Abstract
What constitutes a ‘quality’ college intern? Interning is an integral part of the student experience at George Washington University. Although the benefits of interning are well known, we know less about the qualities and skills that make a desirable intern. In this research, we examine what internship sponsors desire in a George Washington University political science student intern. We analyze quantitative and qualitative sponsor evaluations of the student intern’s performance looking at dependability, work ethic, attendance, usefulness to the organization, and level of initiative. The analysis is done by the intern’s gender and by the organizational category. Through this research, we offer a greater understanding of the role of internships to undergraduate education, as well as provide insight into interns’ performance while completing their internships.
