Benefits to Students

1. Gain exposure to real-world problems and issues that perhaps are not found in textbooks.
2. Cultivate adaptability and creativity in a dynamic world.
3. Increase marketability to employers. On average, only 30% of graduating seniors have job offers before graduation; however, after completing an internship, that figure rises to 58%.
4. Evaluate specific companies or specific careers prior to committing to full-time employment – a “try before you buy” type experience.
5. Ease transition from being a student to entering the workforce.
6. Increase opportunities within a company for faster advancement and growth. 
7. Facilitate a higher starting salary than non-interns. In a recent study, interns received, on average, $2,240 more than non-interns for starting salary.
8. Have resume-building experiences while applying academic concepts and principles.
9. Have opportunities to fund college education.
10. Have personal growth experiences and exposure to different job opportunities.
11. Have hands-on opportunities to work with equipment and technology that may not be available on campus.
12. According to interns from WVSU, students gain the following benefits through academic internships: experience, skill development, perspective, supervision, professional connections, academic credit, earnings, the opportunity to represent WVSU, and to provide service to others.
13. Bridge the gap between theoretical study and the professional world.
14. Become professionals who can take their learning in the classroom and adapt it to the workplace.
15. Get a head start on classroom learning by working with engineering principles on the job.
16. Have Internship Program participation noted on their transcripts.
17. Gain self-confidence and motivation and develop expertise in interacting with people.
18. Improve significantly the level of job and salary offers they get upon graduation.
19. Develop professional behavior and social skills.