FL class.

Random q — was the FL class through your DC’s school or through another organization?

DC is interested in trying to clear their FL requirement outside of the main school year schedule.

His university allowed students to take the FL requirements at certain outside schools. They had to get permission first. He took that course at CCBC online. MUCH cheaper and the grade didn’t transfer, only the credits.

Anonymous wrote:Mine worked for event services at his university. Made around $5k. Also did DoorDash sometimes. We went to the beach for a week and he also took an online FL class.

Random q — was the FL class through your DC’s school or through another organization?

DC is interested in trying to clear their FL requirement outside of the main school year schedule.

Applying all over the country

Mine has applied to 50+ summer internships. One interview that went well, but not offered spot. Another final interview next week for another company-keeping fingers crossed and will continue applying. It’s tough out there! I agree an internship is super important both sophomore and junior year!!

Summer study abroad with unpaid internship/college credit and then going back to their old retail job to earn money when they return. They picked the summer program they did based on location, strength of internship options in their field, and dates that would allow them to return and earn money.

Don’t give up. DS (senior business) found his on the later side. He made me nervous going into spring semester without one but landed really good ones his rising junior and rising senior summers anyway.

My niece (psych) struggled last summer due to funding cuts but worked with a professor in a lab and ended up getting great experience.

If it doesn’t work out, any job is fine. Lots of kids don’t do summer internships. They can gain experience during the school year or even by volunteering.

My sophomore is applying for internships. May consider combining an unpaid part-time remote internship with a retail job in our home town. We don’t live near a major metro area where one can commute easily to an in-person unpaid internship so that works out better cost-wise. Or may consider a summer study abroad program.

Mine worked for event services at his university. Made around $5k. Also did DoorDash sometimes. We went to the beach for a week and he also took an online FL class.

Summer abroad program for 6-7 weeks, then their regular hometown restaurant job. They work at that restaurant during all breaks as well. Probably earned around 2K during winter break.

My DS is a current junior majoring in Finance. Last summer he did a summer study abroad program for 6 weeks and worked a retail job when he returned home. Because he was doing the study abroad, he didn't apply for any internships.

He's currently applying to internships. He's had several interviews with different companies and is pretty confident about one - so fingers crossed he gets an offer.

Worked full time as a pool manager.

Mine had applied to science research which all got axed last year so she asked a professor if he had any ideas. He is doing research and said she could do unpaid research over the summer. It turned out great. She got tons of experience, presented at a conference this fall and they are working on getting published.

Mine worked and made $7000. Couple of vacations in there. He didn't apply for internships until junior year.

Mine did summer program at overseas grad school. $$ but needed him to do something and he didn’t want to lifeguard again.