There are many people in DC, LA, New York, Atlanta and other cities slaving away at their internships. Working 8 hour days can be grueling, demanding, and stressful. After we leave work, everyone thinks about one of two things: (1) I am ready to get something to eat and go to bed or (2) I am ready to go out. For number 2s, especially those living in a foreign city, we live by a motto that tells us to live it up. Unfortunately, some of us, have to live off “a not so pretty” salary. There is no shame; trust me. I shake my head in disgust every time I see my wallet.

Although this new life in a foreign city can sometimes be overwhelming, we all know that this phase of our life will soon conclude. We all have to return back to our college campuses and work towards our goal of a beloved degree. Many of us are in the final stages of obtaining that long-awaited piece of paper. However, the diploma that we receive from undergrad seems to be losing its worth; thus, we are forced to think of acquiring a higher degree at grad school. Now, the question of where we will attend graduate school arises. Where will we go? Which grad school offers a program that caters to my interests? Most importantly, how much does it cost? All of these questions can be answered by graduate schools themselves. (I am pretty sure all of you knew that!)

Well, be on the lookout for graduate school fairs occurring during the summer months. Idealist.org sponsored a graduate school fair at George Washington University in Washington, DC yesterday. I must say that the fair was very helpful. There were approximately 62 schools at the fair giving advice on what undergraduates can do to be competitive for their programs. Furthermore, representatives from the various graduate schools answered questions about financial aid, the benefits of their particular programs, and the careers that some of their alumni have obtained. Surprisingly, as a undergraduate student who is considering taking time off before entering grad school, graduate schools gave suggestions on how my time can be spent enriching my life while making me an excellent candidate for admission to their school.

For those students who were interested in spending some time after undergrad doing something interesting before entering grad school, organizations, such as the Peace Corps, were in attendance to inform students of the uniqueness and rewards of their programs.

If you are in a large city or a foreign city, check out the schools in the area. You will never know where your new educational home may be. It could be right under your nose (a little corny but true).