When is the best time to apply for internships?

What are the different expectations for internships vs. part-time jobs?

• This mostly pertains to software engineering, but maybe it can be applied in general. I know the work done is more important than the title of the position, and I understand that internships are set with begin/end dates while part-time jobs are more fluid. However, I'm not sure about what expectations there should be for someone going into an internship instead of a part-time job. As I understood it, internships usually include having a mentor within the team who guides you in your project and is competent, technically, of what you're doing and how to accomplish it. What are the goals of an internship? To gain a lot of experience from a large project? Small project? Stepping stone for a full-time position?

• Answer:

  I'm a intern right now, and I've never worked part time in the industry before. I have written code for a iPad app for a professor (for pay) before though. My understanding is that as a intern, you are expected to learn on the job, you should be eager to learn new things, and accept new things. I believe most interns are actually full time; you work 40 hrs per week (or however many hours normal employees work) for the period that you are there while part time is more closer to a regular employee that works less hours.