Going to college means more than pressing the snooze button on your alarm for the 47th time only to realize that you have 5 minutes to get to your 11 a.m. class. In order to even be considered for a job in this economy, students are expected to maintain a high GPA, take on leadership roles, become involved on campus, avoid going completely broke, and, most importantly, gain work experience.
There is a lot to be gained from a college internship. Spending all of your time on school alone doesn’t really offer you an opportunity to consider what it is that you want to do with your life. Even more so than college, internships are the best way to figure out which fields suit you, and which don’t. Learning about something in the classroom is very different from experiencing it. And sometimes, an internship may be you’re only chance to do something completely different, irrelevant and fun before you go on for four more years of school for your MD or JD. It’s also a great way to network.
While most internships are generally unpaid, luckily, Pomona pays students to intern with the companies and organizations associated with the Career Development Office. And if you’re lucky to land one of these internships, you will definitely have to opportunity to work beyond the menial office duties that are usually left to interns.
Looking to go into law? Looking specifically into prosecution? Pomona students who have interned with Riverside’s District Attorney reported being able to gain hands-on experience conducting legal research. For some, being able to see the behind the scenes work involved in being a district attorney reaffirmed their desire to go into the public sector for law. For others, it was a huge wake up call. Getting exposure to the field is difficult especially for undergraduates and working for Riverside’s DA can be a good stepping stone.
A unique way for pre-med students to gain clinical experience is working for Ability First. While not a traditional clinical experience per se, Ability First is as much involved in the care industry as a hospital. Ability First provides programs for children with physical and developmental disabilities. Students involved in this internship learned how to interact with disabilities, when to push and when to help. These skills, which can only be learned in the real world and not in a classroom, are necessary not only for patient care but also for other industries that involve interpersonal interactions.
Most internships don’t necessarily address one academic field. Students of varying disciplines—psychology, sociology or public policy analysis—were able to apply relevant coursework with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. One student was given hands on experience with the Prison Project, where they were able to work and interact with a marginalized and stigmatized population. Throughout the internship they not only learned about the system itself, but how it also addresses issues in public health through areas in harm reduction and pragmatism. Others were encouraged to do grassroots work and were exposed to the inner workings of an activist organization. Another student found that their experience with the organization contributed to their preparation for law school by encouraging exploration of international human rights and domestic civil right considerations. While this internship is considered one of the more challenging ones as it put students in potentially uncomfortable situations, many of the students involved considered their time with the ACLU of Southern California a “real world” education.
Sure, internships are generally known to further your academic interests and pad your resume, but they can also be a great way to explore an interest in something entirely random. Take for instance, a PCIP opportunity with Dale Bros. Brewery, the brewers of our beloved Pomona Queen beer. How do you know that your destiny isn’t as a future brew master if you haven’t even tried it? Only one student at Pomona College took advantage of this opportunity. Surprisingly his or her knowledge of chemistry and biology helped this student become a better brew master. Besides, the Dale Bros. Brewery is an example of a successfully run business, and anyone hoping to start their own business someday would benefit from a similar unique (and fun) experience.
Interning for bigger organizations, you probably won’t be allowed as much freedom as you would working for smaller ones. Regardless, even if you end up stuck doing lowly intern tasks, working for more prominent organizations has its benefits.
When I worked for Condé Nast at Vogue it was an internship from hell. Working on set for photo-shoots required 5am call times, hours of standing, running around in the sun and packing and unpacking large trunks full of clothing. However with the brief moments of time I had with producers, photographers and talents around me, I realized that I had begun to create a network of contacts. Should I ever wish to continue working at Vogue in New York, I know directly who to call, and who can put in a good word for me.
While at times the pressure put me on the verge of having a mental break down, especially at 3 in the morning, and while at times the tasks given to me were belittling, I learned in a sort of masochistic way that I enjoy working under intense pressure. Besides, learning about what you don’t like could be just as important as finding what you love. A former pre-med student, I now wish to go to business school, but not for fashion. While not part of the PCIP program, should you have the time to dedicate your life (I think I specifically remember my boss saying Vogue is above family, friends, school and your love life) I highly recommend it. But just a warning, it’s not as glamorous as it sounds.
I was surprised, by the amount of work, freedom and creativity interns were allowed for the Huffington Post. Interns were involved in the writing, researching, editing and publishing aspects of the blog and were able to discover their strengths and weaknesses and develop new skills. This too is described as a high pressure, fast paced, and hands-on experience.
Internships allow students exposure to industries that aren’t the center of academic discussion at Pomona, mostly communications and media. One student took advantage of an internship with the Los Angeles Clippers because of an interest in working in sports. Working as an intern in the communications/ public relations department allowed this student access into the locker room after games to obtain quotes from the athletes and coaches. Although not directly cited in the articles published, the student was able to actively participate in the research for the articles.
If you are interested in possibly going into the film industry, while working for bigger production companies might lead to more network contacts, consider gaining hands-on experience with smaller companies such as Echo Park Film Center, an independent upstart film center or Midnight Entertainment, a film production company that focuses on horror films. The Echo Park Film Center also serves as a community media arts cooperative that provides access to film and video education and resources. It provides a collaborative environment for those with a true passion for filmmaking and interns are encouraged to be creative. Midnight Entertainment is also company which allows interns to work directly with the executives. But past interns have emphasized that you should really have an interest in horror.
Smaller advertising agencies such as Miller Group and Soulstice Marketing were also positively reviewed. In fact, one of the interns worked independently on the launching of a new product for Soulstice Marketing. While interns for Miller Group were not able to contribute quite as much to advertising campaigns, working with a smaller group allowed students to see a campaign from its start to its finish. Flexibility within a small agency comes at the expense of professionalism and larger clients though.
You can just use a PCIP as an escape from campus for a short while as well. If you want to avoid the hellish commute to Los Angeles that seemed to be the primary complaint of the many students involved with PCIP, consider working for the Mt. Baldy Center Forest Service. Environmental analysis majors were able to benefit by learning about the animal and plant relationships and the impact on environmental issues and those interested in pursuing a path in education were eventually given the chance to teach at the various stations in the visitor center. We often forget that Mt. Baldy is a great resource closely available to us.
No internship will turn out the way you expect it to. But you can make the most out of any internship. Don’t be afraid to ask for more responsibilities, take advantage of the opportunity to network and always speak up if you don’t feel like you are being challenged. Every internship gives you the opportunity to explore an industry as well as yourself, and can be intellectually stimulating and rewarding in its own way.