The Ups and Downs of Applying to Your Dream Internship

Macey Schiff (@Ohthatmacey on Twitter) is a mass communications major at the University of Delaware who will be interning this summer for PBS Kids in downtown Arlington, Va.

By Macey Schiff

I’m not sure where the line between student and young professional is, but I believe I may have just crossed it.

Sometimes, one applies to all sorts of “dream” internships almost on a whim. The positions all sound magnificent; far out of your league. The companies would certainly prefer someone with more experience or better grades; maybe someone of royalty or related to the president. Of course, the positions are far too prestigious for you, but you apply anyway!

After combing over your cover letter and sending it with your resume to your parents, your academic advisor and your career counselor for review, you finally submit your application, fingers crossed, face squinched with anticipation. Then two weeks goes by, then three, then four. You start to think, “Ooooooh, well at least I tried!” You move past it and start to make other plans for your summer.

Then, you receive an email. Let’s say, for example, it’s an email from PBS Kids saying they really liked your application and want to know if you’d be interested in interviewing for a position for this summer. After collecting yourself from falling on the ground and closing your jaw, you cautiously respond.

Days later, you have a phone interview. You believe the interview went well, and really enjoyed speaking to the man who could potentially be your new boss. Shortly after, you receive another friendly email stating they would like to speak to you one more time, just for a few minutes. You try to remain neutral and to not let any sort of possibilities or ideas creep their way into your brain.

The moment of the second phone call arrives, and before you know it, you’ve been offered the position. Instantly, you turn into a babbling idiot who can’t get a word out except for “ughhhexcited”, “ooomaayes”, “bubbathankyouwumba”, but your new boss just laughs at your excitement.

As a soon-to-be senior mass communications major at the University of Delaware, this is quite literally my dream internship. I used to watch PBS Kids all the time as a kid. I was Wishbone for Halloween, and I had a very tricked out Thomas the Tank Engine play table. By now, I’m sure you’ve figured that the individual I was referring to previously is me. (Erm … I did not quite fall off my chair … but I came close!)

This summer is sure to be a whirlwind adventure. Why don’t you join me for it?

Want to hear more from Macey? Leave a comment below, and stay tuned for more of her internship updates this summer.