DeKALB | Summer classes may be tempting to take for credit hours, but some counselors advise that an internship can benefit students more in the long run.

While classes are obviously required to graduate, internships allow students to apply what they’ve learned and increase job opportunities after graduating.

Career counselor Carol Gorman said students should be looking at internship opportunities as soon as possible, since a degree alone may not be as impressive as a student might hope.

“Look at it this way,” she said. “If an employer is looking for an English major, all the English majors are going to have the same coursework, basically. What they need to know is what else can you bring to the table.”

There are employers who will not take students who do not have internships because of this idea, she said.

Communication internship coordinator Jessica Baldwin said having a blend of internships and classes can provide a well-rounded amount of theoretical knowledge and workplace experience that employers look for when hiring.

“It’s best if a student has a mix of classroom and workplace experience when they graduate,” she said.

While many internships are unpaid, the experience they provide students is invaluable, she said.

Internships can also provide credit toward graduation, though it varies according to each major.

“Departments allow varying amounts of credit for an internship, so not all students are able to earn the same credit for doing one, but an internship provides useful experience, no matter what your field of major,” Baldwin said.

Deadlines for internship applications differ according to major as well, Gorman said.

“There’s no set date for any company,” she said. “It’s just kind of rolling. Depending on if it’s for spring, they might take applications up to a certain date. If it’s for summer, they may start now and take them all the way through.”

Career Services also offers an administrative hold class for students working 30 hours or more per semester, allowing them to maintain their full-time status, Gorman said. The job has to be career-related and it will not provide credit toward graduation, but students are able to keep their insurance and financial aid.