Paid internships?

AllAboutTheBenjamin

So our congressman is under fire right now because he doesn't pay his interns.  Like, he "talks a big game about ND values and job creation, and then doesn't even pay his own interns."

I'll be frank with you - I don't like the guy at all, but I honest to God can't see an issue with this no-pay-for-his-interns thing.  I don't know many people who had paid internships, and when I had my intership I wasn't paid either.  I had a job on the side to pay my bills. 

Thoughts?

Wrkn925

I searched for an internship that would pay.  I couldn't afford life without it. 

But, I'm with you.  He doesn't have to pay his interns.  That's how internships work.

jaycee7389

I don't see an issue either. Don't take an unpaid internship if you need to be paid. Plus, depending on your major/where you are interning, that experience for your resume is a lot more valuable than money.

Celles

That's almost as inane as Chit Chat has been lately.  Almost.

If you aren't an intern, why are you complaining about what interns are or aren't being paid?  And if you are an intern, why are you complaining about not being paid when you applied for and accepted an unpaid internship in the first place?

Steph0871

Um, if he DID pay his interns, people would just bitch about wasting tax payers money anyway.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

This one guy wrote an editorial in our local paper about it.  Apparently, he had internships with our former congressman and one of our former senators and they both paid him.  Well, nice I guess.  His big argument is that by refusing to pay his interns, our congressman is making it impossible for young people, unless they come from "well-off families" to get jobs with him.

Denise91980

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_paid-internships?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:6e447851-15e0-4344-a720-9f731a01731cPost:dec57084-29f8-48e9-9736-924a496fae64">Re: Paid internships?</a>:
[QUOTE]Um, if he DID pay his interns, people would just bitch about wasting tax payers money anyway.
Posted by Steph0871[/QUOTE]

Exactly! I have never been paid as an intern. I worked full time, interned 30hrs and took 3 graduate classes. I have no sympathy for them!

jaycee7389

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_paid-internships?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6e447851-15e0-4344-a720-9f731a01731cPost:1dd7cf5f-a997-463d-b5d4-db7552acae66">Re: Paid internships?</a>:
[QUOTE]This one guy wrote an editorial in our local paper about it.  Apparently, he had internships with our former congressman and one of our former senators and they both paid him.  Well, nice I guess.  <strong>His big argument is that by refusing to pay his interns, our congressman is making it impossible for young people, unless they come from "well-off families" to get jobs with him.</strong>
Posted by AllAboutTheBenjamin[/QUOTE]

Yes, that is probably true. I know I couldn't afford to take an unpaid internship, that's why I only searched for ones that paid. But as Steph said, if he did pay the interns everyone would complain that it is a waste of tax payer money.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

This varies a lot from field to field, but in college, in my field (same as yours) paid internships were the exception rather than the rule. I believe in things like engineering they are much more common.

I do think that the law (which might vary from state to state) in order for it not to violate labor law against not working for at least min. wage, is that you need to either be paid OR be getting college credit for an internship.

I've suddenly seen a lot of articles on unpaid internships and how only "rich students" can afford to do them. So if your degree requires an internship, only "rich people" are able to do that degree program and thus it turns into a viscious cycle. I don't know if people are just butthurt about the economy, but I never remember this being so controversial before, and my parents sure as hell weren't rich. For my first internship, I spent the summer living with my grandmother and using my savings to pay for gas.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Also, WTF kind of "job creation" is an internship anyway? Are people going to spend 30 years being congressional interns and put their kids through school on that money? No.

annakb8

I had a big long response all typed out to this and the knot ate it

Anyway, I kind of agree with the guy who said only rich kids can afford it. DC is expensive as crap, unless you have someone to stay with or your parents are paying your $1000 a month rent for you I don't know how you could afford to intern here. Plus you pretty much need to have at least one (although multiple are preferable) internships to actually get a real paying job on the Hill. And that job will only pay $25,000 so hopefully mom and dad are still helping with the rent.

I also think taxpayers would complain if interns got paid.

annakb8

Mery, were you required to do an internship for credit? If so did you have a scholarship or something paying the tuition?

I'm just wondering because I was originally on the public history track for my MA program but changed to the normal MA because of the internship requirement. I didn't mind actually doing the internship, or even paying my living expenses while doing so, but I sure as hell wasn't about to take out another $3000+ in student loans to pay for the tuition if I could get around it. I think requiring kids to get college credit is kind of a scam on the part of the college. It should definitely be an option, but not a requirement.

SereJane

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_paid-internships?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6e447851-15e0-4344-a720-9f731a01731cPost:950968ed-9560-43aa-a714-c10587042a0b">Re: Paid internships?</a>:
[QUOTE]This varies a lot from field to field, but in college, in my field (same as yours) paid internships were the exception rather than the rule. I believe in things like engineering they are much more common. I do think that the law (which might vary from state to state) in order for it not to violate labor law against not working for at least min. wage, is that you need to either be paid OR be getting college credit for an internship. <strong>I've suddenly seen a lot of articles on unpaid internships and how only "rich students" can afford to do them. So if your degree requires an internship, only "rich people" are able to do that degree program and thus it turns into a viscious cycle. I don't know if people are just butthurt about the economy, but I never remember this being so controversial before, and my parents sure as hell weren't rich. For my first internship, I spent the summer living with my grandmother and using my savings to pay for gas.</strong>
Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]

I think that can partly be attributed to the fact that college tuition is rising as well. It might be unrealistic for some students to pay those costs AND consider taking an unpaid internship.

Denise91980

I am certainly far from rich and owe $87K in student loans. I took an unpaid internship, as in my field the only internships that are paid are for doctorate level students, and they even pay really low...like I wouldn't be able to survive on that. I did receive credits because it was a requirement of my counseling program. I had no choice but to work full time to pay my bills and get by, as I received no assistance from my parents or the government. It blows, but I sucked it up and did it. My relationship and sanity suffered throughout that time, but I had no choice.

jaycee7389

I'm not sure about all nursing programs but for mine the second to last semester you're required to do about 35 hours of clinical and 15-20 hours of class. (clinical is obviously not paid)

edit: per week

And believe me, trying to work on top of all that to pay the bills is not easy. But I wouldn't complain that I'm not paid for it, because without the experience I couldn't get my degree/license.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_paid-internships?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6e447851-15e0-4344-a720-9f731a01731cPost:38e0ac53-59b4-4575-bd7f-ece9680e0596">Re: Paid internships?</a>:
[QUOTE]Mery, were you required to do an internship for credit? If so did you have a scholarship or something paying the tuition? I'm just wondering because I was originally on the public history track for my MA program but changed to the normal MA because of the internship requirement. I didn't mind actually doing the internship, or even paying my living expenses while doing so, but I sure as hell wasn't about to take out another $3000+ in student loans to pay for the tuition if I could get around it. I think requiring kids to get college credit is kind of a scam on the part of the college. It should definitely be an option, but not a requirement.
Posted by annakb8[/QUOTE]

For my MA, I was not required to do an internship. Had I done the archival track (which is only 6 credits) I would have had to do a certain amount of field work. But those classes always met at 4pm and I work until 5:30, so it wasn't really an option for me anyway. Pretty much the same reason I switched to doing comps from a thesis - it's hard to do archival research when most archives are only open during the hours I'm working.

As an undergrad, I was kind of required to do an internship because I did a semester in Los Angeles and that's one of the program requirements - and why people do a semester in LA to begin with. But the deal is that you pay the "regular" amount of tuition and room/board and then you live in student housing in LA - which is in a big corporate apartment complex, so actually nicer than student housing on my campus. They also have a DC program which I believe is similar. The London program does not have room and board or student housing, but requires you to find your own housing at whatever price you like/can afford (can afford being the operative phrase in London).

Is a semester of tuition+room and board at my undrgraduate alma matter cheap? Absolutely not. I get that lots of students also have to work their way through college and thus can't afford to spend a semester in another city (which might have a high cost of living) or not working, period. BUT I also think the increasing un-affordability of college is an issue separate from and bigger than unpaid internships.

And yeah, the sucky thing about internships is that you're basically aying (your school) for the priviledge of working.

Brandiewine11

I think unpaid internships are just a right of passage for some fields. You don't have to be rich...you just have to work harder. I think the younger generations are feeling more entitled and think everything should be easy. In college, I worked, went to class, and had unpaid internships. It's just a fact of life.

SereJane

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_paid-internships?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6e447851-15e0-4344-a720-9f731a01731cPost:89646a32-b4ca-43b0-bb6f-caa5ae9b11bf">Re: Paid internships?</a>:
[QUOTE]I think unpaid internships are just a right of passage for some fields. You don't have to be rich...you just have to work harder.<strong> I think the younger generations are feeling more entitled and think everything should be easy.</strong> In college, I worked, went to class, and had unpaid internships. It's just a fact of life.
Posted by Brandiewine11[/QUOTE]

I think that's kind of a sweeping generalization to make. College tuition is increasing faster than the rate of inflation. Jobs are getting harder to obtain. It's not necessarily that people think they're entitled or that things should be easy. I know a lot of people working to put themselves through school. Right now, I am working two jobs and taking summer courses to finish my degree.
I have to agree with Mery though that rising college tuition and unpaid internships are two separate issues.

jaycee7389

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_paid-internships?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6e447851-15e0-4344-a720-9f731a01731cPost:298f2b44-273a-4a54-b649-48ed9cd4fd7f">Re: Paid internships?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Paid internships? : I think that's kind of a sweeping generalization to make. College tuition is increasing faster than the rate of inflation. Jobs are getting harder to obtain. It's not necessarily that people think they're entitled or that things should be easy. I know a lot of people working to put themselves through school. Right now, I am working two jobs and taking summer courses to finish my degree. I have to agree with Mery though that rising college tuition and unpaid internships are two separate issues.
Posted by SereJane[/QUOTE]

agreed.

[Deleted User]

I actually didn't realize that they do unpaid internships anymore. All of our internships are always paid. One of our legal groups wanted to do an unpaid one and I was shocked. You mean people will work for free?

Birdie1483

Hm I don't know. I've never once seen a paid internship in advertising. Maybe in big cities, but no where around here. I just thought that's how life was. I also didn't get college credit for it.

Birdie1483

Oh, and I worked a second retail job when I had my internship. Most of the interns at my company aren't from Louisville, so they get second jobs as well. That's probably why our summer internship program is a lot more popular than the fall and spring.

TheCranberry

I was an unpaid Congressional intern in the district office, and I also had a paying job.  If I hadn't been living at home and had to pay for rent/food, I wouldn't have been able to take that internship.  My job just paid for my gas, clothes and fun money.  I don't think I made enough money to pay for all living expenses.

I see people's points about unpaid internships in DC or other cities where students can't live at home and have to work so many hours in the internship that it's hard to also have a paying job.