The 7 Books You Should Read in College

As an avid reader, I often find myself thinking that there are just so many great books out there and so little time to read them. Part of the reason I love summer is that there is so much time to get absorbed into a book. However, as I've gotten older, my summers have gotten busier and I'm sure yours have too. So here's my eclectic list of 7 essential books that everyone should make time to read in college (note- I've tried to avoid listing books that most people read in high school, I'll have a list of books you should read before college up soon):

1. Emma by Jane Austen: Emma is an important book as it addresses making plans. And I love plans. In college, we start making our own plans-- whether they are for lunch or for life. However, as I've said in earlier posts, things often do not go according to plan. Nonetheless, there is usually some better, perhaps even greater, plan that we might not immediately see. Emma reminds us that life's surprises can be better than the plans we imagine. In fact, we should plan to be surprised.

2. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie: Growing up can be exciting and new independence can be liberating. At the same time, it can be scary. The classic children's story Peter Pan allows a reader to escape back into the days when Mom and Dad took care of everything and we could spend all day playing pretend.

3. Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale: This book helps readers and writers "craft wickedly effective prose." I love this book because it is funny, relatable and easy to read. This book reads much less like a writing manual and much more like a novel.

4. Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov: Almost in direct contrast with Peter Pan, Lolita is the haunting story of an old man's romantic obsession with a young girl. A story of corrupted youth and stolen innocence, this is the kind of book high school teachers rarely assign meaning college is the perfect time to dig into this racy book.

5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fizgerald: Although this is often required reading in high school, you'd be surprised by the nuanced messages you'll discover if you revisit this novel having experienced life a little more. This classic book always reminds me to look beyond superficial glamor to find fulfillment. At the same time, it reminds readers to let loose every once and awhile and party a la Gatsby.

6. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling: This is a great book when you're having a rough day. It reminds me that the road to success and happiness is filled with funny, frustrating and fear-filled moments. Kaling is hilarious and by the end of the book I just wanted to be her best friend.

7. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath: Plath is one of the best writers I've ever come across. Her novel The Bell Jar tells the story of Esther Greenwood who slowly goes mentally insane. This book really made my doubt myself as I didn't notice Esther's insanity until the end of the book. I think that's really important though- sometimes we need to be reminded that we don't always know everything- I know I do.

Happy reading!

What are your "must read" books?

xoxo

How to Rock an Informational Interview

(Courtesy of http://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/MjAxMi1hODVjMjAwMGFiYzU5YWUx)

A good friend of mine said to me that college, and life, is all about connections. I completely agree. But sometimes making connections can be scary, especially when it comes to talking with people who could impact your career (aka your future, aka your life). I'm very Type A and like to think I have some control over my future.  However, in reality I don't have much control at all (yikes). But I can take charge of my life through learning, which is where the informational interview comes in. I've been doing a few of these interviews lately as I am exploring some of the fields I'm interested in a bit more. As a reporter for my college's newspaper, I have had some practice interviewing strangers, but things seem a lot more intimidating when I'm interviewing someone in the real world (eep!). Anyway, here are some tips/tricks that I've learned along the way that can make informational interviews a lot more helpful and a lot less nerve wrecking.

Setting up the interview: If you know this person through someone else, ask them to help out (for me I have lucked out as my professors have put me in contact with people). If the person is a bit more random, maybe an alumni from your university/high school or a vague friend-of-a-friend, send them an email explaining (a) who you are/how you got their information and (b) why you want to speak with them. In my experience, people respond more quickly and consistently to emails than to voicemails.

Mindset: An informational interview is just that-- an opportunity for you to get information. Going into the interview with the mindset that there isn't a job at stake should ease your nerves alone. However, the best part of an informational interview is that the other person does most of the talking- you simply ask questions that you want answered. Therefore, the questions you ask direct the conversation and are very important.

Questions (what to ask): Something to consider before an informational interview is making a list of questions to ask and ranking them from most important to least important. These interviews are usually around 20 minutes long, so you might not get a chance to say everything you want. Here are a few example questions:

1. How did you get involved in this career?
2. What steps did you take in college to best prepare you for a career in this field?
3. What is a typical workday? What are your daily responsibilities?
4. What skills have you found useful in this field?
5. Where do you see this field going in the future?
6. What changes have you personally experienced since you began working in this field?
7. Are there any other related fields you considered working in?
8. What is the biggest challenge you've faced in this field? What is the biggest challenge this industry faces?
9. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
10. Is there anyone else you would recommend I talk to?

Ask smart questions. While you might not be speaking the most, you can make a great impression as an insightful thinker who knows how to get information efficiently by asking thoughtful questions.

Questions (what not to ask): Under absolutely no circumstances should you ask for a job! Remember: you are asking for information and time. 

Follow up: The same day as your interview (or the next morning at the latest), send the person you interviewed an email-- or better yet a hand written thank you note-- expressing your appreciation for their time and information. In the message, consider mentioning something specific you learned and also reiterate that if there is anyone else they could put you in contact with, you would appreciate their information. You will be remembered as someone thoughtful and thorough, which could be helpful if you eventually apply for a job where the person you interviewed works. In today's fast paced world, a good first impression is extremely important.

What next: There's always that wonderful sigh of relief when an interview is over. But forget about it too fast! Jot down any important points the person interviewed said, their contact information and questions you asked. Then, review this information and consider any remaining questions you might have that could be addressed at another time or by someone else. I have a folder on my computer with notes I've taken during lectures/informational interviews/meetings and have used them to generate new questions for future interviews.

I hope you found these tips helpful- good luck and don't stress too much!!

What tips or stories do you have about interviews?

xoxo

Summer Reading 2013

Happy summer! It's finally my favorite season of the year. To me, summer means floppy hats paired with sundresses and lazy afternoons spent with a good book and a cold glass of lemonade. Every summer I make a list of books I want to read that I've compiled throughout the academic year. My lists are eclectic and include everything from classics to mysteries to newly released books. I usually go through a book every couple of days (expect a book review soon!!), so here are the first 15 books I'll be reading this summer:

1. Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov
2. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
3. Scoop by Evelyn Waugh
4. The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
5. The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays by Oscar Wilde
6. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
7. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
8. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
9. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
10. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt
11. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
12. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
13. The Undercover Economist by Tim Hartford
14. Save me the Waltz by Zelda Fitzgerald
15. Night and Day by Virginia Woolf

What is on your summer reading list? Have any recommendations? Comment below! 

Happy reading