Summer jobs available from D.C. to the Grand Canyon

Ah, summer: Watching riotous thunderstorms from the basement window; prancing around the sprinkler, your feet sliding in the sponge-like grass; roasting under the relentless sun for an even tan; playing laser tag or cops/robbers in the gathering dusk; and? internships.

We're college students now, and leisurely summers have been replaced by demanding summer internships. Yet, summer jobs don't have to be a mere continuance of college stress. They can be a vacation in themselves: It's simply a matter of finding the right internship for your personal taste, whether it is career-oriented or purely the desire to have some fun. A number of exotic internships offer students the opportunity to escape both Baltimore and their hometown for the thrill of an unfamiliar place.

Each year, college students throughout America spend their summer working in Alaska's fishing industry. As a student, even Senator Hillary Clinton traveled to Alaska to be involved in this work. If the fishy stench proves unappealing, students interested in Alaska can also work for the National Park Service, which requires seasonal help for its parks, historic sites and recreation areas. For more information and appropriate links, visit http://www.coolworks.com/natprk.htm.

For students desiring of a warmer summer climate, seasonal openings on cruise ships are available, appealing to a wide range of interests. Students can either work on a cruise ship solely intended for vacation or on historic ships requiring research and analytic skills. Over 5 million people took cruises last year and there are over 165 large cruise ships in-use or planned for implementation, proffering a strong market for job seekers. Possible positions include casino staff, disc jockey and spa assistant. For more information, visit http://www.actionjobs.com/work/crugloss.html.

Students seeking a more serious internship or summer job can apply for work with the federal government, which offers positions in a range of areas of study. Federal agencies are located in various areas of the United States, and therefore a position would not be limited geographically. Moreover, it provides students the opportunity to effect change in the government. Applicants are encouraged to apply to each agency individually, and the deadlines vary for each position, some of which have already passed. A search can be conducted at http://www.studentjobs.gov/searchsum.htm where the student can specify the exact desired salary.

The Washington Center offers internships for a variety of majors in Washington, D.C. Internships are for college credit, and housing is offered by the center. Moreover, applicants can also request financial assistance. The deadline is March 15, for those applying for the summer term. The center offers a program including the following advantages: a four-day work week, 80 percent substantive work ensured, introductory workshops for Capitol Hill interns, tours of embassies and more. For additional information, visit http://www.twc.edu/index.htm.

For unpaid internships, Hopkins students of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences can apply for alumni internship grants. Need-based awards are given to students hoping to pursue an internship during the summer. The internship must be obtained prior to application. Applications are available in the career office in Garland Hall.

Finally, Hopkins offers the Edge Internship Program, which is a collaborative project between the Second Decade Society and the career center. Members predict that it will offer five internships for the summer of 2002, including positions with investment company Bear Stearns and the Council for Emerging National Affairs. Additional information is available at the career center Web site at http://www.jhu.edu/careers/edgeinternships.htm.

And if you still haven't found an internship in which you are interested, thousands of potential opportunities are listed on Web sites specifically geared for internship-seeking college students.