Not only that, the intern will have to learn a lot of things he did not learn at school because it's not the market reality.
If they did a good job they generally get a nice gift (like an ipad) and sometimes a job.
Granted we have no Harvard around, i guess it could be different but, I don't think unpaid intern are dramatic at all, rarely an intern can do as well a job that even a 2 years experienced guy does.
And thus it came to pass that the unpaid internship replaced the entry-level job.
I know there's no point in pleading with an economically rational capitalist like yourself, but stop exploiting the proletariat, or one of these days we won't even walk into your damned office.
If you don't think you're being treated fair, that's exactly what you should do. Duh.
I got a half semester worth of college credit for various internships and wouldn't have my current job (or subsequently my car or home) had I not had it.
Go back to Mother Russia and leave the thinking to the adults.
You think it's not exploitation to have to work without being paid? Are you fucking kidding me?
For some companies having to pay interns would just mean they wouldn't offer internships at all.
The reason interns are paid less (or not at all) is that there are lower expectations for interns and other staff usually has to take time to mentor them or check their work.
Maybe not the best example, but if a new paid employee says, "No, I've never used source control, what's that about?" it's a big problem. If an intern says it, you explain it and move on.