An Assi tant carries a lot of responsibility, but the position also offers great rewards, including more experience to add to your resume. HPNC is there to basically save your GPA, but use it wisely. It will be easier to pass with a D average. To pass a class HPNC, you usually must have a C average. You will also want to check with your Academic Advisor because if you decide to transfer or attend graduate school, some classes you HPNC'd may not count.
Internships provide real world experience.
However, it's never too early to start investigating places where you would like to intern or consider a summer job in the field. Consult juniors and seniors on their internships as well as professors and Career Services. Internships can take you from Iowa to the coasts and even overseas. Internships can be completed during J-term, over the summer or during a semester. If you need to be off-campus for an internship, there are several steps you will have to go through.