�Securing an internship with a brand-name company used to dominate,� said Brad Conner, Intern Program Manager.  �But students seem to have a different set of priorities than just a few years ago.�

Students� priorities, Conner suggests, have shifted toward an interest in gaining experience in a specific field.  More than 80% of survey respondents listed a particular industry as the most important factor in their internship search.

MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS WHEN CHOOSING AN INTERNSHIP

	#1 Choice	#2 Choice
Brand-Name Company	5.8%	22.9%
Experience in a Specific Field	84.2%	14.2%
Working in a Laidback Atmosphere	4.6%	15.0%
Having a Boss Who Cares	5.4%	47.9%

�Perhaps more significant is that students are placing an increasing emphasis on the role that their boss plays as a mentor.  Students have begun to request a proactive boss who will help to coach, nurture, and teach during the internship.�

University of Dreams is quick to point out that students still want to have it all, but these two elements suggest that they are recognizing the value of on-site professional learning�an area in which UofDreams specializes.

�Years ago, in the wake of the Internet bubble, we noticed that students were increasingly moving away from the dotcom entrepreneurial path and seeking more stable and meaningful learning opportunities,� says company founder, Eric Lochtefeld.

Recent data also suggest what parents have known for years�that college students want more than just a job out of their summer.  �Over 70% of our participants have stressed the importance of working in an exciting city, but we have also seen that a majority of college students want to augment their summer experience with real-world learning and travel,� Lochtefeld adds.

University of Michigan student Stewart McMillan underscored the importance of his well-rounded UofDreams experience: �Initially I was focused entirely on my internship at Merrill Lynch, which was incredible.  But the biggest value of the summer came in the people I met, the valuable seminars, the experience, and the fun weekend excursions.  This was the best summer I�ve had.�

And, says Lochtefeld, this trend toward a total summer experience is unlikely to stall anytime soon: �Today�s college students don�t just want some cubicle job; they want a complete experience that will advance their professional and social lives.� 

###

About University of Dreams

University of Dreams is a college internship, travel, and education company committed to helping college students achieve their career and life objectives.  With offices in San Francisco, New York, and Virginia, University of Dreams caters to college students throughout the country.  UofDreams can be reached through its website (https://www.uofdreams.com) or at 703.543.8298.