On April 9, Sandra Harris wrote: I agree- while in the Museum Studies grad program at Arizona State I completed 2 unpaid semester long (20 hrs per week) internships one year, worked full time and took additional courses. I am certainly not superwoman, so I have a hard time understanding where the complaints come from about unpaid internships as the required courses they are in grad school. We all just accepted it when we read the program description!! The world of academics and non-profits will never compensate in dollars as some other segments of sociey do. The value system is completely different. Yes, you have to pay to obtain a degree. You will have no free time and eat Top Ramen noodles every day. You will go into debt. So be it. Elena is right- it's an investment in yourself and from reading this thread I think perhaps an excellent weeding out process for those who can't handle a lifetime of service without large monetary reward. **** I wonder if you felt that way while you suffering, going broke, getting deeper and deeper into debt and wondering if it would all work out. I think that most people in the world of museums are intelligent, dedicated individuals who know that the pot at the end of the rainbow is by no means full of gold. As to making "unpaid internships" a good "weeding out" process--I think you missed part of the point of this thread. Not everyone who hopes for a career in the museum field has the economic wherewithal to take on a 3, 6, or 9 month unpaid internship. I too had my share of unpaid experiences, and yes, I do feel that I paid my dues to earn the position I'm in. However, if I want to a top-notch intern to come to Kansas to work in our museum I do not want to see that intern suffer because he or she can't find enough funding to make a car payment. Likewise, if a student at the local community college wants some experience and I have a good project in mind--it makes fiscal sense to provide training rather than compensation. I would not be so bold or egotistical to think that I'm doing the museum field a service by "weeding out" interns who desire compensation for their services. Wake up Sandra!!! Jay Smith Reno County Museum Hutchinson, Kansas Usual disclaimers--opinions expressed are mine, not necessarily that of my employer.