[pitt1980]

idk,

a lot of the internships that people get in college are functionally job shadowing opportunities,

I think most of the advice given in this thread would be excellent advice to a person starting college internship,

Depending on the field, who you're shadowing, they're willingness to share, and your ability to receive what they're sharing

I suspect that can be valuable for a certain period of time

(I suspect that you're correct that returns on that experience can often diminish quickly)