intership vs. study abroad
 

Hey! I'm a sophomore in college and I'm already stressing about grad school. Crazy.

Anyways, next summer (before senior year) I'm debating whether to study abroad or get an internship. I really want to study abroad but I feel an intership would be more beneficial.

Seeing as I plan on going straight into grad school after I graduate, would having an internship really matter that much? Should I take the chance to study abroad while I can?

I just don't know. Any suggestions would be helpful :)

Re: intership vs. study abroad
 

Take the opportunity to study abroad if/while your school pays for it. Internships are great but if your school is like mine, you can do an internship in the stead of a course. Or basically, you can always do an internship, but you might not always have the chance to study abroad (i.e. major requirements and conflicting coursework, etc).

Being able to spend time in another country is, as cliche'd as it sounds, the experience of a lifetime. Seriously. And you might decide to travel again after graduation or possibly do your graduate studies abroad (;)) You'll never know but take this chance to find out. :)

enigma_AKA

I'd go abroad. You have the rest of your life to work. I'd go while I could because once many people get into the working world, they don't have the money or opportunity to explore another culture.

If you're going for a summer program for 2 months, perhaps you could complete a small internship abroad. I worked at a TV station and a production company when I spent a semester in Australia. They loved my American perspective and I learned a lot in a few short weeks.

Study abroad. You have seven other semesters (and summers!) to do internships. I managed to do one school-year internship and a summer internship in my field and still go abroad.

Where would you go?

Do both. Try to get an internship this summer and another during the school year. Also, aim to get an internship at some point in your senior year. Try to do at least 2 internships while in college, but do take the study abroad opportunity and work your internships around this timeline.

ETA: Internships are necessary for three reasons, whether or not you immediately go to work following undergrad. 1) You can do a variety of internships to experiment with industries and types of work you may be interested in, as a means to confirm your interest that this is the right direction-- or to show you that the practical application of what you enjoyed learning about in class is not right for you. (VERY IMPORTANT so you don't waste years of your life in the wrong field or the wrong grad program!) 2) There is practical application that will serve you well in grad school, too, as interning will also give you a chance to learn about the working world, how to function as a member of the team (and a low-ranking member), how to think on your feet and anticipate the next step, etc. 3) Lastly, no matter if you go straight though to grad school or not, each internship is a stepping stone to a next better internship or first job, no matter what. If you're going on to grad school, having some experience under your belt shows the grad adcomms you are serious about the field and it also will give you a more competitive edge with other grad students vying for grad level internships.

By all means, take as many opportunities to complete internships as possible. Even unpaid ones (I did both paid and unpaid, and had to work concurrent with school-- it can be done and you can still make the Dean's List. This is also attractive to the grad schools as it shows time management skills).

Definitely pursue your study abroad opportunity. It will be a wonderful experience for you personally, and a chance to interact (albeit briefly) with a foreign culture, making you more aware of international subtleties in working with different cultures later on in grad school and real life. Just manage your time and get those internships in. You have plenty of time at this stage of your education to make all these things happen.

i think you should first evaluate which is most beneficial.

this is depedent on yoru goals.

what is your major/preferred career path?

Definately study abroad since you are only starting your junior year. Do Internship any other semester, but don't miss the opportunity to go abroad.

STUDY ABROAD (TOTALLY unbiased (NOT haha) since I've done it the last three summers in a row-Costa Rica, Russia, Spain).

Some schools offer internships abroad as well (I know my school FSU does for London, Florence, Spain and Panama City, and could get it for any number of other locations if specified).

I studied abroad and did an internship. The study abroad experience was much more enriching and life-changing. The internship was just sort of cool.

I think it depends on your major. For someone in engineering/science, companies care more about work experience. A lot of science/engineering programs have programs where you can intern and take classes abroad.

I'm interning in Tallahasseee right now... friends with the MGC prez ;)

And it depends on what kind of internship your doing. some internships are crap, others are great.... which would be most beneficial for your career goals???

I was on MGC e-board during all of 2005

Do an internship abroad! That's what I want to do next summer.