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WASHINGTON - The economic downturn is turning job advantages into near necessities, as internship programs nationwide are seeing demand rise by 15 to 25 percent from last year.

While some of the nation's most prestigious universities are located in the D.C. area, local college students say they are still seeking more of a competitive edge.

"I just need work experience. I don't need to get paid at this point," noted a Georgetown University student.

For 62 years, American University's Washington Semester program has been connecting students from around the world with internships. The program saw an unprecedented demand this year, as applications rose 20 percent.

In a sign of the tough times, Dean David Brown says students are already looking toward future opportunities.

"We're receiving applications for our summer program of interning, and we already have 134 applications as of yesterday," Brown said.

Washington Semester student Carrie Hill is now working at her second internship, but says finding one wasn't easy. "When we first came everyone was looking around online, talking to people they knew...talking to anyone who had any connection in the city, just to get that leg up," Hill said.

Since most of the program's 2,000 internships are unpaid and require college credit, Brown hopes to add a graduate school component.

"I think with the state of the economy, this program would look very, very popular to students [who] are graduating and are frankly scared when you hear about all the layoffs," Brown said.

The Washington Semester program has 400 students enrolled this spring. The students who participate come from around the globe, but most return to the Washington region.

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