Internships and volunteer hours

Hey! I might land an internship soon and was curious if internships can count as volunteer hours too? Since it’s not paid, I thought maybe they could? Would love to hear from anyone who knows more about this!

Hello! It's a good question, and the answer might depend on the nature of the internship. Generally speaking, if your internship is unpaid and involves providing a service to the community or a non-profit organization, then it could potentially count as volunteer hours. In this case, the internship would show both your interest in a specific field and your commitment to giving back to the community, which would be a great addition to your college application.

However, if your internship is at a for-profit company or is more focused on professional development and networking, it might not be considered as volunteer work since it doesn't have the community service aspect. Don't worry, though—even if it doesn't count as volunteer hours, internships are still a fantastic way to gain real-world experience, develop new skills, and explore your potential career paths. So either way, you'll be positively contributing to your resume and college applications.

Remember to keep track of the hours and the work you do during the internship, as colleges may ask for documentation or a description of your experiences. Good luck with your internship, and I hope it turns out to be an enriching learning experience!