The Long-Term Impact of Undergraduate Internships and Research Experiences in Psychology: An Alumni Survey Study

Abstract

Background

Faculty tout the value of undergraduate internships and research experience, but the long-term benefits are unclear for students pursuing different careers.

Objective

We assessed the self-perceived benefits of internships and research experiences for alumni pursuing different careers, as well as how enduring these perceived benefits were.

Method

Psychology alumni (N = 498) rated their skills garnered as an undergraduate, the usefulness of their psychology training, and overall satisfaction with their psychology education. We examined the effects of internships and research experience on their ratings and how ratings varied by chosen post-graduation path and graduation year.

Results

Both internships and research experiences were associated with higher ratings of skills, greater perceived usefulness of their psychology degree, and higher satisfaction with their education even decades later. Alumni entering the workforce found internships more beneficial than did those entering graduate or professional programs. Those who had both an internship and research experience perceived significantly greater benefits than those who had only one type of experience.

Conclusion

Undergraduate internships and research experiences have enduring positive impacts but are differentially useful depending upon the alum’s chosen career path.

Teaching Implications

Faculty should encourage students to pursue experiences most beneficial for the student’s career trajectory.