At College - U. Got It?, we’re always on the lookout for guest bloggers. This week we asked Vincent Mackey, an administrative assistant for The CollegeBound Network, to share his advice and past experience with working an unpaid internship.
The most important thing I got from college was actually the six months of free labor I gave as an intern. While a lot of people I know scoff at this statement and don’t understand why anyone would want to work for free, it was the best choice I made.
Still skeptical? Read on to find how your thoughts compare to reality…
I can’t afford to work an unpaid internship. Yes, you can! Fall semester of my sophomore year of college, I was thinking the same when I was offered an opportunity to work at Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y) office as an unpaid intern. I was a full-time student and already working a part-time job at a deli on the weekends. What I hadn’t realized until then was that most internships rarely ask for more than 20 hours per week. I was able to attend my internship two days a week, while still working my weekend job and attending the rest of my college courses.
I would rather get a paid internship. You could, but finding an internship that pays is difficult, let alone finding one with prestige. I chose Senator Clinton’s office not only because it was something I was interested in, but because it would allow me to work with real professionals — while adding an impressive line to my resume! I could have taken a paid internship as the mailroom guy in a magazine company, but then I wouldn’t be able to tell prospective employers how I used to prepare daily schedules for a senator of New York and regularly corresponded with Secret Service agents (real work!).
I’m not qualified to work at a cool internship. I soon discovered the best part about acquiring an unpaid internship: they’re not too hard to get. Employers understand that a college intern will be completely inexperienced and, let’s face it, they can’t be too picky with people they’re not paying. Two things that you will need to remember though, are to create a good resume (hint: base the resume on college courses you are currently taking and not on unrelated work experience) and to dress presentably. After you’ve done this, apply and apply often.
But how do I find applications for the internships I want? Create a list of companies you want to intern for and go Internet surfing for applications. Most large companies will almost always offer some type of internship program and if they don’t, call and ask anyway. Another good resource is your college’s career advisement center. Sometimes overlooked by college students, the center can be extremely useful in developing resumes, discovering a career path, and acquiring internships. This is also the only place where you can find out about receiving college credits for your internship or even travel and lunch stipends offered non-inclusively by unpaid internships.
Aside from being an eyebrow-raiser at interviews, working at Senator Clinton’s office had many other perks. I got to meet the senator herself, saw how professionals work firsthand, and was given a great confidence booster. (Not to mention, my girlfriend was happy I was more than a sandwich slinger at a deli all through college).
I admit that I was skeptical at first, but once I realized the potential that could come from working an unpaid internship, I continued on with two more unpaid internships.
Post a comment: What’s your ideal internship?
– Vincent Mackey
November 19th, 2008
In a time of a downward economy, you may want to aspire to be a college president.
According to a recent news report, college and university presidents seem to be making a nice sum of money for being the face of their school. And, many of them continue to receive ginormous bonuses even as many students and parents struggle to make tuition ends meet.
Despite what you may think, it’s not just private university presidents with tremendous endowment funds that have the big bankrolls. Some equal-opportunity Benjamins are being bestowed at both private and public colleges.
The Chronicle of Higher Education’s recent survey of college presidents’ salaries revealed that at public universities, 59 college presidents received more than $500,000 for the 2007-2008 school year, as compared to 43 from the year before. Similarly, the number of private college presidents who made more than $500,000 in ‘07-’08 increased from 81 to 89.
Feel queasy yet as you’re calculating in your head how much more you need to meet your family’s Estimated Contribution for school? Grab the Pepto…
College Presidents by the Numbers:
Private Universities:
David J. Sargent of Suffolk University: $2,800,461
Henry S. Bienen of Northwestern University: $1,742,560
Lee C. Bollinger of Columbia University: $1,411,894
Shirley Ann Jackson of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $1,326,774
John Sexton of New York University: $1,324,874
Amy Gutmann of the University of Pennsylvania: $1,088,786
William R. Brody of Johns Hopkins: $1,060,772
James W. Wagner of Emory: $1,040,420
Constantine N. Papadakis of Drexel: $1,021,537
Public Universities:
E. Gordon Gee of Ohio State University: $1,346,225
Mark A. Emmert of University of Washington: $887,870
John T. Casteen III of University of Virginia: $797,048
With a shaky economy, rising tuition, and more people in financial trouble, is it necessary for college and university presidents to rake in so much dough? It’s been said that because of the state of the economy now, some college presidents have turned down raises, bonuses, and other perks in exchange for the greater good of their campuses. But at what point is it too much?
What are your feelings on these presidential salaries?
-Amanda Fornecker
November 17th, 2008
Whether you’re aiming to be a celeb, or just want to make a career for yourself, the road to success may be surprisingly devoid
of the red-carpet treatment. You might find yourself working an anything-but-glamorous summer job or having to settle for your second- or third-choice university, but you should never give up on aspiring to more. In fact, you’d be surprised at how many of your favorite celebrities have gone from working minimum-wage jobs to having their names appear in lights.
So before you give up on your dream career or school, take a look at some of these celeb tales and see how they stuck it out for the better. Would you believe that Mariah Carey is a beauty school dropout?
– Genevieve M. Blaber
November 14th, 2008
When I sat for my college admissions interview (yes, I only did one — for shame!), the questions covered the basics everyone expects: Why did I want to go to that school? What were my greatest strengths and weaknesses? Where did I see myself in 10 years?
The interview was my chance to smile and show off my engaging personality and stellar communication skills. After all, the admissions officer wanted to get to know me, not throw me off my game. But I wonder how I would have responded if I had been asked a question like, “If I were a grapefruit, would I rather be seedless or non-seedless”?
I didn’t make that one up, guys. That’s a for-real question asked at UK universities like Oxford and Cambridge. (To be fair, it is reportedly asked to aspiring students of medicine.)
So let me think about my answer…. If I were seedless, I’d be easier to enjoy, which would be a lot less work for people, and would therefore make them happier. On the other hand, wouldn’t people appreciate me more if they had to work harder to get to me? Do I really aim to be a people-pleaser? Hmmm…
I’m guessing the question is intended to show the way your mind works, how quickly you can think on your feet, how creative you are, how much you know about grapefruit, things like that. But not all of us are great think-on-your-feet-type people.
I, for one, am a much better thinker when I’m writing out my thoughts. Talking them out has some merit, but writing them buys me a little time — I can type or scribble freely, and edit later. When I have to think and edit at the same time, I tend to get bogged down and overly self-conscious.
Only time will tell what kind of impact these interview questions will make on the U.S. college and university scene. In the meantime, start pondering this question asked of aspiring English majors at Oxford: Would you rather be a novel or a poem?
Post a comment: What’s the wildest college interview question you’ve ever encountered?
– Robyn Tellefsen
November 13th, 2008
Today, you can call us The CollegeBeatles Network because we just got featured in the Fab Four edition of the “Carnival of College Admissions.” Organized and hosted by Mark Montgomery, an independent college counselor, the carnival highlights some of the best in college-related blogs and articles from the last two weeks.
You can find the full-length carnival at GreatCollegeAdvice.com or, for a quick peek, check out some of our select hits from this edition:
- At Money Blue Book, you’ll find a great post about why college students need credit cards and how they should best go about their research before they sign the dotted line.
- Meanwhile, at myUsearch, Kate Scozzaro discusses the things she should have considered before she decided what college she would attend.
- And at the Financial Aid Blog, find out everything you need to know about 529 college savings plans and what they can do for you.
Make sure you stop by The Carnival of College Admissions and have a look at the other top blogs, as well as our own submission, when you have the chance. You may be surprised at all the new college info you’ll learn.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
November 12th, 2008
Are you a high school student who’s still pumped up and raring to go after Election ’08? Then why not consider getting involved in the political process next time around. Whether you’re a high school freshman or eager-to-graduate senior, you’ll probably be in college by the time the next whispers of budding presidential campaigns arise. In anticipation of those political college days to-come, we’ve found three ways you can get involved:
Working at the White House
Internships at Disney? Neat. Internships at a local newspaper? Old news. Internships at the White House? Now we’re talking! Three times a year, the White House Internship Program selects 100 interns to work in offices, attend lectures, and volunteer at a variety of events. It’s a one-of-a-kind (unpaid) opportunity that doesn’t come along often, and would make a sterling addition to any resume. For more info visit the White House Internship Program’s site.
Become a Media Mogul
If you have a nose for news and a penchant for politics, think about passing on that local newspaper and snagging an internship with a media organization in D.C. As the center for political happenings in the U.S., Washington, D.C. is home to top movers and shakers in the media. Organizations that regularly seek interns include: The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, PBS, NPR, MSNBC, XM Satellite Radio, and CNN.
Keep it Real on Campus
For students who don’t see themselves as potential White House interns or aspiring journalists, but who still want to get involved, there are plenty of other opportunities awaiting you on campus. Most colleges have student organizations where you can meet others with the same or differing political leanings, and many of these groups join in their party’s efforts when election time rolls around. You’ll get a chance to meet new people, discuss politics, and support your candidate, all while being in the midst of a very real campaign.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
November 7th, 2008
Recently Zac Bissonnette of “Wallet Pop” discussed the merits of attending a public college or public university instead of a pricier private alternative. We can’t argue with him. After all, we’ve long been proponents of choosing the right school to meet your academic needs and finances, and we’ve always reminded you that popular colleges and their rankings can be misleading.
In his post, Bissonnette also brings up the prospect of transferring to a private college after your second year, pointing out that it will save you much-needed funds while still netting you a big name on your degree. While it’s a great argument, he forgets to mention that most colleges have transfer rates that are considerably lower than their freshman acceptance rates — thanks to fewer open spots — and can be more competitive as a result.
That’s why, if you decide to go Bissonnette’s route, you should put your all into your classes. It’s also good to have a clear idea of what you want to major in — or have already made progress in your major — by the time you apply for transfer, as that will make you look like a stronger and more dedicated candidate.
For more info on transferring colleges and what it takes to make it happen, check out “Taming Transfer Turmoil.”
– Genevieve M. Blaber
November 6th, 2008
It’s all over the news wherever you go: layaway programs, the system that lets you set an item to the side until you can pay for it, are back in style thanks to the sagging economy. What might surprise you is that layaway programs aren’t just for department stores anymore — they can be for college too!
Thanks to the recent creation of the Texas Tuition Promise Fund, residents of Texas can start paying now for whatever Texas college or out-of-state institution their children wish to attend in the future. The perks are simple and hard to pass up: parents get to lock in today’s tuition rates and can start paying now rather than waiting for higher costs to hit them when high school graduation rolls around.
The prepaid college tuition program also has provisions for scenarios in which students earn scholarships (your payments are put into a 529 college savings plan and can be put towards graduate school or other college expenses), your child chooses a college outside of Texas (your payments still go towards the school though you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for the difference between your locked-in-rate and the school’s tuition), or you need funds for another child (you can transfer your payments).
Enrollment for the program will generally extend from September through March, except in the case of younger children. Make sure to visit “Every Chance, Every Texan” to learn more and get enrolled.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
November 5th, 2008
In honor of Halloween, I decided to investigate the things from our college days that will always leave us shrieking in terror. In no particular order, here are “Five Things That Still Scare Us About College.”
1. Tuition rates: While it’s possible to make your way through college with a cavalry of scholarships, loans, grants, and assorted financial aid at your beck and call, the ever-rising rate of tuition is something that still stirs fear in our CB hearts. Too bad we can’t ask a horror movie star like Ghostface to slash the price of admission.
2. Missing a class: It’s not unusual to pick and drop a couple of courses during the first few weeks of the semester — but doing so much schedule juggling has left many a college student with an acute fear of forgetting what classes they’re enrolled in. Computerized class registration only increased our worries, lest an overzealous HAL 9000-like computer program decide we don’t really need that intro course for our major.
3. The all-nighter: No matter what you do, you can’t prevent the all-nighter. Even the most well-intentioned of students will eventually fall victim to the task of completing a 10-page paper the night before their 8 am class. On the bright side, you won’t have to worry about nightmare-crawling Freddy Kreuger invading your dreams if you’re too busy researching classical composers from the Baroque period for your music history class.
4. The showers: Don’t worry; college showers are pretty devoid of Psycho-stars like Norman Bates, but that doesn’t mean you can claim the right to shower so easily. You’ll probably end up sharing a bathroom with at least one other roomie, so prepare to do battle over hair left in the drain, stolen shampoo, and a mysteriously small soap bar that you could have sworn you just opened.
5. The Freshman Fifteen: College is no reason to do away with healthy eating habits. Unfortunately, many college freshman become the Blob and start eating any — and every — greasy, fatty food in sight. Before you start settling for unhealthy fast foods and restaurant stops, consider expanding your culinary prowess, or at least buying healthy easy-to-prepare meals.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
October 30th, 2008
Since the dawn of the Internet, it seems that almost nothing is private anymore. With instant message logs, social networking, and Google, anyone can find out pretty much anything about you - that is, as much as you allow to be displayed.
We’ve always stressed the importance of your online persona. How would others perceive you if they saw what you’ve put up on your Facebook profile for all the world to see? Would your parents approve? Could you have gotten arrested for doing something questionable?
It seems that some college hopefuls, and even their parents, are using these inappropriate profiles to their advantage to sabotage their competitors’ chances at getting into a selective college: Facebook Sabotage. It has been reported that students and parents have been sending anonymous letters to college admissions offices to point admissions officers to profiles of competitors who have questionable/risqué material displayed on the Internet.
Of course, some school officials say they have further investigated on letters they received, while others claim they only follow-up on signed letters. No matter what the case, anyone can check out your profile or “Googleability” so be sure to clean up your act or adjust your privacy levels. That late night dancing on the bar may not be the stuff future law firms are made of.
-Amanda Fornecker
October 29th, 2008
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