I can't afford an unpaid internship

I recently started an internship at a boutique investment bank, I'm a current freshman at a semi-target so this is a pretty rare opportunity. It's a business development role where I still get experience overseeing M&A transactions while learning about the work and deal flow of the bank in general. I signed the contract but it'll be an unpaid internship, something I can't really afford because I have various expenses (college, etc.) I'm working for them virtually at the moment 20hrs/week while I'm in school but they expect me to start full time in-office during the Summer.

I work seasonally during the summer in landscaping and can make good money working full time. In the month of May I can make upwards of $12k as an independent contractor. 

My question is, would it be ok to negotiate my hours so that I can still work and make money? I simply can't afford to have zero income for the Summer. I don't know if this is common in banks and I don't want to be disrespectful to ask for later hours/less hours and more projects and lose this position. 

I was thinking that in May, I could work 10 hrs landscaping like I normally do, then after, log virtual hours for the firm. Then in June, start in-person in the office.

I guess tl;dr is it ok to negotiate hours with a bank in an unpaid internship with the excuse/reasoning that you have another job?

Thanks

5 Comments
 

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