With so much going on in our lives, it’s almost impossible to remember everything you have to do. Sometimes, things just slip through the cracks. While it can’t help you with everything, FollowUp.cc can help make sure you don’t forget to follow up on any important emails.

Here’s how it works: when you get an important email you want to remember to follow up on, just send the email (either as a forward or BCC on your response) to one of the many reminder email addresses FollowUp.cc has. For example, if you want to remember on Friday, send the email to friday@followup.cc, or if you want a reminder on January 31, send it to jan31@followup.cc, etc. (there are lots more examples on their site).

When you log into the site, you’ll find a calendar with all your upcoming reminders. The calendar also integrates with iCal, so you can access your reminders on your phone or computer. The site also features “Snooze Links,” which allow you to snooze a reminder and get back to it later.

Try it next time you get an email from your professor about changes to an assignment or when you get word about an internship you’d be perfect for, and never worry about missing out on something important ever again!

Laura is a St. John’s University grad who spends way too much time watching TV and imagining the characters are her best friends. She’s addicted to online shopping, dessert, and Pinterest. Follow her life at @lkdondero.

Being an intern is fun.

This is probably only the second time in my life I’ve worried about people actually liking me. The first was my first day of college. If you’re wondering why I didn’t say kindergarten, think back to your playtime-obsessed self, your mom doesn’t leave you saying, “Make lots of friends, honey.” No, she says “play nice with the other boys and girls” ‘cause she knows the only thing you actually give a damn about is making a beeline to the toys and staying put. Who cares about friends on the first day? You make them later, when someone has the same snack-pak as you, duh!

This is the first internship I’ve done out of college. For some silly reason, I had this awesome idea (now I realize this was what adults call a ‘fantasy’) that I was going to graduate and employers were going to be falling over themselves trying to give me a job. Yeah, well, the only thing my big, fat, phony fantasy gave me was an unemployed schedule.

Don’t get me wrong, funemployment lasted me about a week but then it was time to start working again. Yeah, yeah, yeah, our economy is in the thick of a recession and unemployment rates are through the roof and blah, blah, blah… nobody really believes it’s going to happen to them.

Anyway, I now only enjoy my funemployment 3 days a week. I spend my Thursdays and Fridays working as an editorial intern. Like I said earlier, being an intern is fun. Don’t believe me? Here’s why:

I spend my mornings staring into my mirror and asking myself: Does this outfit scream intern or idiot? If I wear my blazer, am I trying to hard, or is wearing a cardigan too first-date of me? My boss doesn’t wear heels but should I? I don’t want to be taller than her; if I’m taller than her she might think I’m trying to be more assertive than she is… but I did just buy these really cute pumps on sale… and if I wear the blazer, the heels definitely work, but what if my boss is wearing a blazer? I’m already her walking shadow. What about my black skinny jeans? Career professional attire is so not in season right now. Business causal is okay. So I should wear the jeans and the blazer, right? Okay, well what about this? And in about five minutes I’ve talked my way out of four seasons worth of wardrobe pieces. See, like I said, being an intern is fun.

I also stress about the type of jewelry (c’mon, I am a girl. Leave me alone.) I’m going to wear. Too many dangly pieces are annoying. Oh, I don’t want to be that annoying intern in the office whose bracelet clanks together every time she goes to spell-check a sentence. But too few jewels kind of says the opposite about the way I’m trying to present myself. If I wear my $3 ring from Forever21, is everyone in the office going to notice when my finger turns green? What about going jewel-less? I don’t want them to think that I’m so lackadaisical that I couldn’t even get up in time to look presentable at the office.

I use the subways to get to work so I’m always stressing out about my commute. If you’re walking, biking or driving to work then you’ve got the upper hand, you can kind of control the pace of your commute. I have no say. There are four things that happen after my teeth are brushed and I’m out the door on my way to being intern-of-the-year: 1. Get on the train without falling up the stairs or dropping your bag (this happens to me at least every other week). 2. Avoid the beggar asking for any spare change you can afford to give (uh, hello, you’re an INTERN, you don’t have any spare change). 3. Keep your computer bag and your purse on your arm so that you don’t spill everything when you get excited to get off at your stop. 4. Powerwalk. Go as fast as you can if your train is late (then I’m thinking why did I wear this freakin’ skirt?) and get coffee. This is like the golden rule of interning. Even if you don’t particularly like coffee, get it anyway. You look professional. But what about the other intern that works for this company too? I have to get there before him. What will they think if I’m there after him? Will they think I’m less dedicated? Less professional. Sprint faster already damnit! But keep it cool, okay. The outside world doesn’t need to see the Intern Idiot stamp on your forehead. Once you’ve got all that, sprint to the office and then wait outside catching your breath. When you’re back to owning the triple CCC mantra (calm, cool and corporate) you’re ready to wait for the elevator.

I’m not sure what all of the other interns out there in intern world do (there seriously is a website called Intern World. How cool are WE, guys!?) but I spend my entire day bouncing back and forth between tweeting, writing articles and doing whatever the hell the people above me (you know, the ones with actual job titles and paychecks) want me to do. In between all of those obstacles, I ponder the real questions of the day:

Do my colleagues like me? Are they forced into liking me – because I’m here two days a week – or do they willingly like me? Or did they all get together and agree to like me for the duration of my internship? Okay, well what if they don’t like me? Does that mean that they don’t like my work? Do they spend all day emailing each other back and forth about all the extra work I’m causing them, or are they just telling me “you’re doing a great job!” because that’s what you tell the stupid people who are at the bottom of the totem pole that need all the reassuring lies they can get their hands on?

There is also the endless time I spend contemplating the in-office romances. I plot all different ways that people in this office could have the affairs of their lifetime. But what if they’re really having them?  Oh my god, stop thinking about it already; I bet everyone in this office can see that stupid mesmerized look you’ve got smeared all over your face. Time to focus! No more daydreaming. Seriously. You’re trying to make an impression here.

All that work is absolutely exhausting. So when my day is done (even though I’m watching the clock tick from 3:59 to 4:00) I stay in my seat until my boss tells me to go. If I get up without her saying anything, she’ll think I hate it here and I want to leave early. Or maybe they’ll start to think that I don’t have any respect for my higher-ups.

Then my day is finished and I commute back home and tell anyone that will listen (yes, this includes the aforementioned beggar on the subway) how awesome I am at my job and how much everyone likes me. I do this so everything thinks I’m really the awesome intern I spend my whole day trying to be.  ‘Cause looking awesome is way more fun than showing off my Intern Idiot stamp. No, I don’t spend my whole day wondering whether or not anyone in this office would notice if I just suddenly disappeared in the middle of my shift. Uh, hello, I am awesome.

After mom and dad feed me and tuck me in at night, I have fairytale dreams of doing this whole day over again and calling it ‘tomorrow.’

Like I said earlier, being an intern is fun.

Does this sound appealing to you? Apply to be a spring intern today!

[This summer a dream internship with Lucky magazine moved me from Austin, Texas, where I’ve spent all 21 years of my life, to New York City for the summer. Come along for the ride and follow me through this column as I take on all that the city has in store for me. I’ll share tips I’ve picked up along the way about everything from how to pack (stop, drop and roll people!) to dating to fitting in (or standing out) and so much more.]

When you walk up and down Wall Street, it’s easy to believe that men clad in Thomas Pink attached to their Blackberries run this city. But take a note from Beyoncé and paint the town red (or pink) because girls? Yeah, we run the world and the town.

Tip #33 – Ladies’ Night really does exist. And it’s fabulous.

I was surprised to find out that a good number or bars and restaurants in the city still have ladies’ night drink specials. Sure, the feminist in me felt a little offended but the college girl on a budget (and unpaid internship) couldn’t help but be ecstatic. Ladies’ night isn’t exactly the best place to meet guys seeing as how there really aren’t many around so embrace it and grab your best girls to gossip or vent about work, your boyfriends, your mothers. A simple search on Yelp for “ladies’ night” will yield enough options to try out or check out the guide on Murphguide.com for specials listed by day. Just remember, just because the drinks are cheap doesn’t mean you need to attempt to drink all the liquor they have. Keep it classy ladies…well not too classy!

Tip #34 – Bus tours – not just for old people!

When you’re nursing your Ladies’ Night hangovers but not in the mood to waste the day in the city, get your girls signed up for the perfect way to spend the afternoon without exerting too much energy – a Sex and the City bus tour with On Location tours. I have to admit, before this tour, I totally thought bus tours were for old people and tourists with a camera strap permanently attached to back of their necks. When I got on the bus, however, it looked more like a sorority field trip than that of a nursing home. And the locations? Not geriatric at all. On Location really it hit on the nail with a hilarious (and definitely not cheesy) tour guide, special discounts at participating boutiques (including Fresh and Alexis Bittar) and free Magnolia Bakery cupcakes. Have a cosmo at the bar that went undercover as “Scout” for SATC and make a reservation with a free drink at the restaurant hotspot from the big engagement party scene in the first SATC film. Grab your three best friends for three and half hours and you’ll laugh and best of all, you wont have to track down these spots on your own…by foot.

Tip #35 – Welcome to NYC, land of the cheap mani/pedi combo.

The city is definitely one of the cheapest places to get your nails done up. On my block alone, three nail salons boast a $20 mani/pedi combo. Sure, the ambiance isn’t all that great and you can’t help but avert your eyes from the Good Luck Maneki Neko statues that you could swear at peering into your soul, but your toes will walk out looking better than they did when you came in. Since most of the magazines in these places are pretty outdated, your best asset is a girlfriend. Talk about the crazy things you couldn’t believe you did the night before, the drinks you wished hadn’t downed or plan out the rest of your day. Either way, you cant beat a cheap mani/pedi with a friend.

Get the first 32 tips for living it up in the city right here!

Wardrobe Malfunctions
When your standard summer uniform consists of a worn-in pair of Levi cutoffs and beat-up gladiator sandals, transitioning into an intern-appropriate wardrobe can be a little difficult. If you’re not familiar with the ways of the working world, you may show up to work overdressed or under-dressed. Play it safe with office appropriate dresses and skirts while getting a feel for your office’s choice of couture.

No Questions/Ideas
You landed the interview, wooed your supervisor and got the offer for the internship. Now what? Impressing the higher-ups before beginning work is only half the battle. Don’t be surprised when you’re asked for ideas or input at work or in meetings.  If you’re too startled to come up with anything, remember this: you were chosen for the position for a reason. Get your shine on and come up with something!

Overspending
If you’re working in a big city, be prepared to shell out some dough. Your metro fare and lunch will run up a pretty large tab, especially in Manhattan. $9 for a sandwich? Crazy! Avoid the spend-shock and prepare a budget ahead of time.

Not Utilizing Your Time
After your first few weeks on the job, your supervisor will probably feel more comfortable with handing you more assignments. And after a while, you’ll probably be up to your knees in Excel spreadsheets. Be efficient as possible—try not to take too long with assignments. Trust me, there’s more where they came from.

Internet Usage
I’m sure that keeping up with the Weiner scandal or seeing what happened on last night’s episode of Single Ladies is really important, but try to contain yourself until 5:00 p.m. Opening up a new tab in your browser is really tempting, but remember that your supervisor has eyes in the back of his/her head!

Too Shy to Network
Think of your internship as a gateway to a possible job after graduation. The people who you work for could be your coworkers in a few years! Make sure that everyone in the office knows your name and the school you go to.  You’re bound to have something in common with someone – use that fact and make a new mentor!

Not Following Up Afterwards
After everyone knows your name, maintaining your presence in the office is even more important after you leave. Don’t forget to send thank you notes and emails every three months at the close of your internship.

Taking, Eating Too Much
Even though most interns are unpaid, the perks are plentiful. There are always office parties for the pregnant manager or the assistant who’s turning 30, yummy bagels and pastries in the break room and a fancy coffee maker with a variety of flavors. And don’t forget the awesome inventory closet with all of the pens, folder and notebooks that you can imagine. Pace yourself before double fisting espressos and chomping down a tuna wrap. Mind your manners!

Maintaining a Façade
Sure, filing papers and making copies don’t exactly scream “fun” or “glamour.” Don’t let it show on your face. Maintain an earnest smile at all times and complain to your friends later.

Not Taking Notes
Don’t forget to take a notebook everywhere you go. Get into the habit of writing everything down – it looks attentive and you’ll avoid asking redundant questions.

1.     Start your day with movement and keep it going. When you first wake up, your body has been inactive for hours. If you roll out of bed, drag yourself to work and then sit for the whole day, it will take you a long time to fully wake up. So, when you get up in the morning, get out of bed and move! Jump up and down, or if you’re really ambitious, drop down and do a few push-ups or crunches. This seems like the last thing you’d want to do when your alarm has just gone off, but it works. Activating your muscles will cause blood to flow into them. This increased blood circulation will energize you from head to toe.

Move as much as possible throughout the day. Obviously, some work environments will allow more opportunities for this than others. Any chance you have to stand up and walk around, take it. Do you have a dog or a cat? If so, you’ve surely noticed how often they indulge in a nice stretch. Take a page out of your pet’s book! Stretching increases circulation, too. Stand up and reach your arms to the ceiling, like you do when you’ve just woken up. Or, as Lil Jon would say, bend over to the front and touch your toes! (Just not when any creepy coworkers can see you – this one might have to wait for lunch or bathroom breaks.)

2.     Eat breakfast! Yes, yes, your mom’s been nagging you about this one since you were a little kid. Hate to say it, but she was right. Starting your day with foods that properly fuel your body will help you stay awake. Good ideas for breakfast are: complex carbohydrates, like oatmeal or whole grain cereal; low fat dairy; low fat protein sources, like peanut butter; and fresh fruit.

Some people wake up not feeling hungry. If this sounds familiar, it usually happens because you’ve snacked too late at night or your sleep schedule is off, making you feel bloated. But if you eat breakfast in the morning, you’ll be less likely to snack later in the day. It’s a cycle! So if you’re not feeling hungry, try to adjust your sleep and eating habits – this will make you feel more energized and keep you from overeating. It’s a win/win!

3.     Bright light, better day. Bright lighting, especially natural light, will help you feel more awake. Dim lighting, on the other hand, can make you feel sleepy and fatigued. So if it’s at all possible, fill your workspace with natural light, or take a short walk outside on any breaks.

If you’re stuck indoors with fluorescent lights, give your eyes a break by looking away from your computer screen as often as possible. Staring at one thing for too long, especially the artificial light of a computer screen, will put you right to sleep.

4.     Stimulate the senses. A strong smell, good or bad, can help energize you. It catches your brain’s attention and pulls you out of that awful half-awake state. So indulge in that way-too-expensive scented lotion you bought, eat a fragrant orange as a snack or walk by the desk of that woman who wears way too much perfume.

Drinking a very cold glass of water has a similar effect. The little chill makes your body spring into action to warm itself back up. Plus, staying hydrated will mean more frequent bathroom breaks, which gives you the opportunity to walk around a little bit.

What other tips do you have for staying awake at work?

With internship season right around the corner, we thought we would help you out! I know, we are just too kind. So we’ve put together some of our best advice just to help you out, you know make sure you not only land the internship, but keep it, AND make the most of it.

I know you are just itching to check it out now, so here’s a quick preview of all the awesomeness we have on hand for you:

Prepping for the interview? Might as well go over common questions

Worried about an employer seeing your Facebook status? We’ve got the low down on keeping it work appropriate,

The big debate: Part time job during the summer or an Internship

And the question that keeps us up all night: What do I wear to an interview? Yea, we’ve got the answers.

So check out our new section to find all the tips and tricks that CollegeCandy has to offer.

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.

The following post is written by Brian Willett from UNC-Chapel Hill, one of our many friends at Uloop, a student powered marketplace. Read more great posts in their blog.

Ask any student what the best part about school is, and you’ll most likely get the same answer – summer vacation. The carefree days of summer make all of the homework and pop quizzes bearable and give students something to look forward to during April showers.

Because summer is so precious to students, making the most of every moment of the two or three month respite is crucial. So when it comes to filling the time between fun and games, a fierce debate rages over which is better – a summer internship or a part-time job. Though many assume the only point of contention is filling one’s resume versus filling one’s wallet, there’s more to the question than that.

A Matter of Time

Both internships and jobs can be time-consuming, but both leave plenty of time to have fun. In most cases, unpaid internships tend to be the least time-consuming – the lack of monetary compensation results in fewer hours and responsibilities. Even paid internships don’t often demand more than 10 or 20 hours per week, because a lot of companies might rather hire a part-time associate once the hours begin to add up. Jobs offer more in terms of flexibility, though. Internship hours tend to fall during normal work hours (8 to 5, Monday through Friday), so you’re likely to always have weekends free. However, you may not have time to hit the beach during the day, because unlike at a part-time job, you can’t pick up any evening hours. Part-time jobs also can allow you to dictate your schedule, allowing or as many or few hours as you’d like, whereas internship hours are dictated by your employer or your school (if credit is being given).

Skills to Pay the Bills

One aspect of internships that tends to turn off students is that many are unpaid. This can lead to the sense that an internship is a waste of time that could be spent earning money. Some internships are paid, though, and the pay can be fairly high because of the mental challenges. In addition, internships often lead to future employment opportunities, which can pay off handsomely when the time comes to earn a real paycheck. In this sense, an internship is sort of like an investment in your future. Part-time jobs can sometimes lead to promotions, though, and can look good on a resume, though internships appear more attractive.

It’s All About the Experience

Internships are often touted as more beneficial than jobs because they offer a sense of “real world experience.” But summer jobs can provide valuable experiences as well – students can learn the value of hard work and gain a perspective on what kind of jobs they might be stuck doing without a college degree. Sadly, some interns may only experience a discouraging side of the working world, such as fetching coffee or making copies. And summer jobs often involve a lot of personal interaction, which can be beneficial. Communication, customer service and general people skills are things that can’t really be taught.

Obviously, there are many factors to consider when one is deciding on whether to pursue a summer job or an internship. In order to make the best decision, you must carefully weigh your priorities and figure out which is a better fit for you.

[Life after college is different for every single grad. While some might be going to grad school, others enter the real world in attempts to make their dreams come true pay off their student loans. We've been following Charlsie on her post-grad journey since September, but now it's time to check see what someone else's post-grad life brings. (But don't worry - Charlsie will still be writing!) So ladies, allow me to introduce you to Brittany and her tumultuous life after college.]

I’m having a pre-mid-life crisis.

And I can’t even buy a red Corvette and put the top down and drive to my Beverly Hills condo in complete dismay.  I can’t go to a nice cocktail bar and cheat on my fat, hairy husband.  I can’t even obtain a sugar daddy to buy me a bangin’ new set of tits. All I can do is attack my Netflix, fall back on an old high school flame, and stare at my empty PayPal account.

Twenty-somethings are not supposed to feel the way I do.

I feel like I’m at an AA group to talk about my feelings, but here it is, as honest as I can be.  I graduated a decade nine months ago.  In Hollywood years, that’s about five.  I could have popped out a set of twins with Charlie Sheen by now, or at least put myself on Teen Mom and physically abused my crack head baby daddy.

But, no.  In the past nine months of post-grad life, I’ve had five internships, lots of hot dogs (the only thing I can afford/enjoy at the same time) and many tweaked out conversations with my mother (i.e. “AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING WITH MY LIFE!??).

While I search for a glamorous job, a spicy love life, and a easy breezy life on my own, I’m constantly motorboated by reality.  And I’m suffocating.  Although I know everyone my age is rowing the same (sinking) boat, I feel like I’m completely alone.  This is the most melodramatic I’ve been in my entire life.  I don’t even remember being this ridiculous when I got my period for the first time.

After I graduated, I lived at my parents’ house for six months.  Like I said, six months in Hollywood I could have made a sex tape or texted Brett Favre. But no, six months at home while I finished my fourth internship and perfected a lagging four months of unemployment made me feel as useless as a submarine with screen portholes.

In a triumphant attempt to get another job, I landed myself another internship in January.  For being a double major graduate from a prestigious private school (that I’ll be paying for until I’m as old as Betty White) I expected a little more out of my future. Now I’m just praying for something. Anything.

I decided that while I wasn’t making my dreams come true, the least I could do was get a change of scenery so I moved out of my parents and in with some friends. And so my mid-life crisis began.  After living away from home for a month I’ve never felt so over-worked, under-appreciated and tired in my life. I’ve become addicted to high end fashion blogs and I can’t afford anything.  I want to write my own book someday, but the time and money required to do so just don’t exist.  While I don’t have time to stress out about my future, I find stress in weird and frequent circumstances. I cried when they didn’t have the hot dog buns I like at the grocery store last week.

Regardless, I’m excited to share this journey with all of the lovely CollegeCandy readers. Mostly because while I feel inhuman this way, I know I’m not the only one.  It’s easy to feel undefined, confused and incompetent at this age.  But I know I’m not alone.  While I understand the post-grad life is just a frustrating phase, I can live with knowing it’s a flexible one.  And as stubborn as I may be, I refuse to not take a lesson away from all of it.

As I navigate my life after college, I have the power to define who I am without any help from anyone else.  That alone, beats one day in Hollywood.

Cheers to being a post grad, and here’s to the journey.

Now to you this may not seem like a moment worth mentioning, but to me this is a monumental deal. You see, back when I was a freshman, fresh faced and eager, I did things like shopping for school supplies. I bought pens, and paper, highlighters and binders, and, most importantly, I bought post it notes. (I’m an organization freak. For my kind, it’s the little things like multi-colored sticky paper that make life worth living, okay?) But these weren’t just any notes. These were the super stack, a 12 pad pack of multicolored 4X4 sticky notes. I was sure they would last me all four years of college.

That was before I started working on my senior thesis.

Thesis projects require note taking. They require page marking. They require a lot of post its. I printed journal article after journal article, photocopied book after book, stuck notes in chapter after chapter. This summer I finished the blue pad. In the past month alone I went through the purple, and this past week I finished the hot pink pad. My post it notes are no more. Seven months before the end of my college career. (I’m a little heartbroken. Don’t judge.)

That alone would be enough to make me reconsider my commitment to this whole “senior thesis” thing, but I assure you I have plenty more reasons. I started this thing back in May. I picked a topic, and wrote out a proposal. Over the summer I started doing some light research, reread the novels I was working with, and marked the important passages.  It didn’t seem all that bad, but this past summer I didn’t have four other courses to worry about. Now I do. Needless to say, things have gotten a bit more complicated.

Working on a thesis warrants an independent study, which means that every few weeks I have to meet with my advisor to discuss my progress. I have to make outlines and write annotated bibliographies (the English major’s worst nightmare) and cut time out of my already overbooked schedule to keep up with my thesis work. My prospectus is due next Monday. My advisor wanted it a week early to look over. So as I sat there last weekend, sacrificing Fall Break time to write about Jane Austen, I started to wonder why exactly I was doing this. Yes, completion will get me departmental honors (and a pretty cord at graduation) and it will be a personal accomplishment that I will be proud of, but, really, will it do me any good after I graduate?

Are senior projects really worth it?

Departments require senior research projects, senior thesis papers, senior seminars, and projects of all kind for graduation. But are these projects, these courses, actually doing students any good? Yes, my scholarly writing will improve as I work on this, but what good will that do me when I’m looking for a job? It’s not like my resume needs citations or annotations or intense research. I’m dedicating an entire year to this project, and seniors at every college, in every major, are doing the same. And for what exactly?

Granted, there should be something to mark the fact that students have reached the height of their studies (I know, I know, that’s what Margarita Mondays are for), but is this the right approach? Would professors be better off sending their students out into the work place? Would it be wiser to require internships for the completion of a major? That option would at least allow students to observe the jobs they are likely to take on after graduation. It would be especially helpful for students without a definite career path, for students with majors that don’t immediately lead to viable career options (like this guy). Showing students their post college options before they reach that point may even help to clear up some of that post-grad craziness.

It’s certainly something to consider.

I love writing, but no one is going to pay me to write 30 page papers critiquing and over-analyzing my favorite novels for a job…are they?

…. Although, if you’re a hiring manager and you’re interested, drop me a comment. I charge per word.

Click here to follow Jenn’s other ups and downs of senior year.