The New Internship Race: Why Freshmen Are Already Fighting for Jobs in the AI Era

The Early Internship Rush

As a new cohort of college freshmen settles onto campuses, many students aren't just thinking about classes and dorm life. Aiming for an edge in a tough job market, and anxious about how artificial intelligence will reshape entry-level work, they're racing to land internships — armed in some cases with early-career coaches provided by their parents.

Shifting Timelines and Trends

What was once a rite of passage after junior year has shifted earlier. According to new data from Handshake, a career site for students, almost 15% of the class of 2028 had applied to at least one internship by the midpoint of their freshman year. That compares with less than 3% of the class of 2024 at the same stage, and it builds on a multi-year trend.