First, happiness was at the hands of a fairy godmother. Then it depended on a college degree. Now Cinderella needs a summer internship.
Once the great equalizer through its installation and development of financial aid and scholarship programs, this role of a college education diminishes as more and more hiring companies favor, or even require, vocational experience in their applicants. Undergraduate students are expected to bolster their standing and credentials with internships, networking, face recognition. In reaction to students' need for internship opportunities, companies are reducing or removing their internship stipends-- some are even requiring that their hired interns pay them for the experience.
This site will examine social immobility in the United States, particularly as this relates to the internship boom.