<p>We're in, but now what? What's everyone planning on doing over the summer? I'm trying to land an internship, but if I can't get it, I'll probably stay on at my normal, completely non-academic job. Are we expected to definitely be taking classes somewhere? I mean, I'd love to, but it doesn't seem feasible. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>No worries--really. You can chill all you want to. Just do whatever you feel like doing. Plenty of people work random jobs, and a lot of people don't work jobs at all. Some people choose to get involved in volunteering, some just do nothing. You'll have plenty to do once you get here, so no worries.</p>
<p>I wanted to take some courses at Stanford over the summer but apparently they don't allow that. So I'll take some community college classes, volunteer and travel around China and/or Italy. I remember someone on the faebook group said that they were going on an archaelogical dig. :eek:</p>
<p>I'm going to have fun!
Take some more trapeze classes, maybe travel around Europe with my friends.
And get a job at some point, but I'm hoping I can get a job I like. Maybe I'll coach gymnastics at my old gym.</p>
<p>I'm actually taking a whole year off. I'm planning on working as an au pair (I'm communicating with a lovely English family to that effect) and volunteering, in Ecuador (where my family will be living) and possibly at a workcamp in Europe (there are some in Switzerland that sound interesting). Then I'll come back to the States by late May, attend my friends' graduation (they're all a year younger than me) and get a job. :D</p>
<p>How interesting to hear of a different lifestyle. My life before Stanford seemed so mundane =/ I never thought to do activities outside of school. Luckily, my school offered a lot of APs and extracurriculars, and I did well in those, but it certainly never occurred to me to do research, study abroad, or take time off. How boring and traditional I am :) Anyways, Anniushka, I hope you enjoy your year!</p>
<p>I'll probably be interning at Sandia Labs again. I want to take some dance classes again b/c I haven't danced in a while. Oh! And focus on my singing!!! :D Sooo excited. But Anniushka, your year sounds absolutely amazing! :)</p>
<p>I need to find an internship.. tough around here.</p>
<p>Maybe run, swim some more (I feel weird not swimming competitively anymore), and take martial arts classes.</p>
<p>Turns out I'm a good candidate for the internship I was originally talking about, but now I'm not so about it. It sounds GREAT, intern at a medical research lab, but the commitment is 9-5 (plus an hour commute either way), 5 days a week for 8 weeks. If I take it, I'm afraid to wind up at Stanford burnt out... but then again, it's a hard chance to pass up. Any thoughts? I go for an interview on Monday, so let me know!</p>
<p>Hmm. 8 weeks doesn't sound so bad - you should still have some time in the summer to relax, yea? You're the only one who can decide how much you value free time vs. a great opportunity, and how great you think that opportunity is.</p>
<p>Geez, I live such a boring life!! but luckily this summer I am going to go to Istanbul to take the Gallipoli-Anzac tour; I hear they have a great memorial...</p>
<p>You won't get burnt out if you really become actively involved in the research. Demand to know exactly why you're doing something instead of just pipetting stuff around. Ask to have the ideas behind the experiment explained to you. That's the info that gets you excited. I remember going into work at 10 AM one day and coming out at 4 AM the next because I really wanted to keep the experiment moving. I was back at work a few hours later. I even worked Saturdays. Sounds insane, I know, but once you get the research bug, it's really hard to stop. At least, for me anyways. :-P</p>
<p>One pointer I always follow: whenever they ask if you have any questions of them, ask what the people who had the internship before you went on to do. If they don't know, it means they don't care. Think about that carefully. In some cases, it might be ok. But really, why on earth would you want to work for a place that doesn't care?</p>
<p>One thing to remember is that Stanford starts 3-4 weeks after most colleges. A lot of incoming freshman feel pretty abandoned when their friends take off for college. If you can, best to schedule some work/travel during September.</p>
<p>I'm trying to get an internship at CNN. I also wanna travel around Europe with some friends.</p>