Upon our arrival to college, we’re told to accomplish a laundry list of things that will guarantee us a place in the real world. We’re told to get good grades, take courses relevant to our desired field of work and, most importantly, to attain an internship.

Acting as normal human beings, many college students’ first thoughts are “what’s in it for me?” or “what am I going to get out of it if I’m not being paid?”

Not all internships can promise students a cash reward for their (sometimes overbearing) workload, and instead offer their interns a nice crisp piece of paper guaranteeing course credit for their countless hours of hard work.

To the truly dedicated student, this payment is more than acceptable. These students aren’t looking for the extra cash, but more-so strive for the experience, the dabble into the real world and of course that one line that will look like gold on a resume.

But unfortunately, there are students today that refuse to settle for an unpaid internship and recently, the law’s been on their side.

According to the New York Times’ article “The Unpaid Intern, Legal or Not,” by Steven Greenhouse, the amount of unpaid interns have skyrocketed alongside the growing number of people left unemployed. This instance has left federal and state legislators to wonder whether the unpaid intern is really benefiting from the opportunity – or are they just offering free labor?

History tells us unpaid slaves are far from legal. I wonder what Abraham Lincoln would say about unpaid internships.

Greenhouse raises the point that there’s a way to keep these unpaid opportunities legal. All unpaid internships must be compliant with six crucial legal needs in order to deem them acceptable.

One of the most important of the six needs is that the unpaid internship “should be similar to the training given in a vocational school or academic institution,” as well as the point that the employer will not gain any direct advantage from the intern’s existence.

Basically, it’s all about the intern.

Another important point is that both the intern and the employer must be in agreement that the intern is not to receive any wages for their work. More or less, you know what you’re getting into.

One of the crucial elements of a legal unpaid internship that threw me off-guard was the idea that an unpaid intern is not legally allowed to be guaranteed a job upon the completion of his or her internship.

Doesn’t every unpaid intern hope for this? This is one of the crucial six that, if broken, make the unpaid internship punishable by law.

This makes me wonder whether or not the majority of companies today are following these guidelines. This also makes me wonder if I want to get myself involved in one.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m trying to get my foot as far into that real world door as possible. I’m currently in the process of applying for two internships – one unpaid, and one with a hefty $700-a-week salary.

Anyone with a pulse would prefer the moneymaker. I can’t say I disagree.

So while I keep my fingers crossed for a summer full of both experience and hard-earned money, I think about my other options.

Will I turn down the unpaid in fear of working like a slave? Absolutely not.

With the fear of unemployment and the death of print journalism knocking on my door as soon as that diploma enters my palm, you bet I’m going to take anything – and everything – I can get.

“Internships have become the gateway into the white-collar work force,” said Ross Perlin, as quoted in Greenhouse’s article. Perlin admits to have worked as an unpaid intern, and doesn’t seem to regret it.

“Employers increasingly want experience for entry-level jobs, and many students see the only way to get that is through unpaid internships,” he said.

Of course, I’m sure there are unpaid interns out there that are worked to the bone by selfish industries and even crueler bosses. There’s obviously a line that shouldn’t be crossed. And for interns in that position, I say speak up. Maybe your opinion will be ignored but maybe – just maybe- your boss will find a newfound respect for the quiet, unpaid intern.

Looking on the bright side, what’s the worst that can happen? Even though I’m making nothing in profit, I’m building a resume. I’m gaining experience, and, most importantly, I’m making connections. In my opinion, that’s the best reward an internship can offer.

How can anyone expect to get a job after college starting from scratch? Everyone needs somewhere to start, and I’ll even settle for the bottom of the totem-pole.

In the end, Robin D. Richards, CEO of internships.com, says that students are “sophisticated and ambitious enough” to decide if an unpaid internship is really worth their time.

There’s the credit we deserve.

So just remember these things: it’s okay to get stepped on every once in a while, but don’t settle for being treated like the gum under your boss’ shoe, take a chance, and most importantly – experience is experience.

To contact The Ionian’s Meaghan McGoldrick, e-mail her at [email protected]