No one would ever walk up to a friend on financial aid and accuse her parents of being lazy, good-for-nothing, bad parents for not making enough money to send her to college. Yet people feel completely comfortable going up to a friend with an unpaid internship and accusing her of being a spoiled brat because she’s fortunate enough to be able to afford spending a summer making no money.

Don’t think that’s true? Just read the comments on almost any internship post on this site (like this one or this one).

I had two unpaid internships in NYC and I can’t even count the number of times people told me “it’s ridiculous that your parents are just letting you live in the city and make no money.” But was it ridiculous? In today’s world you’re expected to graduate with internship experience and if my parents decided to spend their hard-earned money paying for me to live in NYC and reach my dreams, was it wrong for me to take that opportunity? Should I have spent my summer waitressing instead? I don’t want to come off like a whiny bitch, but I want some answers on why I should feel bad that my family can afford this. Isn’t complaining about unpaid internships the same as complaining to a friend when her family goes on a week long resort vacation?

Everyone can choose how they want to spend their money and my parents chose to forgo fancy family vacations and buying me designer clothes so that I could get the most out of my college education. I appreciated how fortunate I was every day and I did work menial jobs part-time during my summer internships to make money for the school year, but that never stopped people from making accusations.

While I completely agree with the fact that the unpaid internship system is completely unfair because it gives well-off kids yet another career advantage that their other classmates can’t afford, I also think it’s unfair to expect people to not take these internships. And I don’t think it’s fair to make people feel guilty because they happen to be fortunate (assuming they’re not arrogant and entitled and making Facebook statuses that say “living off my parents”).

After graduation my internships paid off and I landed an awesome job as a blog editor. Yet people still assume it’s okay to come up to me and say things like “Blog editor? Guess your parents are still supporting you.” Not only do I constantly have to remind people that a blog editor is a legitimate, fully-salaried position in 2010, but that it’s no one’s business who was paying my rent. No one ever  goes up to my friends in grad school and says “Med school for 9 years? Guess your parents are still paying your rent.” Why do people think it’s okay for parents to spend tens of thousands of dollars on law school, but not spend a few thousand to let me spend two summers interning to reach my career goals?

In the end isn’t all about parents doing whatever they can to help their children be successful and happy?

Likey? Don’t worry, there are plenty more faves where this came from.

NOT to hop online and publicly embarrass your boss because he or she is hard on you. Seems pretty obvious, right? Well, apparently it’s not because it happened. And since some young intern was dumb enough to do that, I thought maybe it was necessary to remind interns-to-be of a few other obvious things you SHOULD NOT DO NO MATTER HOW AWFUL YOUR BOSS OR HOW BORING YOUR INTERNSHIP IS. Unless, of course, you never want to work in your field again.

So here goes:

Looking at porn in the office: Really? Are you that in need of a 3pm pick-me-up? If so I think we have a larger issue to deal with. There’s nothing wrong with porn, but let’s keep that habit at home, K?

Turning down assignments: When you’re an intern, you’re gonna get a lot of really boring assignments. But if you do enough of those really boring assignments, you will get to do some really amazing ones. Turn down those assignments and, well, you’re an idiot. You are an intern and your job is to do the crappy work. Not because you’re some slave or something, but because not doing it shows your boss that you’re not willing to put in the hard work to move up. And that, for those of you not getting the point, is not a good message to send.

Using social media to vent: It’s PUBLIC, duh.

Showing up hungover: It’s one thing to be hungover at work (hey, it happens); it’s quite another to be clutching a Gatorade with your head in the trash can under your desk.

Painting your nails at your desk: Or do anything that screams, “I’m not here to work hard” (or stinks up the entire office). What’s more important to you: perfect cuticles or finding a job that allows you to support yourself so you don’t have to live in your parents’ basement for years after you graduate?

Wearing a mini-skirt and no undies: Not only is that just plain wrong, but imagine how uncomfortable it is to have naked vajay on leather. Yipes.

Using AIM/GChat at work: Okay, so you shouldn’t be talking to your friends at work….but everyone obviously does. So just be careful. You don’t want to accidentally send your boss an IM meant for your BFF. You know, the one discussing your one-night-stand from last night… in graphic detail.

Disappearing: If you aren’t being paid, you may feel that it’s okay to take 4-hour lunch break. Um, it’s not. Especially if you come back from said lunch break intoxicated…or carrying an armful of shopping bags.

Swearing: When asked to do something, “Absolutely” is a good response. “F*ck yeah!” is not. And “That sounds sh*tty” is really not.

Again, these things may seem obvious to you, but clearly some people need a refresher course. If only that Marc Jacobs intern had sought me out for advice before they made the biggest mistake of their professional career.

After spending weeks searching Internships.com, writing cover letters and getting a few interviews, you’ve finally managed to land an internship for next semester. Wahoooo! You’re all ready to start – now what the heck do you wear? Dressing for internships can be difficult, especially on the limited college girl wardrobe. You want to look professional, obviously, but you also want to look, well, like you.

How do you create a work wardrobe that doesn’t make you look old and boring?

Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

When you’re dressing for an internship, keep a few things in mind. One, if you’re going to be doing any errand running or anything that involves standing, how comfortable are your shoes? If you can’t walk in heels, don’t wear them to the office no matter how cute they look. Also, if you’re not sure of the office dress code, it’s always better to overdress for your first few days than to under dress. Dress pants, skirts and dresses are the safest and most desirable options.

Outfit 1: Dress Pants

Pants, Cardigan, Cami, Flats.

Dress pants are one essential for any internship. They’re tailored yet much more comfortable than a skirt and tights. Pair them with a cute cardigan with a cami underneath and you’ll look professional without looking old and dowdy. I added a pair of flats – cute and comfy if your internship has you doing coffee runs. If you want even more personality with this look, add a fun cocktail ring or a stack of bangles. (Editor’s Note: just make sure to avoid anything that will get in the way of your duties; sometimes bracelets are REAL annoying when you’re typing!) Dress pants also work with layers – like white button-up shirts and boyfriend sweaters – meaning you can get through an entire internship with only one or two pairs of pants!

Outfit 2: Skirt

Skirt, Blazer, Cami, Tights, Boots.

The pencil skirt is another classic piece to invest in for your work wardrobe. Tuck in a pretty blouse underneath, add a blazer over top. Knee high boots look great with a pencil skirt and since the skirt is on the longer side (I’d make sure to go no shorter than just above the knee for an office environment!) and the boots come up high, you can go a little funkier with the tights to add some extra fun to the outfit. However, if you opt for pumps with a skirt, I’d stick with basic, opaque tights to keep things professional.

Outfit 3: Dress

Dress, Blazer, Tights, Shoes.

First things first: do a cleavage check. If your cleavage is hanging out, that dress will not work for work. Even with a blazer over top! Once that’s out of the way, you can’t go wrong with a professional looking dress for work. Is there anything easier to style in the morning? Nope! Just pair it with either a blazer or a cardigan, whatever speaks more to your style while also covering up those arms for a more sophisticated and work-appropriate look. Add a pair of tights – either opaque or with a subtle pattern. I added a red wedge here – it’s a nice pop of color and personality, and the wedge is the most comfortable heel option around. If you’d rather go with black, go for it! But give this outfit a bit more personality with a fun statement necklace or a killer pair of earrings.

Outfit 4: Casual Friday

Jeans, Top, Shoes., Bracelet.

Don’t let the name mislead you, ladies! Casual Friday does not equal “jeans and sweatshirt and Uggs Friday.” This is still a work environment, after all. Think of it more as “dressed up jeans Friday.” Or “What I’d wear on a Thursday night out Friday.” Skip the leggings and go for a dark pair of jeans, a nice top, and flats or some cute heels. If you’re feeling extra profesh, toss on that boyfriend blazer over top.  (Editor’s Note: Even if the rest of the office is in pajamas, you should not be. Being young, you need to dress somewhat professional to command the respect of your superiors and show them you take this job seriously.)

—

Still looking for an internship for next semester? Check out Internships.com, the largest internships marketplace with over 21,000 internships across the country and world-class, relevant career prep resources. They have positions in over 1,433 cities, and with companies such as Google, Deloitte, BBC, Greenpeace, Marvel Comics, and Microsoft!

When I first started this internship, I had high expectations. I knew that it would be different than the other internship I had; I could tell from the interview alone that this one would be a little bit more exciting, a little bit more hands-on, and was definitely about a subject matter that I enjoy. And I have to say, I was pretty much right.

I think that my experience has been exactly what an interning experience should be: there have been highs and lows, exciting moments of feeling like an actual journalist and those back-to-earth moments of feeling like the lowest person on the office food-chain. There have been frustrating moments when I’ve felt like I just want to walk out and never come back (like a 12-hour day where there was absolutely NOTHING to do), and there have also been moments where I wouldn’t give up the job for the world (like when I got to interview Derek Jeter). I’ve had to deal with some rude people, but I’ve also gotten the chance to meet some really amazing people. And probably the best thing was seeing my name in a national publication several times, and knowing that my hard work in school was finally starting to pay off a little.

But now it’s almost the end of August, and as much as I’d like to stay at this magazine for the next few years, it doesn’t seem possible. Never mind the fact that I’ve been interning for close to 8 months and it’s starting to look a little pathetic, but I think this is the best time to move on and learn about other areas of the industry, meet new people, and get even more experience. So in a week I will be going to another publication, and yes, it’s another internship. I may not be getting paid for what I do, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had a big, bitter taste of the real world.

Here’s what I’ve learned from my all-you-can-eat buffet of real life:

1. Some people are not going to be that nice. You always hear people say, ‘in the real world, no one’s going to be nice to you.’ And while there are definitely some amazing people out there who WILL be nice to you, there are also the people who won’t be. And that’s fine. As long as you know it has nothing to do with you, the experience will only make you stronger. A little quicker to fire back.

2. Celebrities are not as intimidating as I thought they would be. My first celeb interview was with Katharine McPhee, and I was terrified. I had never really had a conversation with a star before, and had no idea what to expect, visions of crazy, snobby celebs going through my head. But McPhee couldn’t have been nicer, and after a few months of meeting even bigger celebrities and interviewing them, I found out that they weren’t as intimidating to talk to as everyone thinks they will be (the worst part is standing in front of them seeing exactly just how beautiful they really are). Now I feel like if I could interview celebrities, I can interview (and be interviewed by…) anyone.

3. You should be nice to EVERYONE. One day when I first started my internship, I had a quick chat with someone who worked there – only to find out later that it was the editor-in-chief (I immediately panicked and went through the entire convo in my head about 50 times to make sure I didn’t say anything dumb). When you’re working within the industry of your choice, you might not know who everyone is and the best thing to do is just be nice to everyone, regardless of whether they deserve it or not. No one likes the snobby intern who thinks she’s better then everyone else. And, trust me on this one, people talk…a lot; whatever reputation you have will spread quickly.

4. Always do the tasks no one else wants to do. If I was asked to stay late, I stayed late. If they needed a volunteer to get a ridiculous amount of coffee for the entire office, I did it. And any other small and annoying task that had everyone rolling their eyes, I did those too. It’s a great way to stand out, because it made my editor see I wasn’t just there for the cool stuff, that I was there because I really wanted to get ahead.

5. What I really want to do is write. This internship has been amazing, but the only negative is the limited opportunity to write. At first I thought I could handle working at a magazine like that, but after a few months, I know that’s not true. I graduated with a degree in print journalism because I love writing, not because I wanted to stalk celebrities. No matter what else came out of my 8 months of interning, figuring out exactly what I want in life was definitely the most important.

Here’s hoping to getting a job soon and leaving interning behind!

The next week, the same thing happened all over again.

I think you can all understand – making time for both work and play in the summer is hard.  In the winter, when it’s cold and gross out and there’s not as much as to do, it’s a little bit easier to get cozy in bed at a decent hour when you know you have to be up bright and early on a Wednesday. (Or, if you do enjoy a Tiki Tuesday, you can always sleep right through lecture the next morning….) But in the summer… not so much. There aren’t just bars to go to with your friends, there are barbecues and beach bonfires and house parties and fun things going on almost every single night. And it makes it even harder when a few of your best friends have nothing to worry about but part-time jobs. So this whole summer, since I have a little problem turning down doing something fun, I have been trying to figure out the perfect mix of working and going out. Unfortunately for me, I don’t only have my internship to worry about (although it is the most important) – I also have my part-time waitressing job which PAYS for my internship.

When I first started my internship, my social life kind of died for a little bit. During the winter and spring, I made work a priority – not only did I have to wake up at 6:30 am and travel into New York City three times a week to intern, but I also had to waitress every other night until pretty late, and make time to cover events in the city. I stopped going out and getting wasted all the time because I was either too tired from work, or I knew I had to be up early. And let me tell you – it was no fun. At all.

So when the warm weather started rolling in in May, I knew I had to make a change. I decided that I could no longer sacrifice my entire social life for my professional life, because frankly, I enjoy having a good time too much to do that. I was going to have a fun summer, dammit, and I went for it with full gusto. That night I went out for half-off bottles of wine and the next thing I knew I was waking up almost an hour late with purple lips, then spent the day slumped in front of my computer wondering if I could make it to the bathroom in time if I had to throw up.

It was hell.

Since then I’ve tweaked my social life and discovered a way to have fun and still be able to function at work the next day. All I have to do is learn to control myself. It’s not easy – like when I’m out with all of myfriends and everyone is doing shots and singing karaoke while I sip on a glass of beer – but it’s possible and mandatory if I want to function to the best of my abilities the next day. Even though it sucks to miss out on the drunken fun, at least I’m still there with my friends, witnessing the stupid things they are doing.

So for the rest of the summer, to ensure I get the most of my work and my play, I will be following these five rules:

1) No staying out past 2 am.
2) Stay away from tequila and vodka shots.
3) Don’t give into half-price bottles of wine, no matter how tempting they are.
4) Late night texts to that guy are probably not the best idea…
5) There is always an exception. Because sometimes, no matter how long the day will be, the hangover is totally worth it.

When I first started this internship in December, there were only a handful of other girls with me. We spent most of our days interning together gossiping quietly behind our computer screens, venting angrily about the ridiculous tasks we were asked to do, and showing each other funny YouTube clips to pass the time. For the entire spring semester, we bonded in a way only unpaid jobless college graduates can: we shared tips on how to get jobs and which websites had the best job postings, we discussed the different interviews we had gone on, and made fun of the other editors in the room with us. We became Facebook friends and followed each other on Twitter, and eventually, we started going out for dinner and drinks throughout Manhattan.

And at the end of the semester, when their internships had come to an end and I was the only one left at the magazine, I came to the sad realization that it was time to make new intern friends.

For a little while, I was one of the only interns at the magazine. I missed my friends from before – there wasn’t anyone to go on 5 o’clock coffee runs with – but while I couldn’t wait for the other interns to start, a part of me liked having all the responsibility. The summer interns started to slowly trickle in at the end of May, until suddenly one day I walked in and they were everywhere.

It felt odd at first, being the only intern who had experience at the magazine. I told the other girls how to do the different things we were told to do, but some of them made their own way of doing things and I was left wishing the old batch of interns was still around. The whole group of us just didn’t get along the way the winter interns had… and I’m not going to lie, it was a big disappointment.

Making friends with the girls you intern with is a huge plus when you start an internship. After all, who can understand what you’re going through more than the girl who’s right next to you on the Starbucks line for the late-night editor coffee run? Not to mention it’s a great networking tool – a lot of these girls will go on to work for various other magazines or PR firms, and knowing people in different companies is always helpful. Really, it’s just nice to come in to work and have someone to giggle with over silly celebrity gossip – it passes the time and makes not getting paid just a little bit easier.

But at the same time, it’s almost difficult to make friends with these girls knowing that all of you want the same exact thing: a job offer. And obviously, not all of you can get it. The group of girls I work with at the moment are ambitious, and a little bit intimidating. Two of the girls are tall, skinny, and the kind of pretty that you can’t ignore. A few of the other girls have resumes that make me feel like going back to school. A couple of other girls snatch up events so fast I’ve found myself checking my email more than a few times each hour. And I’m starting to feel slightly territorial – like, listen girls, I’ve been interning here since December. If a position opens up, it’s MINE.

But despite all that (and some passing urges to trip the other interns on the way into big meetings) we are all warming up to one another. There have been a few gossiping sessions in the library, a few “laugh so hard I cry” moments at my desk, and even talk of all of us going out for drinks. Maybe some people would choose being competitive over being friendly, but in the end I think I’d rather have the other interns on my side.

Yes, my future is on the line here, but having friends at work makes the present so much more bearable.

You got a big, bad internship this summer? Living in a big, bad city? Not a clue what to do? CollegeCandy’s got you covered. We’ve got ladies in all pockets of the U.S.A. and we’re gonna be your private guides to the biggest internship destination cities around: New York, Chicago, D.C. and Los Angeles. If you’re looking for the best place for a deal, the best weekend excursion, or best bars to drink (with a fake), stick with us.]

Ah, Los Angeles. The city where dreams come true; where any long-legged, doe-eyed girl can become an actress; and where you can make it big, REAL big!  Yes, that may be a slight exaggeration, but L.A is a place of delicious food, great culture, and really, really cheap bars. While you may think running into Julia Roberts and George Clooney is like catching a bus (it is – but you try catching a bus in L.A.), celebrities aren’t the only thing that make up this wonderful city. That’s why I’m here to guide you through L.A, like a true Angelino. We all know about the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Grauman Chinese Theatre, but what makes this city so great is the little quirky gems that only locals know (and rarely share).

Put on your sunglasses and get ready, the Cali sun isn’t so forgiving.

Best Cupcakes: Heard of Sprinkles? Yes you probably have. It’s where the West Coast Cupcakes craze originated, right at the heart of it all: Beverly Hills. Their famous red velvet cupcake is, in my opinion, the best piece of heaven you will ever have in your mouth. People have compared these cupcakes to crack, because they are just so damn good. You might wait an hour for 5 cupcakes, but it’s so worth it.

Have Your Hot Dog and your Celebrity Sighting Too: If you watch Entourage, you’ve heard of Pink’s (Hollywood) Hot Dogs. It’s where everyone from the hottest celebs to those D-list go to get their hot dog fix. Right off Melrose Ave, the added bonus of getting your tasty hot dog here is you actually might see a celebrity stuffing their face with a wiener. What a sight.

Brunch it Up: While the ladies of The Hills hit up some of L.A.’s hottest brunch spots, they have definitely missed the all time best brunch in L.A. Or maybe even the country. The Griddle Cafe, located in West Hollywood, is unreal. There are no other words. You could go for one of their healthy and totally tasty egg dishes or you can live it up and indulge in the culinary masterpieces those breakfast geniuses are cooking up in the kitchen. My favorite: the french toast coated in Nutter Butter cookies. No, I am not joking. I have been dreaming about that dish since I ate it last summer and I’d camp out for days just to get a bite of it again.

Get Your Tan On: Yes, us Californians do love our beaches…and there are tons of them! But nothing beats the scene and people at Venice Beach, where you can not only get nice and crispy, but also participate in a range of activities: Henna tattoos, skating on the boardwalk, ice cone dipping, and have the most interesting people come up to you for money (I’m looking at you, Mr. Naked Man with dreadlocks).

Nightlife: Los Angeles has a pretty insane bar scene that stretches across this expansive city. If red carpets and velvet ropes aren’t your thing, though, there is still plenty to do. If you’re looking to unwind and grab a drink, Backstage Bar & Grill is the place to be. Known for its food and karaoke, tons of Angelino scram to this bar whenever the Lakers are playing. And if you just want to stroll and enjoy the night, tons of little boutiques in Echo Park might just seal the deal. You’ll find everything from Lady GAGA inspired glasses to some interesting people weirdos. Just walk in packs and you’ll be OK.

Hidden Shopping Gem: Most tourists don’t know about this spot, but here at CollegeCandy, you guys know we always get the scoop. The best place to shop here in the City of Angels is not Rodeo Drive or The Grove, but rather, the Santee Alley in downtown L.A. It’s like New York’s Chinatown but so. much. better. Yes, it’s in an alley and yes, that seems sorta shady, but this little pocket of shopping heaven is a gold mine waiting to be exploited. The stalls are packed with everything you could ever want – trendy dresses, accessories, shoes, bags – at super cheap prices. And I’m not talking horrible Louis Vuitton knock-offs. I scored two pairs of gladiator sandals, eerily similar to $80 Steve Maddens, for $20. TOTAL.

Get Cultural: If you’re super artsy and into museums, LA’s a ton of museums that are to die for. The Getty is a privately owned museum that is known for its eclectic collection, while the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Arts (the MOCA, for short) houses some of the most famous paintings and artworks (Giacometti, anyone?) in history.

Freebies: Hollywood is known for its glitz and glamour, but living in LA also means spending loads of moolah. If you’re looking for some free but really great entertainment then head to the world famous Amoeba Music, a record store that also doubles as a place for famous musicians to do a sit-in show. Don’t believe me? Thom Yorke stopped by a couple of summers ago and performed a free, one hour set. Hail to the Chief, bitch!

If comedy is more your thing, why not go catch a free taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno? You do have to enter yourself for tickets (3-4 weeks in advance is probably best), but it’s free and a great way to spend your afternoon. What could be better: celebs + comedy + music.

And if you want to stay in shape but can’t afford an L.A. gym, head over to Runyon Canyon for an early morning hike. You’ll break a sweat, tighten that butt and get insanely beautiful views of the city.

Got anything else people have to see in L.A.? Share it below!

[You got a big, bad internship this summer? Living in a big, bad city? Not a clue what to do? CollegeCandy's got you covered. We've got ladies in all pockets of the U.S.A. and we're gonna be your private guides to the biggest internship destination cities around: New York, Chicago, D.C. and Los Angeles. If you're looking for the best place for a deal, the best weekend excursion, or best bars to drink (with a fake), stick with us.]

Welcome to Washington, D.C.! It’s a truly awesome, magical, fulfilling place to live for a summer (or, if you’re like me, you come for the summer and end up staying indefinitely…) D.C. is packed with fabulous food, great bars, and tons of free activities. So when you’re not interning, studying, stalking the White House hoping for a glance of Michelle, or (particularly if you spend any time on Capitol Hill) swooning over the guys in suits doing their best to channel Don Draper, check out this guide to our nation’s capital.

Cure That Sweet Tooth – If you’re a cupcake whore like me, you must try Hello Cupcake. It’s located right next to the Dupont Circle metro (red line). Their lemon cupcake is TO DIE FOR and for a limited time, they have a strawberry cupcake that will change your life. Curbside Cupcakes is a mobile cupcake truck that you can catch all over the city (and they accept credit cards!)

And if you’re totes over cupcakes, D.C. does a great donut. I know, donuts are not particularly fashionable these days, but in Silver Spring (red line), there is an adorable, unassuming store called Fractured Prune that has the absolute best donuts I’ve ever tasted (Krispy Kreme, what?). Their donuts are totally gourmet, made-to-order pieces of perfection with flavors ranging from lemonade to strawberry shortcake to chocolate cherry. You can also create and customize your own, selecting your glaze, type of sugar, and toppings.

Best Place for a 50 Cent Taco – Lucky Bar (Dupont Circle). Monday nights, this divey sports bar has $.50 tacos and free salsa dancing. Right next door is Julie’s Empanadas, which has delightful meat, vegetarian, and dessert options for your cheap consumption (I love the spinach mozzarella/ricotta and the strawberry/cream cheese options).

Best Place to Work Out for Free – The National Mall. (For clarification, this is the huge chunk of DC that includes the Capitol, the White House, and the monuments, not Victoria’s Secret or Express). It’s a great place for an early morning or evening run/people-watching/scoping out glistening shirtless men…

Alternative Evening Activities: DC has amazing late night bookstores, particularly Busboys and Poets near U Street and Kramerbooks in Dupont Circle. Books, food, live entertainment, and alcohol? Hello, heaven on earth.

If you want to get out of the heat and into a cool, air conditioned movie theater, try The AFI Silver in Silver Spring. They offer a mix of classic and current films that span from domestic to foreign. The theater is so lux with huge comfy chairs and in addition to the typical concessions, offers alcohol. Tres elegant. It is (surprisingly) rarely crowded, and it’s surrounded by a ton of ethnic restaurants and shopping, so definitely stroll down Colesville, Ellsworth, and Fenton.

Best Neighborhoods to Bar Crawl – it depends on your mood. If you want a familiar college town vibe, Adams Morgan is the spot, though you can also find clubs and bars that are Latin-influenced and Euro-influenced. U Street is right next door and provides a distinctly funkier vibe. Here, you’ll find more lounges, and places more likely to spin reggae and go-go, DC’s interpretation of “crunk” music. The H Street Corridor tends to be forgotten, as it’s not metro accessible and was once considered very sketchy. However, it’s definitely been revitalized recently, and there’s a ton of places to eat, drink, and be merry. Granville Moore’s has the best food, and really creative bartenders. The Rock and Roll Hotel is also not to be missed. The atmosphere is fun, quirky, and crazy (read: ideal vibeage for a weekend night prowl).

And if You’re Underage – In my experience, DC really is not the place to try to get away with this. I’m legal, look my age, and I’ve still had my card excessively scrutinized. Maybe some under-21 DC ladies may have heard rumors of establishments where they allegedly don’t care about ID?

Gorgeous Water Views – Though D.C. does not have any beaches in super close proximity, you can catch amazing views of the Potomac River in Georgetown (accessible via the DC Circulator, which does accept Metro Smartrip cards). On K Street, you’ll find a ton of bars and restaurants. Sequoia is my favorite spot – their mother of all meatballs is orgasmic. For a less pretentious (read: HECKA CHEAPER) experience, head to the SW Waterfront (green line), where the Potomac and Anacostia rivers meet (also, where you will meet a lot of hot Capitol Hill staffers). Cantina Marina has bomb nachos and salsa, and their crab cakes are delightful.

Best Place to Spend a Hungover Lazy Sunday Morning – Eastern Market (orange/blue). This neighborhood offers a farmers market and flea market, not to mention tons of great little local coffee shops and restaurants (I’m very partial to Port City Java and Market Lunch.)

Get Your Shop On - Though DC is definitely not a fashion capital, there are several places to feed your couture addiction, from the Mazza Gallerie and The Shops at Wisconsin Place (Friendship Heights, red line) to the Shops at Georgetown Park (M Street, accessible by Circulator). If you don’t mind venturing out further, and hopping on a Metrobus, Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (take J2 bus from Silver Spring) and Tysons Corner in McLean (5A bus from L’Enfant Plaza via green, orange, and blue) are the premier malls in the area. Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is perfect (ie, has a Sephora and Forever 21) and is two steps away from the Pentagon City metro stop (yellow and blue lines).

Miscellaneous – Remember to stand on the right, walk up the left when you’re on Metro escalators. Don’t be afraid of the suburbs – DC proper is pretty small, and can get kind of suffocating, so day trips out to Maryland or Virginia are refreshing and fun. HIT THE NATIONAL ZOO! It’s free and oh my god, giant pandas! And don’t flash your intern badge unless you’re at work or are cashing on an intern deal (half-priced burgers and sandwiches at lunch!). People in DC love to hate on interns, so maintain classiness, not cockiness.

No one would ever walk up to a friend on financial aid and accuse her parents of being lazy, good-for-nothing, bad parents for not making enough money to send her to college. Yet people feel completely comfortable going up to a friend with an unpaid internship and accusing her of being a spoiled brat because she’s fortunate enough to be able to afford spending a summer making no money.

Don’t think that’s true? Just read the comments on almost any internship post on this site (like this one or this one).

I had two unpaid internships in NYC and I can’t even count the number of times people told me “it’s ridiculous that your parents are just letting you live in the city and make no money.” But was it ridiculous? In today’s world you’re expected to graduate with internship experience and if my parents decided to spend their hard-earned money paying for me to live in NYC and reach my dreams, was it wrong for me to take that opportunity? Should I have spent my summer waitressing instead? I don’t want to come off like a whiny bitch, but I want some answers on why I should feel bad that my family can afford this. Isn’t complaining about unpaid internships the same as complaining to a friend when her family goes on a week long resort vacation?

Everyone can choose how they want to spend their money and my parents chose to forgo fancy family vacations and buying me designer clothes so that I could get the most out of my college education. I appreciated how fortunate I was every day and I did work menial jobs part-time during my summer internships to make money for the school year, but that never stopped people from making accusations.

While I completely agree with the fact that the unpaid internship system is completely unfair because it gives well-off kids yet another career advantage that their other classmates can’t afford, I also think it’s unfair to expect people to not take these internships. And I don’t think it’s fair to make people feel guilty because they happen to be fortunate (assuming they’re not arrogant and entitled and making Facebook statuses that say “living off my parents”).

After graduation my internships paid off and I landed an awesome job as a blog editor. Yet people still assume it’s okay to come up to me and say things like “Blog editor? Guess your parents are still supporting you.” Not only do I constantly have to remind people that a blog editor is a legitimate, fully-salaried position in 2010, but that it’s no one’s business who was paying my rent. No one ever  goes up to my friends in grad school and says “Med school for 9 years? Guess your parents are still paying your rent.” Why do people think it’s okay for parents to spend tens of thousands of dollars on law school, but not spend a few thousand to let me spend two summers interning to reach my career goals?

In the end isn’t all about parents doing whatever they can to help their children be successful and happy?

F

Everyone knows that one of the worst things about being an intern is actually telling people you’re an intern. I can deal with getting coffee, fetching elaborate lunches in the rain, sending out mail and transcribing interviews for hours, all in the name of trying to get a job. I cannot, however, deal with being treated like sh*t just because some people choose to view me as just the bottom of the job food chain and nothing more than that.

I’m not saying that everyone treats interns like that, because that’s definitely not true. I’ve been extremely lucky to work with intern coordinators who are truly awesome – they listen, they care, they’re nice, and most importantly, they always say thank you. But there are still some people who insist on treating me, and other interns, as only their bitch. And I mean, let’s face it, we kind of are their bitch as interns – but that still doesn’t mean we should be treated like that.

The weird thing is, it’s usually the people you would least expect who are the rudest. When I first started covering events, I was terrified. I thought for sure that not only the celebrities were going to blow me off, but also that the PR girls would take one look at me and figure out I had no idea what I was doing. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The PR girls consistently treat me with respect, and did anything they could to help me out. And the celebs? Most of them couldn’t be nicer. Just the other night, I had the chance to interview Emmy Rossum and Bernadette Peters, and both of them were so sweet it was unbelievable.

So who are the rudest people? I’ve found that the bitchiest and most annoying people to work with are the ones who literally JUST started their job. Like one of the interns I worked with over the winter who now has a paying job at my magazine. We were so close when we were both interns; we spent long hours doing crap projects together and really bonded over our shared dream of one day working for this very magazine. So when he got hired, I was proud and excited for him. That is until he stopped speaking to the other interns. I see him around hte office every day and he ignores me like he doesn’t know who I am.

And then, while huddled over my computer transcribing yet another interview recently, I overheard another former intern I used to work with say, “All of the new interns keep introducing themselves to me trying to network. Do I care? No. I couldn’t remember their names if I tried.”

I just don’t get it. I would have thought, since they were just in my shoes, these people would understand an intern’s position the most. That they’d be the most empathetic to our situation. And – come on – a few months ago they were not just my peers, but my friends. And now look at them. I get it – they must have done something right to get a job in such a tough market. But why does that mean that they can treat everyone else like they’re below you?