Keep in mind that this internship is a MUST and a REQUIREMENT in order for me to graduate. I thought that I had lucked out and landed an awesome job working for the National Energy Technology Lab, making a great wage and getting internship credit. Boy was I wrong!
Though the job is great, and I love the experience and the people I work with, and the coffee, it turns out that I have to pay $1,979.00 just to be here! That's right, in order for me to get summer internship credit, my one 3-credit class that I have this summer is nearly $2,000. That's a huge chunk of what I would be making this entire summer.
When does it make sense that a student has to PAY to come to work? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
Did I mention we're in a recession, and that the unemployment rate is 9.4%? WVU thought it would be a good idea to hike up the tuition 4% over last year. Thanks WVU - always looking out for us.
The "class" which is 100% online, and has no tests, quizes, or lectures, has a text book requirement, one of which is about portfolio keeping. If I'm a senior about to graduate in the PWE program and don't know how to keep a proper web portfolio or a regular portfolio for that matter, then I shouldn't be graduating. I have kept a portfolio and presented it in nearly every English class I have had at WVU. And don't EVEN get me started on the amount of resumes I have made in my undergrad career.
To stretch things beyond worse, I called Admissions & Records today to ask when I had to pay my money so I could have a paying internship was, and the woman replied with "I don't know. Actually, as soon as possible. It's due the moment you sign in to the class." Then she goes on to say that in the event that you don't pay it, $40 per month is added until you do.
So, if anyone reading this has a spare $2,000 laying around for one 3-credit "class" please let me know, as I could definitely make use of it!
Would it be possible for you to work in the internship this summer just to make money and then do another internship in the fall or spring to earn the credit--and, presumably, roll the cost for the course into your regular semester bill (which, I'm guessing, allows you to take up to 18 credits for the same cost)?
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