If you're a current college student or a recent graduate, you probably already know how important internships are. However, securing a paid internship is often a daunting, if not nearly impossible, task. Because of this, many students opt for unpaid internships. But which is the better route to take?

Even though unpaid internships still allow students to gain education, opponents think they only perpetuate the idea that those with money or connections will do better. For example, a student who is paying his or her own way through college would have to settle for a regular job instead of an unpaid internship in order to make ends meet.

According to an article by The New York Times, unpaid internships also promote "over-identification" with employers. Interns have to act happy that they aren't getting paid, which could make them respect their boss too much. That could cause trouble later when workers should be forming unions, asking for raises or inquiring about healthcare or retirement.

Proponents of unpaid internships say that internships provide an invaluable experience for the jobs students might want to pursue. But at the same time, opponents say that working for money can be just as educational and even more gratifying.

"Long hours on your feet waiting tables may not be particularly edifying, but they teach you that work is a routine of obligation, relieved by external reward, where you contribute value to a larger enterprise," the article notes.

There are plausible arguments for and against unpaid internships, but the fact still remains that most colleges today require you to have some sort of experience in the working world before you can graduate. To make the playing level more fair, perhaps colleges should expand their acceptance of accredited internships or provide financial compensation for students involved in unpaid internships.