My son, as an architectural student, had an internship the summer of his freshman year. The firm was impressed enough with him to hire him part time, then full time during subsequent summers. When he graduated he walked into a job. It took him an extra year and a half to get his masters, due to full time work. Then he was hired away by another firm and is doing quite well.
Was the unpaid internship worth it? You bet!
Was this his boss?