Interesting things to do over the summer

March 22, 2006 1:10 AM

What are interesting things I could do over the summer?

I'm a college student and this summer I'd like to do something meaningful/fun/rewarding. I could just find some job working for an hourly wage, but that besides the wage wouldn't be rewarding or fun. I was hoping to volunteer abroad, however I don't know which program is suitable. Obvious programs like the peace corps not only have a long commitment times, too long for one summer, but they also require you to have certain credentials (a degree in a certain field for example). Other programs are volunteer programs, but seem more like vacations as you have to pay them a bunch of money to go.

Please keep in mind i do have basic english skills and I believe my knowledge of computers is above average, but I don't have a degree in anything yet (i haven't declared a major). Many volunteer programs require knowledge of foreign languages etc. I have been taking Chinese for the past few years, but I am certainly not fluent. I am looking for general volunteer work and to further my knowledge of foreign languages/cultures.

Finally, please suggest programs that are cheap or even pay stipends. :-p

posted by EvilKenji to work & money (12 comments total)

A friend of mine is doing something called Vipassana this summer. It looks like quite the experience, if a bit tough to get through. But it is free and interesting.
posted by idiotfactory at 1:33 AM on March 22, 2006

If you don't know what major you're going to pick yet, do something that is going to help you along in your decision making.

Where are you living this summer? That would certainly help.

It may be too late to get into the volunteering abroad programs. If you really want to look though, either try your college career office or google "volunteer abroad university"

I'd recommend to get an internship at a local non-profit. They need the help, you need the experience. It'll be good to have people to give you references once you look for a real job when you're done with school. If you end up doing any international cultural work, they'll appreciate that you've gotten acquainted with the non-profit lifestyle. There is usually some sort of list of non-profits for every city... send them an e-mail with your resume and a cover letter. You'll get some bites from them.

Or if you want to work, why not do a job that makes you look super responsible -- working with children, the elderly, or the disabled. This will also give you a variety of "stories" to tell during interviews.

Why not take a summer term of Chinese too, to get yourself ahead... that is if you're living near your university and they offer summer courses. Or why not take some classes this summer and get your degree faster?
posted by k8t at 2:07 AM on March 22, 2006

I spent a summer in high school volunteering for our city's science museum. I got to spend my days teaching kids how to make silly putty and making foam hats ("cheeseheads"). It was a lot of time and it got boring every once and a while, but it was very rewarding and I wish I had done it more often.
posted by yellowbkpk at 6:01 AM on March 22, 2006

You don't say where you are, but you might want to consider helping with the rebuilding of New Orleans. I've had a number of friends do 2-6 week stints down there recently and have said it was amazing experience.

Another option, if you are at all politically-minded, is to work on a campaign this summer. You learn a lot and it can be quite fun. And depending on the campaign, you may very well get paid for your efforts.
posted by ilikecookies at 6:28 AM on March 22, 2006

VolunteerMatch

Idealist.org , which includes paid positions with non-profits as well as volunteering ooportunities.

If you choose to go the volunteer route, may I suggest doing something with kids and/or animals? The pure joy of kids and puppies can fill your heart.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:32 AM on March 22, 2006

Your school's career center should have a ton of summer internships that could help place you in.

For example, the Aga Khan Education Services offers two Wellesley students a summer program in Hyderabad with a $3000 stipend plus lodging and airfare. The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture offers positions for MIT architecture and planning students and that's just a couple of spots from one organization!
posted by Pollomacho at 6:34 AM on March 22, 2006

You might be too late to apply for this round of offerings, so you might have to wait until summer 2007, but the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates offers all sorts of opportunities for people like you to get involved in academic research.

These programs come with a decent stipend, so that's a big advantage. They mostly won't offer a chance to go abroad or learn a foreign language (although some will; I had an REU fellowship that sent me to Chile for several weeks), but they would give you a chance to go somewhere new in the US and do something interesting. The offerings are pretty broad, spanning the range of physical, biological, social, and many other sciences.
posted by dseaton at 6:42 AM on March 22, 2006

Dude! Burning Man.

See you there.

They have discount 'scholarship' passes for students, too.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:23 AM on March 22, 2006

If you're interested in education as a major, consider interning at a private school's summer school. I taught at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass. The deadlines have passed a bit, but they might still have openings. They provide room and board, and you get to learn to teach international kids-- (400 kids, 100 from America, the rest from 40 countries-- wild experience!).

Try www.cushing.org and look for Summer Session. There are also dozens of private schools especially in the northeast that have summer schools like these. Also check into summer programs for high schoolers at large universities-- Northwestern, Harvard, etc.
posted by orangemiles at 8:17 AM on March 22, 2006

Volunteer for the National Park Service. Generally you get housing and a small stipend. Back in the day when I worked for the NPS there were two volunteer programs: Volunteers in Parks (VIP) and the SCA, I can't recall what it stands for. There are parks in all 50 states, many of them stunningly beautiful, and you work with other young people from all over the country. Huge fun!
posted by LarryC at 8:34 AM on March 22, 2006

Ditto idealist. That's how I found my internship last year at the la/spca and it was amazing.
posted by radioamy at 11:25 AM on March 22, 2006

Ditto what a lot of people are saying, but with particular emphasis on:
- volunteering for local non-profits. I work for one and can pretty much always use help with field work in the summer.
- the REU program. I had REU interns every summer of grad school plus was one myself between undergrad and grad...it's a great program. It's especially good if you're interested in science...in our program, the REU interns got publications out of their work.

I want to warn against any program that claims to be some sort of internship and requires you to pay a lot of money. There are a lot of fake marine biology programs out there, for example, where you essentially pay a ton of money to live in a dorm in Mexico and cut fish for dolphins to eat.
posted by nekton at 11:22 AM on March 23, 2006