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.

So, school is coming to an end soon. That’s good, right? Yes…and no. On the one hand, you’re done with paper-writing for a few months. Hollaaaa! On the other hand, you still need to figure out what you’re going to do this summer. Job? Internship? Job and internship?

Yeah, that sounds fun. Not.
The good news is, those aren’t your only options.

What about studying abroad?
Even better, what about studying abroad in the Galapagos Islands?

Yeah, I’m being totally serious. While the rest of your friends are tanning on their front lawns or working at the same CVS they have every summer since high school, YOU could be exploring one of the world’s most biodiversified and beautiful lands known to man! And you can earn 12 college credits while doing it. Not only will you be learning about Latin America and the environment of the Galapagos Islands, you’ll get to surf, snorkel, Scuba dive, hike, bike, horseback ride, and so much more. SO much more. Your summer can’t possibly get any more productive (and awesome) than that.

Now, I bet you’re wondering how you can make this happen. And it’s all very simple. The Isabela Oceanographic Institute (IOI) and the University of Miami (UM) joined forces to make a summer abroad experience like this one possible for students like you. (That is, students who are chomping at the bit to do something different, adventurous and incredibly interesting.)

And just to sweeten the deal a bit (as if the deal needs any more sweetening), if you sign up for this program by Friday, April 8th you’ll get a $1600 per class stipend! That means $1600 off your tuition for each class just for signing up.

And why wouldn’t you? Snorkling in one of the most beautiful places on earth sounds way better than making copies for someone who won’t remember your name at the end of the summer when you ask them to write you a recommendation. At least, I’d hope so….

For more information, visit the website or email Johann Besserer, the Executive Director: johann@ioi-galapagos.org.

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.

Summer is in full swing and while we’re all busy toiling away at our internships and jobs, it’s hard not to dream about those relaxing and fun summers of our past. Not only did we have zero responsibility back then, but we had all of our friends to chase through sprinklers and get Dairy Queen with. Not anymore. With all of our college friends spread across the country and the dreaded 9-5 gig, summers just aren’t the same anymore.

But they don’t have to be a total bust. It is summer, after all.

When it comes to summer break, there are only 5 friends you need for optimal summertime fun. You keep these peeps around and you’re golden through Labor Day.

The Friend With The Pool.
Do you feel that? Yeah, that’s the sweat pooling in the small of your back and soaking into your now-stinky cami. It’s hot as balls out there and as much as lying nearly naked on your parents’ leather couch cools you down momentarily, it’s not even close to satisfying. What you need is a friend with a giant, refreshing body of water in his or her backyard. With a BFF like this there’s no battling small children with floaties at the neighborhood pool or all that sand that gets….up there…at the beach. It’s just pure bliss in raft and margarita form.

The Friend with an ID
If you’re an underager like me, this guy or girl is more popular than LeBron James. Find one now and hold on tight until the end of August. And if this person’s parents have a summer home out of town and leave him or her alone for days at a time, start a relationship. Yes, even if it’s a girl. Whatever it takes, right?

The Friend Who Is Still On Campus Nearby
Summer is fun and relaxing but, let’s be honest, living at home with the parental units can be extremely boring. There’s only so much you can do in your hometown before you start having cabin/”I can’t believe I have a curfew” fever. Enter: the friend who stayed on campus this summer. Just hop in the car and escape to freedom after work on Friday, get your party on, eat your 4am pizza and get back just in time for Sunday dinner courtesy of mom and pops.

The Friend With A Boring Job
Who else will keep you entertained with funny links, TFLN texts and major whining sessions when you’re at your boring job all day?

The Friend With The Awesome Job
Friend with awesome job = friend with awesome hook ups. Whether they’re mixing up ice cream at Cold Stone, hawking hipster-wear at Urban Outfitters, serving burgers at Red Robin (yummmmm), or assisting on big, celebrity events at a magazine, their paycheck means sweet discounts and freebies for you. That you can take advantage of. All. Summer. Long.

Are there any more friends you think every girl should have in the summer? Share them below!

In an effort to beat the winter bulge and get my body back into shape for a weekend of bikini-clad fun come July 4th, I decided to pump up the volume on my workout last night. And now I can’t move. Even typing up this very post is sending shooting pains up my arms and I’ve completely given up on reading this website due to the extreme pain that comes with laughing.

And to top it all off, it’s an ugly, rainy day in Chicago. If I didn’t have the Glee soundtrack blasting from my iTunes right now, I’d fall into a deep funk and claw my way out with a gallon of ice cream. Which, of course, would completely defeat the purpose of my post-workout paralysis.

So in an effort to forget about the fact that I can’t move my legs without crying, I will focus on something else. Like this week’s “Would You Rather….”

Would You Rather have an unpaid summer internship with a boss like Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada or a summer job making bank as a nanny for the brattiest group of triplets you can imagine?

Things to Consider: your post-grad resume, your mental health and sanity, your empty bank account.

Vote and give us your reasoning below!

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?

We’ve survived another year of  8 A.M. lectures and caffeine addiction. Our drunken immunity has been tested like never before. What is our reward? For most of us, a summer job. And for many of us, a summer job in retail.

I’ve had my fair share of retail gigs and, let me tell you, they’re not all rainbows and awesome discounts. Nope, most of the time, they’re just folding, counting and really bitter customers… with a pretty great discount. If you find yourself behind the register this summer and want to make it out alive, keep these key things in mind:

1. Keep your peace of mind.
I’ve had more crap summer jobs than I can count and I don’t think I made more than 50 cents over minimum wage at any of them. Some money is always better than none, but don’t forget to put a premium on your peace of mind. So many nights I would come home and be totally exhausted from rude people and domineering bosses, but I would keep myself awake for 2 or 3 more hours wondering if I had balanced my register or entered the security code correctly before I locked up. Take it from someone who learned it the hard way: forget about it. This isn’t your career, it’s your summer job. Focus on it  from 9 to 5 and the second that glass door locks behind you, use your time to enjoy your summer.

2. Set a budget for using the employee discount.
Whether or not its written explicitly in your employee handbook, most retail stores will allow some extra perks to employees and their family members. To you it’s only a measly 10%, but to an employer it adds up. I remember working at a convenience store one summer where I made all the neighborhood kids pay every last cent for their candy bars. Unbeknownst to me, my male co-worker on the other shift was handing out free cigarettes to hot chicks who would show off their ta-tas. Even in a classier, structured environment, moderation is still key. If you abuse your privileges, you can be sure that they will start to disappear. And why waste them on others when you can use ‘em for yourself, am I right?

3. Know when to take a break.
I remember one afternoon, 15 minutes into my shift, I experienced the worst-case scenario for retail. I had a customer screaming at me on the phone and a merchant in front of the counter demanding a check from me that I was not authorized to sign. As if that wasn’t enough, my register went haywire and started shooting out receipt paper like silly string. I took one deep breath, focused really hard, and fixed everything in 5 minutes. The small queue of people that had formed at my register cheered good-naturedly. In the next available minute, I vacuumed the floor. It wasn’t really a “break” but it did give me a moment to clear my head, cool down, and center myself. Even if you can’t run outside, kick your feet up and suck down a much needed Diet Coke after disaster strikes, doing something mindless has a wonderful calming effect.

4. Be glad they’re not your boyfriend/mother/sister.
Men, women, young, old – ignorance seems to know no bounds. Time will be flying, the store will be quiet, and suddenly that one loudmouth who thinks their sh*t is cream will come in and make life hell for you — just because they can. No matter what, service with a smile should still reign supreme; it’s just good business. To keep my spirits up after these terribly depressing people leave, though, I’ll think of my nasty customers’ spouses, or parents, or kids. No matter how rude they may be to me, I pity the poor people that actually have to live with them.

5. Wear comfortable shoes.
This may be the best piece of advice I can give you. After all, Ginger Rogers was the only woman who could glide through her days backwards in high heels. Without fail, the days I left my house wearing the shiny red pumps that matched my favorite skirt so well were the days I was climbing latters in the stock room, dusting off displays, and taking out trash. While looking good will make you feel good, being comfortable helps, too. Never underestimate the power of ballet flats!

I wish you the best of luck as you begin your battles. No mater how posh your store is or how nice your bosses are, the bell that rings when your door opens will give you a gag reflex by August. The way your wallet bulges, though (well, assuming you don’t abuse that discount), is sure to make you smile when you’re back on campus, soaking up your first Thirsty Thursday.

Summer used to mean a few things: sleep-away camp, s’mores, arts and crafts, and trying to find a dry Speedo.  Unfortunately, for most of us who aren’t Michael Phelps, finding a dry Speedo and swimming our lives away won’t be very beneficial to our futures. Nor will concocting the perfect s’more, made with the most awesomely browned marshmallow ever.

So now, summer means one thing: interning.

Internships are probably the most important thing you can have on your resume these days and summer is the perfect time to gain that coveted interning experience: you don’t have to work around a class schedule and you can really focus on the job. But there’s more to a summer internship than just showing up. If you’ve landed yourself an internship this summer and you want to make the most of it, there are a few things to remember. I’ve been doin’ the internship thing for a long time, so let me share some of my hard-earned knowledge.

1. Coffee really does make the world go round.
Your daily Starbucks run may classify you as the “coffee bitch,” but through the transitive property, your power is greater than you know.  Your boss, their assistant, and 10 other colleagues send you to retrieve their crack-in-a-cup.  It’s their fuel for the day; they couldn’t function without it.  If you failed to get the coffee, the company would fall to pieces, so basically you’re the CEO.

2. The word “no” does not exist.
Kindergarten teachers and parents alike have us fooled; “no” is not part of the English language, it is only a myth.  When asked a question while interning, your answer is always YES.  There is no task that is “beneath” you and you need to be willing to do anything.  If you turn down an opportunity, your employer will view you as lazy and that is one of the worst professional reputations to have.

3. The copy machine has more functions than you think.
Unless super old-school, copy machines can do just about anything.  It may be embarrassing to ask, but make sure you know the extent of this brilliant machinery.  Memorize the name and Google it when you get home.  If you find yourself copying for an extreme amount of time doing an absurd project, chances are there is any easier way to get it done. And when you figure out that way, your superiors will be very impressed.

4. It is OK to lie (a little bit) to get ahead.
We all experience the catch 22: you wont be selected for opportunities if you have no experience, but you can’t get the experience if you’re not given the chance. If you are one of many interns, sometimes it is hard to stand out, and even harder to be chosen for special tasks.  In certain cases, it is OK to pretend you have done something even if you have not.  As long as you are confident that you won’t be completely clueless, you can exaggerate past experience to gain favor over the other interns.

5. Life isn’t by the books.
No matter what industry you are interested in going into, there are certain procedures, rules, etc. that you will learn in school.  Your classes teach you the “right” way to do things, and how things are technically supposed to operate.  One of the biggest lessons you will learn from interning, is that taking a short-cuts isn’t cheating; it’s a very smart strategy.  Interning teaches you how things are really done, as opposed to how they’re supposed to be done according to your textbook. These valuable lessons are ones you can’t learn in a classroom.

6. Have no regrets: internships that you dislike are just as important as the ones you do like. You may find yourself hating an internship and complaining that it is something you NEVER want to do.  That’s great news.  The best way to find something that you truly want to do, is ruling out the things you don’t want.  There is no way to find out until you try it, so gaining this knowledge is so important.

Got some college questions? Unsure of a decision? Thinking about dabbling in Adderall? (Don’t!) Just wanna chat it up with some really awesome chics? We’ve got the girls for you. Hit them up in the comments or shoot them an email with the subject “College Q&A”! They’ve got all the answers you need, no matter who you are.

Question:
I don’t know what to do. So, I’m finishing my junior year and all of my friends have dream internships this summer in New York and L.A. and Chicago…and I’ve got nothing. I know internships are important but I havent gotten any of the ones I applied for. Is it too late to apply for more? Does it look bad applying this late? What about following my friends to one of those cities and just looking for something when I get there? Is that really dumb?

Party Girl:
Been there. Survived. It was May and I needed an internship to graduate. I had been applying since February, but I was still looking at a summer of unemployment. However, I just kept sending out applications until I got a bite. Fortunately, it ended up being exactly what I had dreamed of and I had a great summer! Just keep applying – anything will do. You don’t need a dream internship for the first one (if you get one, that’s awesome, but you’ll be lucky). The second or third internship usually ends up being the experience of which everyone dreams. My plan if I hadn’t gotten lucky was to do exactly as you said – move on out to New York, stay with a friend, and just show up everywhere with samples of my work and a handful of resumes. I’m not sure how well that would have worked out for me, but I’m sure I would have had a great summer either way. Get yourself out there and keep sending out applications. Something will turn up and if it doesn’t…it’ll be much more fun to drink away your misery in N.Y. or L.A.!

Busy Bee:
No, it is NOT too late to apply for an internship! I would like to say that I’m very experienced in the field of applying for internships. What I’ve learned is that you need to be really persistent to your employers when applying. Let them know that they are not just another company that you are trying to target. Instead, follow up with a phone call or an e-mail personally thanking them, just so you can be on their mind. Also, try looking into smaller market internships. Remember, a big name is always great on a resume, but the experience you gain is even more important. So, try researching internships in your field, but do not mark off ones that you initially did not apply for.

If you are having a difficult time finding an internship, think of your favorite companies and look into their programs. If they do no have anything to offer, then call the HR rep or the manager and see if you can strike up a deal with them. Sometimes, when opportunities aren’t there, you have to create your own. Lastly, if none of these follow through, then look into a job that is related to your interests. You mentioned you were a junior, so make sure you get your foot in the door – somewhere!

I do not advise following your friends into a city and trying to look for something. It’s better if you can secure something before you travel that far. As cliche as this sounds, remember that whatever happens, it was meant to happen. Whatever you end up doing this summer, just know that you ended up on that path because you were destined to meet someone who would help you in your career path! Don’t feel bad – be proud that you were proactive enough to keep trying. Good luck!

GPA Girl:
Hmmm. You might feel unlucky, but I’m pretty sure you’ve made out like a bandit here and your friends are actually the ones who will be miserable all summer. Even though it might seem as if NOW is your only opportunity to get an internship, that’s completely untrue. Is your college in a large or even a medium-sized city? If so, why not find an internship to do during the senior year? If that’s not an option, try to land one after you graduate, after which you can go straight into a kick-ass job (fingers crossed). Plus, people are more likely to actually pay you once you’ve graduated. I’m betting most of your friends aren’t getting paid a dime this summer, and if they are, they’ll be working so much that it won’t even be worth it, not to mention that the cost of living in L.A. or NYC is absolutely ridic. Seriously.

Do NOT move with your friends to their internship cities, but go ahead and send out a few more applications. What’s the harm? You might get something, and if you don’t, try finding an actual job for the summer, even if it’s just waitressing. Work experience can be just as valuable as internship experience, and you’ll be stashing away extra cash when all your friends come back exhausted and in debt.