By Briana Scalia

Internships have become not only common for the average college student, but essential. While some students apply for internships out of desire alone, the majority of students realize how vital it is for them to gain experience in the workplace before they graduate. In short, internships have become integral to the college experience. Not only do they provide experience in one’s future career path, but they also offer the chance to network, a skill that proves quite useful in today’s competitive job market.

The usefulness of the internship has driven students to contribute as much time and energy as they can to their tasks, and, while several companies have recognized the effort put into managing a schedule comprised of classes, club meetings, practices and internships, others seem completely unaware.

Going into this semester, I was convinced I would not be involved in any internship, let alone a paid one. But, by some divine intervention (and my schedule conveniently lining up with the hours my employer needed), I was granted a paid internship.

Over the course of the past few weeks, I’ve contemplated just how difficult it would be to maintain this position if it was unpaid. My place of work is in the city, meaning I buy, on average four Metro tickets per week. Another drain on my income was my wardrobe; before this year, I had no immediate need for several professional outfits. Since I now work in what one would call a “professional environment,” I was required to buy multiple new articles of clothing. Finally, there is a need to factor in smaller, but still necessary, expenses such as meals and spontaneous needs for cash. If I was not being paid for my hours, I don’t know if I would be able to keep it, and I’m fortunate enough to have my parents supporting me in times of need.

While some argue that unpaid internships are just to be expected, many companies have actually made efforts to aid their interns in supporting themselves while maintaining their schedules and a healthy sleep cycle. Progressive companies such as Twitter, Facebook and Forbes are known for paying their interns, who have proven to be more useful than their unpaid counterparts.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers has stated that interns who are paid are almost twice as likely to get a job offer when they graduate than those who work for college credit alone. If offered an internship from two similar companies, one paying and one non paying, business savvy students will quickly opt for the internship that provides a wage.

The unfortunate product of unpaid internships is the continuation of the cycle of privilege. Unpaid internships are also a huge source of nepotism and a lack of diversity in the workforce.

Internships simply cannot be avoided if a student wants any experience in a work environment, which certainly offers a leg up to said student once they graduate. However, just because internships have become more important to the college resume, companies should not do their college interns the disservice of not paying them. Compared to previous years, students work diligently for interning opportunities and find the discipline to maintain the hours of said internship while handling the rest of their daily life.

Instead of praising the companies that have evolved with the world and realized that college students should be paid for their disciplined work ethic, society should start to contemplate why companies that have the funds are not taking care of their college interns and, by extension, the nation’s future.

Briana Scalia, FCRH ‘20, is a journalism and political science major from Long Island, New York.