The debate over the value of college hasn't gone away. Yet most adults continue to place a high priority on saving for college, and a growing number of families are doubling down on education---paying for high-value internship on top of a degree. On top of this, families have begun budgeting for global internships, a trend that universities and the industry of placement firms has furthered. "The survey data show that international internships are highly regarded by employers," says David Lloyd, founder of the Intern Group, which has placed young adults from 80 countries in positions around the world. "The kids who will be successful today are those that take themselves out of their comfort zone and develop a global mindset." This means going beyond simple study abroad programs to employment in a foreign country that will contribute to build a young person's contacts and context, Lloyd says. Such programs are especially popular in the U.S., where more than a third of Intern Group students reside. Lloyd says that 88% of those who take part in his firm's programs find work at a graduate level job within three months and that 95% say the program was good for their career. Employers worldwide prize graduates with global experience and international cultural awareness. "The right internship gives graduates a decided edge," says Jennifer Silberman, vice president of corporate responsibility at Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels is among companies that prize internships, and at the 2014 World Economic Forum in Davos announced an Open Doors campaign "to help 1 million young people reach their full potential" over the next five years through global internship and other programs. "These are a huge deal and young people are at a competitive disadvantage if they don't get this kind of experience," she says. Indeed, Mckinsey found that half of college graduates are not sure that their education improved their job prospects and that 39% of employers say entry-level jobs go unfilled because young people don't have the required job skills. An internship, says Silberman, "let us identify high-potential workers and fast-track them."