Based on the student status, I imagine it's less about wanting validation and more about the combo of needing money and wanting to be a part of the cool stuff t

Based on the student status, I imagine it's less about wanting validation and more about the combo of needing money and wanting to be a part of the cool stuff that these companies do. Of course big companies aren't the only ones doing cool stuff, but they're the most obvious, often the most accessible, and almost always the ones willing to shell out the biggest stipends. (Plus, principles aside, there's no denying the effect that having a big company on your resume can have when applying for your dream job wherever.)