Newsweek: The cost of unpaid internships
In spite of ongoing headlines about legality issues and claims of slave-like labor, today’s college students are pursuing internship opportunities with unparalleled vigor — more than half of the class of 2011 had one, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. And nearly half of these students were not paid for their work.
But here’s a dirty little secret about unpaid internships that colleges and employers alike aren’t telling you: these aren’t just zero-sum deals. Many of these unpaid internships require that the student receive credit at his or her university. But in order to get credit, you have to pay — and pay a lot, in some cases.
In my latest piece for Newsweek, I delve into the ins and outs of these unpaid internships — and provide some tips on how to afford them.
