Internships forge new paths

"I have to learn many things as I work," she said. "But it's necessary since my primary goal is to find out whether or not I fit the job."

Unlike Xu, Liu doesn't think the internship will determine her choice of career, but it is likely to affect her path of her postgraduate studies.

"Internships are more about breaking new ground. They don't have to relate to your major," she said. "If your major becomes too much of a restraining factor when you look for internships, you'll miss out on a lot of opportunities."

"Summer internships can help students better discover and demonstrate their potential," said Zhang Lihua, a professor with the School of Labor and Human Resources at Renmin University.

Noting many students used to spend their vacations preparing for graduate school entrance exams or TOEFL tests, Zhang has found that Chinese students are increasingly focusing on internships.

Social responsibility is now a considerable part of many internships, and Shanghai-based Fudan University is an example. Starting in 1984, Fudan University dispatched students from their ivory towers to the country's grassroots to sharpen their skills and serve society.