<p>look, the issue here is the perception of the adcom. adcom’s want to see wha the student did of their own initiative. This is not B-school admissions. the adcom is searching for hints of the student’s internal fortitude.</p>
<p>I agree with northstarmom that an internship handed to the student on a silver platter by daddy or mommy’s connections is at best neutral, at worst irritates the adcom (who likely comes from the same background as the kid getting a job at Walmart or McDonald’s).</p>
<p>I don’t think adcom’s take to pampered kids well (unless both parent and child are admitted as a team 
)</p>