An architectural internship needs to be a continuation of the education process. It seems many architects and their firms forget this too often. Many interns are simply seen as hired hands and are left to the bidding of the architect. Students today enter an internship blindly to find themselves in a situation in which learning is lost. This not only causes an inefficient business but does not add value to the internship. An architectural internship needs to not only be a lesson in servitude but more so a mentorship with the architect.

In a business world where ‘time is money’ an explanation is seen as a waste of time, and it is left up to the intern to interpret what was handed to him/her. However, leaving an intern with no direction on the task at hand will only cost more money in the long run. A simple
explanation or suggestion on how to start a task can make all the difference. It will also make the design process a lot smoother and add value to the employees. This will ultimately result in a better workplace and out-put of work as well. An architectural internship needs to encompass many aspects of the profession not just the same task over again. A variety of tasks will only sharpen interns for the future because they will be able to see the larger picture. To allow a young intern to grasp a larger scope of the profession will only benefit the entire profession later in his/her career.

My main source for this issue is higher education and its inconsistencies. An architectural education does not facilitate an internship in any way other than the diploma, which only represents completion of the program. Most of today’s architects went through an entirely
different education process and do not follow how Universities are teaching their young protégés entering their offices. At the same time, schools are trying to get their students through as quickly as possible to make room for the next class. This leaves little room for professors to play a mentor roll and only leaves the student feeling bitter about the education he/she just received.

In conclusion, we need to bridge the gap between education and the profession. Do not get me wrong, an architectural education is very valuable, but an internship is suppose to pay for that value and continue to add to that education. It is not suppose to just pay it off with nothing more to show for it after going through the motions. There is a large discrepancy between education and practice today that I strongly believe it is hurting the profession all around. Architecture is in danger of losing its respect within American society and I do not think it is too much to ask today’s architects to put more time into their interns and profession’s future. While architects should not feel obligated to make the extra effort such add attention will undoubtedly secure the future of their profession by not only giving their interns the opportunity but the right tools to succeed.