As a senior you may be given the opportunity to complete an internship for academic credit with professionals in your field. Students interested in public policy have interned in the President’s Office for Consumer Affairs in Washington, D.C., in one of the congressional offices, and in the Attorney General’s office. Students with family financial planning focus have completed internships with financial planning firms, investment firms, and banks. A continual demand exists for students with a combined consumer and communications background to fill internship positions with television stations, newspapers, and magazines. Students find that an internship is an excellent way to gain on-the-job experience while still in college. Hands-on experiences let you link theory to practical applications, and give you a competitive advantage in the job market.

Recognizing financial planning’s occupational benefits, the 2001 Jobs Rated Almanac ranked financial planning as the top career choice in the country. The following is a sample of some of the positions available to those students who choose a concentration in financial planning.

• Financial planning firms
• Banks, loan companies, and finance companies
• Brokerage firms
• Credit unions
• Insurance Agencies
• Investment firms
• Family Service agencies
• Social Welfare agencies
• Departments offering employee benefits, estate planning, or retirement planning
• Housing and urban development offices
• Military bases with family services centers
• FHA programs
• Community action programs for community development offices
• Community programs for the elderly or low-income families
• Cooperative Extension Services of state universities with programs on resource management or consumer education
• Credit counseling services