My daughter's husband, Chris, is nearing the end of his first year of law school at Pepperdine University in Malibu and is looking for a summer internship that will impress prospective law firms upon his graduation in 2011. Chris accepts the fact that if he's lucky enough to find work with a judge or in a law firm, he'll have to work long days and that he won't be paid a nickle, but he's hoping he can find the right internship on his own accord. He certainly can't afford to pay anyone to find him an job where he'll have to work for free, but there are people out there who do that, you know.

The University of Dreams is one of several intern placement services that are now available to students who are willing to ante-up big bucks to have someone else find a summer internship for them. While not all of the internships are unpaid, many are, and some universities also charge students a semester of tuition if the student wants academic credit for the experience.

Wow. Imagine writing one check to the University, and another to a placement service, all for a chance to work for just the sake of having some relevant experience to put on your resume.

Is it any wonder why today's college grads are entering their first career positions owing tens-or even hundreds-of thousands of dollars in loan payments before they get their first paycheck?

By Eric Chester and courtesy of Generation Why? Whysblog