When foursquare first started getting popular I remember thinking, "What is the world coming to?!"  I just couldn't understand why people would want to constantly pinpoint their location on a map for everyone to see.  To each their own, but I just didn't get it.

For those of you who aren't familiar,  foursquare is an application that lets you "check in" to places you visit via your phone.  You just download the application and it uses your phone's GPS to find exactly where you're at, business name and all.  foursquare then automatically publishes the places you visit to Twitter or Facebook, depending on your settings.  According to foursquare's website, the application is meant to be a city guide and friend-finder as well as a game since it rewards users for visiting new places.

As time went by I decided what the heck, and created an account.  Although it irked me when my Facebook homepage was bombarded with people checking in to every single place they went (home, the grocery store, etc.), I started to see a possible professional use for the application.

For my current internship I get to travel a little bit and sometimes visit some interesting places, so I decided that foursquare would be an easy way to let people know what I'm up to professionally.  I also started to use foursquare for social purposes too, but with a little discretion.  When I was in Washington D.C. the other week I checked in to the different places we visited so people could see what I was up to.  You'll never see me check in at the gas station or Walmart, but I do like to publicize any neat places I get to visit.

I guess the moral of the story is to make social media work for you.  Instead of thinking of foursquare as a strictly social application, try to look at it's professional possibilities.  As long as you set it up so that only your friends can see the places you check in to and you follow my advice on discretion, there really is no drawback.

I bet that the next time you end up somewhere pretty cool for an event or business opportunity you get the urge to foursquare... it's pretty addicting.

Do you use foursquare?  If so, what type of places do you check in to and do you agree with my train of thought?

Washington D.C. for Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity's National Conference, that's where!

Taking a much needed break from the stress of applying to law school I was able to take a few days off from classes and my internship to jet set to D.C. for half a week with Missouri State University's P.A.D Pre-Law chapter.

Between frantically trying to figure out the metro and playing super tourist by taking pictures of anything that looked remotely historical or important, I actually learned some things that didn't only relate to law school.

On our itinerary I had noticed that one of the presentations we would be attending was about student leadership and was called "One Year to Make It Happen". The speaker, Pete Mockaitis, had led nine different student organizations while he was in school and seeing a connection with the eight internships under my belt I immediately thought, "I need to meet this guy!"

It turned out that he was young and hilarious and did a really great job of connecting with the audience during his presentation. The focus was all about the right way to set goals and how to make the most out of your one year in a leadership position for an organization.  He even agreed to sit down with me later on and tell me a little bit more about his background and how he got to where he is today (Hint: An internship helped him get a job at an elite consulting firm out of college).


I would strongly recommend checking out his website and looking at the different presentations he offers through CAMPUSPEAK if you are ever in need of a great speaker on student leadership.

On a side note, here are some recommendations for great food places to visit if you ever find yourself in DC:
-Aqua Al 2- An awesome little Italian restaurant on Capitol Hill that has really authentic ltalian food and has a location in Florence, Italy.
-Old Ebbitt Grill- This old historic bar and grill is known for the politicians and VIPs who frequent it to talk politics.
-Eastern Market- Also located on Capitol Hill, this funky market is filled with fresh meat, produce, and the best thing... a bakery! Try the jumbo black and white cookies.
-Ben's Chili Bowl- It's a total dive, but this chili place is a favorite of the Obama family and Bill Cosby and has a really cool atmosphere.

I'm still toying with the idea of interning in D.C. this coming summer so if there are any Capitol Hill interns out there I'd love to hear all about your experiences and any recommendations you have!

Looking for that dream internship?  Here are 10 awesome internships that you can apply for right now.- Her Campus

Who doesn't love a good to-do list?  How to maximize your intern efficiency.- The Intern View

In job interviews, what you don't say can be just as important as what you do say.- From College to Cubicle

Have you been to your campus Career Center?  If not, check it out pronto!- Her Campus

Interning after graduation is getting more common these days.  Here are 5 qualities to look for in a post-grad internship.- The Intern View

For anybody with more activities than they can fit on a two-page resume, here are some tips for what activities hurt more than they help.- Her Campus

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As the weather turns cold, students across the country are either nicely settled into their fall internships or trying to make it through the last few weeks of school before the holiday season begins.  One of the last things on many people's minds may be thinking about a summer internship.  While it may only be November there are tons of things you could be doing right now to put you ahead of the game come internship season in the Spring.

Make a list


Now is a great time to start thinking about where exactly you would like to intern for the summer.  My suggestion is to create a spreadsheet in Excel or a similar program and record information such as the company name, contact person, phone number, email, deadline for applications, etc.  This will greatly help you stay on track and prevent deadlines from slipping your mind.  Be sure to include a range of companies, from your dream internships to more realistic options.  You can put as many companies as you want on your initial list and narrow it down later once you've had a chance to decide what you're really looking for.  Applying for at least ten internships is a good goal to ensure that you have several options available to you.


So you want to intern for The Washington Post, eh?


If you have dreams of interning for a large company, believe it or not, the time to start applying is now.  Many companies have November deadlines for applications, or dates close to that.  These internships tend to be highly competitive so pay close attention to deadlines and other requirements.

Get everything in order


Having an up-to-date resume will be vital when it comes time for interviews and submitting applications in the Spring.  If your resume is not already up-to-date, add the new information and see if your school's Career Center offers to review students' resumes- often times they do.  Having a second pair of eyes proof-read your resume is always a good idea and the professionals at many Career Centers do a great job of making sure students' resumes are appropriate for the type of internship they will be applying for.

The fall is also a great time for compiling several letters of recommendations.  Aim to have three letters of recommendations on hand for interviews and applications.
Check out my article on how to score a killer letter of recommendation
Professors whose class you did really well in and seemed to connect with usually make great references as well as professional contacts you have from past jobs or internships.

Start researching


If you have a company in mind that you would really like to intern for or a company you want to find out more about, doing some research now is a smart move to get to know the business.  Besides exploring the company website in-depth, connect with them on any social media sites they are a part of, including Facebook and Twitter.  What the company tweets is usually a good indicator of what's going on more recently and what their general attitude is.  You will be able to use this information during applications and interviews to show that you have a good idea of what the company is like and why you would be a good fit.

CALLING ALL FORMER INTERNS- Based on your previous experience, what would you recommend potential interns start doing now to prepare for summer internships?