Weekend Read 11.12.10 1:45 PM

A day late but what the heck! Welcome to Weekend Read.

Since I've moved out of my old apartment and into a new place with a new roommate, I'm trying to make this one a keeper! Tips below. Also some posts on getting some holiday shopping deals. I'm eyeballing some American Apparel v-necks.

1. Splitting the Bills With Your Roommate [Fabulous and Frugal]
2. Why Your Roommate Might Secretly Hate You [Her Campus]
   
3. Best Deals Around the Internet [Fat Wallet]
4. American Apparel's November Sale [Frugal Diva]
5. Oldie But Goodie--Memo:You Are Not Your Job [Life After College]

Read on!

Write Your Own Damn College Essay! 3:10 PM

This is a letter in response to a craiglist post by Erin, which I am sure will be removed soon so I will have to screencap it.

In case I don't...Erin is offering $60 OBO for someone to write her "world class college admissions essay"--the dreaded personal statement

Dear Erin-

I’m very concerned. Not only for ethical reasons, but also about the path your walking down.

I get it. College admissions is more competitive than ever and many times, it comes down to your essay. But even if you hired Stephen King to write it for you…I’m pretty sure a college counselor would still pick the other candidate. Because guess what? They can tell.

Ultimately, the essay is more about your personality than your writing itself. It’s about your insight, your ideas and what you have to offer not only the university, but ultimately society and the world. I’m not saying your essay has to be about that time you went to some Third World country and saved all the children. It just has to be about a story or a moment that means and says something about you.

Mine was about Christmas decorations. One of my short answer questions was about painting a winter landscape while eating a tuna sandwich (but mostly about the tuna sandwich).

But forging this essay as your personal statement is a step down the wrong road. Does that mean you will also forge your first term paper? Forge your thesis? And maybe you’ll do all that and graduate with a degree from an Ivy League university without getting caught (doubtful). Then what?

Ultimately, you will not have ownership of your work…because it was not your work. I'm not talking propreitary ownership, I mean your personal gratification and pride. This problem will transition from your college application to the real world. It will become habit and it will effect all of your work.

So take a deep breath. You have another month to turn pound out that personal statement and get into your dream school. I know you can write something you can be really proud of and maybe you can hire a proofreader for $60 obo.

Just remember, college, your job, whatever...is a match to be made not a prize to be won.

Best,

Empty Pocket Grad

Readers: feel free to disagree.

Weekend Read: Advice about Life, The Universe and Everything 8:42 PM

1. Why Maddi Gilje should Stay At NYU (NYU Local)

To fully appreciate this story you have to find all the Maddi Gilje articles on NYU Local but this really resonated with me, even as a post grad. These articles are chronicling the a new chapter of Maddi's life. How we dream big and are often disappointed with the initial circumstances of this new chapter. Completely applicable to post-grad life as well--the message is don't give up!

2. How Millenial Women Are Shaping Our Future (Huffington Post)

I've always loved Lindsey's perspective on Gen Y and she's got it right here. Look at all the women starting their own businesses today and making a difference in other ways.

And those are my two articles for this week's weekend read. Be inspired!

Staying the Course: Focusing on your goals 3:35 PM

Jeez where did October go? It's hard to believe it's been an entire month since I've blogged. Halloween, Election Day and moving to my apartment snuck up on me.

But there is an important lesson in all this.As recent grad, you have to learn to stay the course.

As much as I hate that term coined earlier in this decade by our former President, it's completely applicable to my life as it stands.

When you are in an early entry level job and a new place there are many distractions, including but not limited to new tv shows, parties, and exploring LA. There are even obstacles such as working long hours so you only have time to run errands from 9-12 on Saturdays or going to the gym.

But you have to find time to not only fit these things but fit in the things you like to do.

For example, I like writing and I like fitness. But I've fallen off the wagon in both cases so I clearly need to adjust my schedule.

I obviously can't support a life where I work all day, go to industry events at night and then go to sleep. I'm not making it to the gym and not making time to do what I love.

So how do I fix that?

I'm making a deadline to fix my schedule. I'm going to become an early riser so I can fit these things into my life.

They say it take 21 days to make a habit but I'm going to get my butt out of bed in the morning and be productive. After thanksgiving, we'll be talking about my new schedule like it's a totally normal thing.

How do you stay the course?

Weekend Read: Caroline On Crack & other LA Event blogs 2:36 PM

When you're new to LA, the weekend hits and you're coolest. So if you are looking to find some weekend activities, look no further than Weekend Read!

Driving into work, I heard Carson Daly discussing Caroline on Crack, and she gave us the weekend low down on LA happenings. What I like about Caroline's blog is that it's actually a blog, not a just a listing of events or a newsletter. It's easy to read and keep track of unlike Daily Candy or Thrillist (great resources, but a little overwhelming at times).

Check her out and more for this Weekend Read:

Caroline on Crack

Thrillist LA

Eater LA

Daily Candy LA

In need of travel tips? 3:21 PM

I stumbled across this article from Savvy Sugar about flying with Southwest. So many great tips that are much more efficient than my regular strategy, which is get there at 6am so you don't have any problems.

I'm also a fan of George Clooney's slip-on shoe observation from Up In the Air

What about you all? Do you have any useful tips for train, bus and air travel?

Nifty Tools To Keep You On Track 7:54 PM

I've been slacking on my blog writing and on my blog reading. My department workload at the office has been kicked up a notch from the summer so I've been playing with new scheduling and organizational tools.

1) GoogleReader, GoogleCalendar...just Google
It's amazing how Google has completely streamlined my life. My company depends heavily on Microsoft Outlook but being a Mac person, this internet juggernaut is fulfilling my needs. I can use documents to edit budgets and spreadsheets wherever I can log in. My Google Calendar not only has my social schedule but I also have been adding group exercise classes at various YMCAs in the LA area so if I want to stop in I can. I do need to work on my use of Google Tasks

2) Mint.com
I'm convinced that Mint is the tool that keeps me from going into post-graduate debt. I've placed my excel budget into Mint and it tracks my credit card spending. So I know if I spent too much on movies or need to make my car payment. However, I don't like how it mislabels line items from time to time especially money spent at restaurants, fast food, and groceries.

3) LinkedIn
If you aren't on LinkedIn, what are you doing? In this age when your future employer is pre-screening your internet presence, there is no better way to re-emphasize your candidacy than to have a complete LinkedIn. I also recommend placing it in your email signature, you never know if your aunt's niece is going to be your future boss thanks to a few clicks.


What are your favorite online organizational and career tools? Any I should try out?