#CollegeBound recap 1/23/12: Preparing for Tomorrow…Today!

View the complete transcript here.

Add comment January 25th, 2012

Attention, Trolls: Charlie Sheen Needs an Intern

We here at The CollegeBound Network are huge fans of internships. Paid or unpaid, these opportunities are glimpses into what could be your future. But we sure hope that THIS little nugget (thanks, Washington Post) is not a glimpse into ANYONE’s future:

Yep, Charlie Sheen is looking for an intern to manage his absurdly large social media empire.

The twisted part of us really wants to know what an internship with Charlie Sheen would be like. But the responsible part of us wants to tell you to run, do not walk, away from this opportunity. Because seriously, we don’t think that “gnarly” is an adjective that belongs on any resume–or at least one that will get you a serious job in the future.

You can count on us to monitor this situation closely, so stay tuned…

–The CollegeBound Network

Add comment March 9th, 2011

New York University Students to Write for the New York Times

Part of the fun of going away to college is the opportunity to learn all about a new town or city. For many college graduates, even those who have moved away after they finished school, their college town will always hold a special place in their hearts.

One group of students that probably enjoys getting to know their new town more than most are those over at New York University, located in Greenwich Village, one of the hippest and trendiest neighborhoods in New York City. The university has, among many other world-renowned programs, an excellent journalism program. This program is about to get even better, considering the fact that the New York Times is giving some talented students a lucky break by hiring them to cover the local Village beat.

The Local East Village is a new website that features—you guessed it—hyper-local news that is happening right where NYU students live, study, and have fun. The site will launch this fall as a joint effort between the Times and the Arthur L. Carter Institute at NYU. Students will report and write on the daily happenings in the East Village. If you are an aspiring journalist, then you’ll know this is one cool byline to have on your resume.

In a time when newspapers and magazines have taken a direct hit in a flailing economy, there are some critics who say that the Times is not helping matters by using unpaid student labor to launch a new money-making initiative. I can certainly understand where this negative response is coming from, as I have sadly watched content at the newsstand diminish over the past several years. Still, I’m choosing to focus on the positive here, which is that these lucky NYU journalism majors are going to get a chance to be published writers well before they graduate.

–Barbara Bellesi

Add comment February 24th, 2010

Ithaca College Students Go to the Olympics

The 2010 Winter Olympics officially start tonight with Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver, and I’m pretty pumped for it. Though I will be watching from the comfort of my couch, I know I’ll still be cheering when I see Team USA carry the flag during the Parade of Nations.

Of course, my excitement won’t come close to matching that of the Ithaca College students who are going along for the ride as part of the NBC Sports internship program. NBC Sports has chosen 31 students from the Park School of Communications at Ithaca to go and live in the international media village in Vancouver for the duration of the Winter Games and work alongside media professionals covering the events. Talk about getting some valuable experience for your resume!

This is not the first time Ithaca College has gone to the Olympics. In fact, students have interned with NBC sports at the Olympics in Beijing and in Turin, too. NBC obviously sees something wonderful in Ithaca’s communications program, which means that Ithaca would be a great addition to the college wish list for aspiring communications or journalism majors.

Like many college internships, these NBC Sports positions are unpaid, but considering the amount of behind-the-scenes experience these interns will be getting, I don’t think anyone really cares. Besides, having an NBC credit on their resume before they even graduate will probably pay off more later than getting a small paycheck now.

Good luck to Team USA and those lucky and talented Ithaca College students. We’ll be rooting for all of you!

–Barbara Bellesi

Add comment February 12th, 2010

Unpaid Internships: What’s the Point?

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

5 comments November 19th, 2008

Looking to the Future: Politics in College

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

1 comment November 7th, 2008