…or so you thought. The freedom to “make your own hours” has turned into cramming ten-hours-a-week’s worth of work into the spare minutes between Vegas trips and parties. When you try to work, you can barely even stay awake. And since there’s no intern dress code, you’ve stayed in your pajamas for periods longer than you did during finals week.

However, I warn you: you’re probably receiving very real class credit, so your supervisors deserve very real results. And these little changes will make a big impact on your virtual internship experience:

Stick to a schedule. Set out time each day and each week to get your projects done – online tools like Google Calendar and Toggl help you keep track of your hours – and respect that time. What would your bosses think if they knew you were texting your boyfriend every ten minutes? Would you have a flashing Facebook browser tab open on the company computer? Put your cell phone/TV/distractions on silent, just as you would at a live internship.

Get up and get dressed. It’s often advised that dressing up for phone interviews makes a candidate more confident, but doing so daily for your internship hours is like a ritual that mentally prepares you for your work day. Put on a little day make up and pop in your contacts; ditch the blazer if it’s too hot in your hometown, but seriously – no sweatpants.

Go to work. Just because you don’t need gas or a subway ticket doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still go to work. Carve out space designated for prime productivity: a table at a nearby coffee shop or a makeshift home office (well away from any TV). As long as your “commute” includes leaving your comfy bed, it’s one step closer to fulfilling your intern potential.

Network, network, network! Just because you haven’t (yet) met your company’s team face-to-face doesn’t mean you should forget about networking. BIG intern mistake. Set up weekly video chats with your supervisor to discuss your progress, start a Facebook Group with your fellow virtual interns to trade tips (and the occasional rant!). And be sure to connect with everyone you can on a professional networking tool like LinkedIn  to keep in touch – if you show your dedicated work ethic through this virtual internship, the contacts you make could help you somewhere down your career path.

Hint: Let’s say you have a different virtual commitment – summer school homework, studying for the MCATs/GREs/LSATs/GMATs/future-defining-test-of-some-sort, even keeping up a new workout routine – these tips still contribute to successful results. And if you’re hoping to get a head start on the virtual internship hunt for fall, check out sites like Intern Queen. My favorite: CollegeFashionista hires virtual fashion writers from all over the world.

What’s the best thing about being a virtual intern? And what’s been the most difficult part of your experience?

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.

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!

Dear Tuffy Luv,

I am an intern this summer between my sophomore and junior year of college, and it is everything I could have asked for in an internship. I love my co-workers, I am always busy, and I feel like I am actually making an impact and not just shuffling paper. Last night, my co-workers and I went to a big group happy hour. I am really close with the team, so they all bought me drinks and had a great time. Unfortunately, I did not eat dinner all night and got a little too drunk by the end of the night – not in a sloppy way at all, but I noticed it myself.

At the end of the night, it was just me and two of my male co-workers, including one guy who I thought had been flirting all night and for the past couple of weeks. I felt so comfortable with him that I think at some point during the night, I started flirting back. We left the bar together, and somehow went on a drunken adventure to attempt to go dancing, and then pizza, and he eventually dropped me off at home. During the car ride, we were laughing and having an amazing time, so much that I did not notice the 10 year age difference between us. I was jokingly punching him, and I remember resting my hand on his face in a very intimate way for too long, and he actually removed my hand from his face. After that incident, it went back to normal and we went back to our conversation and laughing. I cannot tell if he has feelings for me or not, because last night he would keep saying, “You’re 19!” I’m not exactly sure everything we talked about in the car, but I know I was at my drunkest at that point and I’m nervous at what I might have said.

Today at work, it was so awkward and we pretty much avoided each other all day. I don’t want to address it at all, or even acknowledge that the end of last night happened, but I’m not sure where my feelings lie and if he reciprocates them or not. Today, I just feel embarrassed that I let myself get to that point, and that I acted so silly in front of him. What should I do? I know work relationships are inappropriate, especially as an intern, so should I just let everything go and pretend it never happened?

Sincerely,
Not So Happy Hour

Dear Not So Happy Hour,

Well, you pooped where you eat.

It is ill-advised, NSHH, to go around flirting with your coworkers, even if you’re a full-time employee. But as an intern, it is especially disastrous. It looks bad, girl. It makes you look unprofessional. Think of your career, girl! Once you become an item of gossip, you cease to be a professional entity and begin looking like a silly little sexpot.

It’s also dangerous for you as a person. You, as an intern, have no power. You are the bottom of the bottom. You’re not even an actual employee. It may be true that your coworkers love you, but they are still just coworkers; they are not your true friends, and you shouldn’t allow yourself to think they are. After all, how long have you known them? How WELL do you know them? And, for bloop’s sake, they are older and in an entirely different place in their lives. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you give someone else power of your body and your career.

And, yes, it’s unfair that women are more punished for affairs in the workplace than men. It totally sucks and is stupid. It is, however, a fact. Live with the reality and know what you’re up against.

Sometimes interning in a Big City is really exciting- the celebrity events, the high-profile bosses…even the extra-complicated coffee orders can be fascinating at first.  Other times, like last week, it was completely overwhelming.  Between the oppressive heat wave (hello triple digits) and feeling like something in my brain just wasn’t connecting, I was left in need of a night off to regroup and have some fun.

Trouble is, when you’re one in eight million, the process of finding a kindred soul to cry into your martini with can be daunting.  Of all those people, it’s impossible to narrow the field down to the ones who want to come together in commiseration over receiving little (to no) pay over performing the tasks few employees want to do.  Or so I thought.

Welcome to the age of Intern Parties.  A little bird slipped me the website’s link in an email and just like that I had plans for Friday.  Let me tell you, if you’re a novice to New York nightlife, as I clearly am, Intern Parties will save your social status by bringing interns together every night of the week in trendy New York City bars with zero cover.  Zero. Plus, drink discounts!

Needless to say, after work I ran to get a manicure…big splurge, I know…then it was a mad dash to my temporary home so I could get decked out.

Before you stare at me all agog wondering if I went to an intern meet-up alone, let me clear the air and say, yes, I absolutely did.  Please understand the situation I was in: my best skirt had ballpoint pen all over it from a note-taking session that went horribly wrong, my hair was a frizz ball from the humidity, and my pride was hurt from a boss unhappy with my photocopy skills.  I needed a cheap drink and a cute guy to flirt with me.  I didn’t care how I went about achieving these things.

I arrived at the bar at the same time as two other girls who interned together at an advertising firm.  They were completely friendly and we decided to stick together for the evening.  After all, I don’t mind going somewhere alone, but hell if I’m going to drink alone for three hours.  As the night wore on, the bar filled up with hundreds of interns from all across the city, leaving us all mixing and mingling in a haze of vodka and cheap beers.

Overall the night was a success and I left with a handful of new friends, which is no easy feat when you’re a lowly intern in the biggest city in the country. To all my fellow interns out there, drop me a line and maybe I’ll see you out at one of the Intern Parties.  This is an insider secret too good not to share.

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!

But before I start slathering on the sunscreen and packing on the pounds, let’s review the week that was:

- Screw Hollywood and its ageism. These Hollywood Starlets get seriously better with age.

- Ugh all those high school seniors, time to grow up! What’s the deal with having multiple valedictorians?! So unfair.

- Had a bad roommate? Try living with your boyfriend’s MOM. Yeah to be honest, I would just GTFO.

- “Oh, I only eat a salad for dinner and I run everyday!” Seriously? You think your man friends really want to hear that? Get real!

- Some of us are literally melting under the hot sun and still want to look cute. What’s the best way to beat the summer heat?

- Ahhh, teenage celebs. So young and so full of life. And…really, really stupid. Sometimes they should just shut up.

- Eclipse is out and Kristen Stewart is still awkward. What is the obsession with this franchise?!

- Speaking of Twilight, which side are you really on? (For the record, I’m on Team Jacob. It’s all abs for me, baby.)

- Interning in D.C and want to know where are all the hot spots? Duh, we got you covered.

- I love to get manis and pedis but I am running out of moolah trying to work and cover my living expenses. That’s why I just get the perfect manicure AT HOME!

[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.

I don't know what to do!

Looking back, college didn’t require a lot of serious decision making – even though I thought it did. For the most part, I made decisions about frivolous things such as: Should I wear pajamas to class today? Should I stick to rum and Coke or go for the Jager bombs? Should I go out tonight or should I spend time working on that eleven-page term paper? I know at times these choices sure stressed me out, but looking back, they really didn’t matter the way post-grad decisions seem to.

A lot of difficult decisions have come my way recently. There was me deciding where to live. Atlanta, Georgia or Southern California? It was not an easy choice to make, and many factors played into my choice to move to California. Then there was the decision of what to spend my time doing. Should I reapply to graduate schools for next year or pursue my other dream of becoming a lawyer? These questions required a lot of long-term thinking, and I’m glad that I had the time and the options to choose from. However, now that life is moving full speed ahead – more life-decisions are coming my way and many of them are giving me a day to decide, instead of a month or two.

So, you know how I was running my mouth last week about no jobs being available and how awful it is trying to find something? Well, that very same day, I received a call back from a marketing firm wanting to hire me for an entry level position. A real adult job. One with benefits and a respectable first year salary. One that requires business professional attire from 8:30am to 5:30pm. A marketing firm with connections to major Fortune 500 companies.

Sounds great, right? Well, they could only take me on as a full-time worker Monday-Friday, with a lot of events that I would be required to attend on the weekends. My initial reaction was whether or not I could balance my LSAT prep course and study time in the midst of having a blossoming career path. Could I do both? Maybe, but I’m not someone that does things half-assed, so a balancing act possibly could jeopardize my work experience and hurt my practice for the LSAT.

So, I had to make a tough decision – which is more important to me right now? A job that could have me making some serious coinage with benefits, while offering me an interesting perspective, or sticking to my long-term plan of becoming a lawyer? A lot of people I talked to told me to basically take the money and run with the full-time job and that I could always go back to law school a few years from now. Although I want to have lots of money one day and be successful, I didn’t feel like making a decision based upon money was the right way to figure this debacle out.

In the end, I decided to stick to my plan to attend law school next year. Although I think taking something so spur of the moment like that job offer could have been good, I feel more secure with my plan of prepping for the LSAT, taking the exam in October, and applying to law schools during the fall. My decision to reach for law school (and in the meantime apply for part-time jobs and internships) definitely makes me feel secure with my ambitions to work in the profession of law one day. I could have easily sold myself out and said “You know, the LSAT and the application process to law school sucks – this could be an easier way out,” but instead, I decided to challenge myself and look to the future.

Even though I have not been able to find a part-time job anywhere (since when do waitresses need three years experience to serve?), I have to admit – the call backs I have received (all from full-time positions, of course) and the interest from a major marketing company makes me feel pretty good about my resume and career prospects in the future. And luckily, I’m starting to hear back from some internship programs that will overlook me not being able to get class credit!

So, here’s looking to the future and holding out for what I truly want!
…Let’s just hope it all works out.