CINCINNATI — It’s been a tough year for college students looking to a land an internship during a time when employers have either been working virtually or canceled the internships altogether because of COVID-19.

What You Need To Know

  • Many college students are having a hard time finding interships

  • Many were canceled along with classes as employers work virtually

  • Some students have earned the credits with alternative work

Betsy Force is a fifth-year health service administration major at Xavier University. She switched from the nursing program last year after giving the same advice to her sister who’s also a student.

“I told her that if it were me, and I were switching majors, I would want to go to health administration. It’s a great field to go into and lots of opportunities,” said Force.

But with that major switch came some challenges. She had landed an internship right before spring break, but classes ended at the start of spring break and her internship cancelled.

“I was pretty disappointed because I had already gotten it and I had everything lined up, but then to hear that I couldn’t do it anymore and look for another option it was worrisome because I knew I would probably have this problem other places as well,” she said.

After several attempts to secure another, she did a case study instead to earn the credits she needed to graduate.

“We had to figure out something, and I think a case study helped me learn and challenged me in the same kind of ways,” she said. “So I think it was a good choice.”

Despite her positive experience during the case study, she said it still doesn’t amount to the knowledge she would have gained during an internship.

“I would definitely say that I missed out on the experience overall,” she said. “I have not gotten to go into the workforce and learn what to do. I’ve taken classes on Excel for example, but I haven’t been able to actually use that in the workforce with their programs.”

Force said she’s still keeping her head up and pushing forward. She’s optimistic about landing an entry level position after graduation in the spring.

“Now that I see everything’s opening back up in Cincinnati, I’m not too worried about it and my professors have been amazing and working with me,” she said. “So we’ll see.”