William & Mary or Boston University for internships: which one gives students better access to internship opportunities?

Boston University gives students better access to internships during the school year because its location in Boston creates a much larger day-to-day internship market. BU students can realistically intern part time with hospitals, biotech firms, startups, media companies, nonprofits, consulting offices, and major employers without needing to leave campus life behind. That kind of proximity matters a lot if you want multiple internships before senior year rather than only summer experiences.

The biggest differentiator is geography. BU’s urban setup makes it easier to build experience during the semester, keep networking, and sometimes turn one role into another through local connections.

William & Mary still offers solid internship access, but it works differently. Its strongest advantages are in government, law, history, public policy, education, and research-connected paths, especially because Williamsburg is close enough to Richmond and Washington, DC for some students to pursue those opportunities. In practice, though, many of the most attractive internships for W&M students are more summer-based or require more planning, commuting, or time away from campus than what BU students often face.

BU also has a built-in advantage in scale and employer visibility. Because so many employers in Boston already recruit BU students and host interns nearby, the process can feel more continuous and embedded into the academic year. William & Mary’s network is respected and loyal, but for sheer volume and convenience of internship options across many majors, BU has the edge.