Unpaid internships can cost — or pay off for — college students

Tens of thousands of college students have unpaid internships this summer. Even with the recession, students are willing to dish out hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to cover expenses for internships far from home. In some cases, students also pay hundreds of dollars more for the college credits that employers require their interns to receive. Despite the financial burden, the pipeline is crowded with young people trying to get a foot in the door, especially in a tight economy.