Summer internships

[shockthemonkey]

A friend of mine is interested in using a US-based company called summerinternships.com to secure a two-month spot working in the White House.

It is terribly expensive -- he pays 8,500 USD for the privilege.

Does anyone know of the company or have any experience? I cannot see how you could work out value for money in something like that. However, he seems very keen.

Thanks if you can advise at all!

[Bobochic]

I had a look at the investment banking internship section of summerinternships.com. I was very dubious - my DSSs have both been through the internship recruitment process for IB in London and it is not something you pay for. It is highly selective, and remunerated.

[shockthemonkey]

Thanks! Your reservations, added to mine, have been passed on

[Bobochic]

I would be very wary of this.

[OzzieFem]

Looks and sounds like a scam. I would be getting said student to check out the internet regarding the pros and cons of this company.

[shockthemonkey]

Thanks! The student is French and that is why they are not going via the White House internship programme directly.

Apparently the summerinternships.com outfit, as you imply, allows him to buy his way past this (but I remain quite sceptical!)

He is by no means rich, either, but wants to make an investment in his future.

Thanks very much for replying

[chemenger]

Looking at the White House Internship program on line it is clear that that is a) free to apply to and b) only open to US citizens. I doubt whether any commercial organisation would be able to buy internships outside the official system.

The summerinternships.com web site implies that it has government jobs but they don't seem to be in the White House itself but in related organisations. Like many things I think that if there is a significant cost to a program, meaning that only students who are able to finance it can take part, there is a danger it will not be well regarded by future employers.