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Q. I am currently a junior in college, and just last summer I got my first internship at a daily paper. The internship was more than I ever could have expected. I think it has positioned me to grab

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positions with other organizations. Then again, I still may need another internship before I can really land something at a large metro and put myself in the best possible position to land a job following graduation.

Would it be frowned upon if I graduated late so that I could get some additional experience? There are a few papers that offer school-year internships, but I would have to take off the term to work there, putting me behind schedule to graduate but, in all likelihood, improving my resume and clip portfolio.

In short, would I be in better shape to enter the job market if I have three of four internships, including a metro, even though it took me five years, or should I try to find employment with two internships following four years of school?

Thanks for your time and any advice you can offer,

Getting Ready

A. No, we do not mind if it takes you five years to graduate. Please do not tell your parents I said this.

Joe Grimm

Editors are looking for people with experience that they can bring to the newsroom and apply. If, by extending college for a year, you can get the opportunities you need to do this, it might make sense for you. Newspapers generally give internships only to people who are in college or freshly graduated. So, extending college will let you go a few more rounds as an intern.

With good planning -- and with decent pay -- your plan might not even drive up your college costs, even though college will take longer. If your plan results in a significantly higher paying job post-graduation, you will come out ahead.

If that happens, then please do tell your parents that it was all my idea.

Here is a 181-page guide: "Breaking In: TheJobsPage.com Guide to Newspaper Internships."

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Coming Thursday: Newspapers are not making offers to her, but a company outside of journalism has made a great offer. She worries that accepting it might shut the journalism door for her.

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